Justice for the victims of the "13 de Marzo" tugboat massacre.
Human rights and civil society organizations are calling for a silent demonstration in remembrance of the victims of the "13 de Marzo"Tugboat, who were murdered by the Castro regime on July 13, 1994.
Human rights activists, members of international civil society and Cuban exiles will gather in front of the Embassy of Cuba located at 2630 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 to hold a 25 minute vigil of silence for the 25 years that the crime has remained unpunished.
WHAT: Vigil to remember "13 de Marzo" Tugboat victims killed 25 years ago by the Castro regime.
WHEN: July 10, 2019 at 8 PM
WHO: Human rights organizations and international civil society.
WHERE: Embassy of Cuba 2630 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 The facts:
On July 13, 1994, a group of 72 Cubans, including children and women, tried to escape from the Island of Cuba aboard an old tugboat. State Security Forces, and four Cuban State boats of the Havana regime intercepted the boat 7 miles off the coast of Cuba, with water jets from pressure hoses pulled people off the deck, tore the children from the arms of their mothers and sank the tugboat. 37 people were murdered, 11 of them children.
Despite the fact that the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and other international organizations issued reports documenting the crime, despite the fact that the survivors and relatives of the victims requested an independent investigation of the facts, and that the bodies of the deceased be recovered from the sea, nothing happened. Those who gave the order of the sinking and those who carried it out still remain without being held accountable. The crime remains unpunished.
"Apart from the distances: in China they tried to erase what
happened in Tiananmen Square and in #Cuba the Maleconazo." - Yoani
Sánchez, over twitter on June 3, 2014
"I remember Tiananmen I remember the Maleconazo and presently I
remember Venezuela and you, what do you remember?" - Yoani Sánchez, over twitter on June 3, 2014
Maleconazo: Mass protests in Havana, Cuba on August 5, 1994
Yoani Sánchez makes an important observation above the regimes in China and Cuba want to erase the inconvenient facts and historical events that are in conflict with the official narrative. Tiananmen Square and the Maleconazo are two such episodes that have important anniversaries in 2014. The massacre in Tiananmen was 25 years ago on June 4, 1989 and the Maleconazo marks 20 years on August 5, 1994.
500Cubans gathered on August 5, 1994 on the pier "de la Luz", totake thelaunch thatgoes toReglaandCasablanca because there was a rumor thatit wouldagainbediverted toFlorida. It was a rumor of a path to freedom that these 500 people had seized upon. Military
trucks arrived and announced the suspension of the launches departure
and dispersed the crowd. People walking along the Malecón (The Havana
Sea Wall) joined the dispersed crowd and gathered near the Castillo de
la Real Fuerza (Castle of the Royal Force). A thousand Cubans began to
march shouting Freedom through the streets of Havana. That
500 Cubans would gather to flee the island is not a new phenomenon but
that another 500 would join them to march and call for freedom was
something new and an unexpected development for the security services.After marching for a kilometer, a hundred Special Brigade members and plain clothes police confronted the protesters. The demonstrators dispersed into the neighborhoodofCentralHavana, burning rubbish bins,smashingthe windows of thedollar storesandclashing withthe policewith stonesand sticks. Regime agents responded with physical beat downs, several gun shots and their own mobilization of repressive actors.
One thousands Cubans marching through Havana chanting "Freedom!" and "Down with Castro" The sounds and images of that day have been captured on video and its impact is felt two decades later in music and art.
It is also important that the images of plain clothes state security aiming their guns at an unarmed protest in a manner that indicates they were shooting must also be remembered and widely distributed.
It is also important to recall on the evening of August 5, 1994, the dictator, Fidel Castro took to the airwaves to justify and defend the "13 de Marzo" tugboat massacre that had taken place on July 13, 1994.
"State crimes are never an issue exclusive to the families of the victims." - Rosa Maria Payá over twitter, July 10, 2014
Totalitarian regimes, such as the one in Cuba, depend on their survival by rewriting history and engaging in a society wide amnesia of their great crimes. In the case of the July 13, 1994 "13 de Marzo" tugboat sinking that claimed 37 lives the Castro regime has failed and the memory of this crime has endured as have the calls for justice. Below are just some of the actions carried out to remember and demand justice.
Twenty minutes of silence for 20 years without justice: Silent Vigil on July 13 at 3:00pm
. The
Free Cuba Foundation made a global call for people of good will to
hold a twenty minute moment of silence asking: "Please share and
encourage friends wherever they are on July 13, 2014 at
3pm to join in a 20 minute moment of silence. Gather in a group or
individually and take a photo at the end of the vigil holding up the
above image calling for justice or whatever you have at hand. " On
Sunday at 3:00pm members of the Free Cuba Foundation gathered at the main fountain at Florida International University [Facing the Library] 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL for a twenty minute silent vigil. For more information visit their facebook page.
"Lights of Liberty Flotilla in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Massacre of the "13 de Marzo" Tugboat Sinking
In the Florida Straits and in Miami the Democracy Movement organized a flotilla on Saturday, July 12, 2014 called the "Lights
of Liberty Flotilla in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the
Massacre of the "13 de Marzo" tugboat sinking that left Key West
from the Key
West City Bight
Marina and traveled to 12 miles off the coast of Cuba on Saturday, July 12, 2014 and held a
ceremony in memory of the victims of the massacre and others murdered by
Castroism and launched powerful lights of freedom, which were seen
from Havana and other points of Cuba. Inside Cuba, members of the
opposition and the Democracy Movement drew near to the Malecon and
other points on the coast with candles and flowers throwing them into
the sea and saw the "Lights of Freedom" launched by the flotilla.For more information visit their facebook page and official web site. Mothers and Women Against Repression (MAR) will Remember Victims of the "13 de Marzo" Tugboat Massacre
On SundayJuly 13, 2014- the twentieth anniversary ofthiscrime against humanity. - MAR for Cuba held a rosaryfor the victims ofthe"13 deMarzo" tugboat massacre, on the grounds oftheCubanMemorial Monument, that is located onCoralWay& SW112Avenue, at 10 AM, afterwhicha wreath of flowers was be deposited in their memory. For more information visit their website. Collective
Action "A light for mine" in tribute to victims of the "13 de
Marzo"tugboat and all Cubans who've lost their lives at sea at dusk on
July 12, 2014
Estado de Sats and For Another Cuba called for an international campaign. The collective action“Alight
formine”was atribute to the victimsof thetugboat “13 de Marzo”and all Cubanswho have lost theirlives at sea, trying to escapea suffocatingrealityduring 54 years. It is alsoa tribute tothe Cuban familyand a callto hope andspiritualrebuilding of ournation. On July 12 on the eve of the anniversary, at duskCubans,everywhere in theworld,lit candles in front of the ocean , bridges, lakes, rivers, on their doors, balconies or in the privacyof their homes(in thiscasefor the
repression thatdoublesinCubaon this date).
For more information on the collective action visit their campaign page or Por Otra Cuba 20th Anniversary of the abominable sinking of the "13 de Marzo" tugboat off the coast of Havana on July 13, 1994
Our Lady of Charity (La Ermita) held a Special mass and vigil for the victims of the July 13, 1994 "13 de Marzo" massacre and their families and for Liberty and Justice to soon reach Cuba.After
the Mass united with our brothers in the Island and in different parts
of the world we held a candlelight vigil in their memory in the Sea
wall of Our Lady of Charity. For more information on the Mass and vigil visit their facebook page or official website.
Human Rights Foundation and Cuban Democratic Directorate call for Twenty Minutes of Silence for Twenty Years of Impunity
The
Cuban Democratic Directorate (CDD) and the Human Rights Foundation
(HRF), called for a symbolic nonviolent protest action in honor of
the twentieth anniversary of the murder of 37 Cuban passengers of the
"13 de Marzo" Tugboat, who on July 13, 1994 were killed by agents of the
Cuban government for trying to escape the island. The demonstration took place on July 10 at 12:00 noon outside the headquarters of the
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Cuba to the United Nations (UN),
located at No. 315 Lexington Avenue in New York City. Human rights
activists, members of international civil society and Cuban exiles gathered in front of the embassy in order to hold twenty minutes of
silence for each of the twenty years that this crime has remained
unpunished. For more information on the silent vigil visit the official announcement in English or Spanish.
CUBA:
Young Leaders Group, Center for a Free Cuba and the Cuban Democratic
Directorate Call for Twenty Minutes of Silence for Twenty Years of
Impunity
Human rights and civil society organizations called for a symbolic nonviolent protest action
in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the murder of 37 Cuban
passengers of the “13 de Marzo” Tugboat, who on July 13, 1994 were
killed by agents of the Cuban government for trying to escape the
island. The demonstration took place on July 10 at 12:00 noon
outside of the Cuban Interests Section located on 2630 16th Street NW in
Washington DC. Human rights activists, members of international civil
society and activists gathered in front of the Interests Section in order to
hold twenty minutes of silence for each of the twenty years that this
crime has remained unpunished.
“Don't raise your voice, improve your argument." - Desmond Tutu
The argument has been made and the reports written and the guilt of the Castro regime established by international human rights bodies such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, but twenty years later there is still no justice.
The argument has been made and cannot be improved. Screaming and shouting in a world full of noise will not achieve justice and undermines the seriousness of this crime. We are supporting all nonviolent actions that respect the dignity of those killed, and their families.
Please share and encourage friends wherever
they are on July 13, 2014 at 3:00pm to join in a 20 minute moment of
silence. Gather in a group or individually and take a photo at the end
of the vigil holding up the above image calling for justice. The quote in the picture above is taken from Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
report: REPORT Nº 47/96 CASE 11.436 VICTIMS OF THE TUGBOAT "13 DE MARZO" vs. CUBA October 16, 1996 and is available online: http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/96eng/cuba11436.htm)
We will be updating this site in the next few days with a list of planned activities to remember this terrible crime, pray for the victims and continue to demand justice.
The persons killed on July 13, 1994 in the "13 de Marzo" incident are:
Leonardo Notario Góngora, Marta Tacoronte Vega, Caridad Leyva
Tacoronte, Yausel Eugenio Pérez Tacoronte, Mayulis Méndez Tacoronte, Odalys Muñoz García, Pilar Almanza Romero, Yaser Perodín Almanza, Manuel
Sánchez Callol, Juliana Enriquez Carrasana, Helen Martínez Enríquez, Reynaldo Marrero, Joel García Suárez, Juan Mario Gutiérrez García, Ernesto Alfonso Joureiro, Amado Gonzáles Raices, Lázaro Borges Priel, Liset Alvarez Guerra, Yisel Borges Alvarez , Guillermo Cruz Martínez, Fidelio Ramel Prieto-Hernández, Rosa María Alcalde Preig, Yaltamira
Anaya Carrasco, José Carlos Nicole Anaya, María Carrasco Anaya, Julia
Caridad Ruiz Blanco, Angel René Abreu Ruiz, Jorge Arquímides Lebrijio
Flores, Eduardo Suárez Esquivel, Elicer Suárez Plascencia, Omar
Rodríguez Suárez, Miralis Fernández Rodríguez, Cindy Rodríguez
Fernández, José Gregorio Balmaceda Castillo, Rigoberto Feut Gonzáles, Midalis Sanabria Cabrera
"Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life, it is sure as death!" - Thomas Carlyle
Silent Vigil for Justice at Florida International University on July 13, 2012
July 13, 1994 around 3:00am a group of Cubans, mostly families, put out
to sea from port of Havana on the tugboat "13 de Marzo". 7 miles from
shore agents of the Castro regime on boats with high pressure hoses
attacked the tugboat splitting the stern. 37 men, women and children
were killed. 18 years later their killers haven't answered for this
crime.
Today students and activists gathered at the main fountain at Florida
International University for 18 minutes of silence. One minute for each
year that has passed in which the victims and their families have not
had justice and their killers walk freely without having had to answer
for their crimes in a court of law. This tradition has been carried out
since 1995 and we will make every effort to see that it continues to be
observed in the future until justice is achieved.
These are the victims of the tugboat! Victims of a cruel tyrant that claims to be a defender of the women and children of Cuba.
Below is a list of the 37 victims of the "13 de Marzo" Tugboat
Massacre that took place 17 years ago today on July 13, 1994. Next to
their names is their age on the day their lives were taken away by
agents of the Cuban government. May they rest in peace and let us
continue to pursue justice for them and their loved ones.
Hellen Martínez Enríquez (5 months old)
Xicdy Rodríguez Fernández (2 years old)
Angel René Abreu Ruiz ( 3 years old)
José Carlos Nicle Anaya (3 years old)
Giselle Borges Alvarez (4 years old)
Caridad Leyva Tacoronte ( 5 years old)
Juan Mario Gutiérrez García (10 years old)
Yasser Perodín Almanza (11 years old)
Yousell Eugenio Pérez Tacoronte ( 11 years old)
Eliecer Suárez Plasencia (12 years old)
Mayulis Menéndez Tacoronte (17 years old)
Miladys Sanabria Cabrera ( 19 years old)
Joel García Suárez ( 20 years old)
Odalys Muñoz García (21 years old)
Yaltamira Anaya Carrasco ( 22 years old)
Yuliana Enríquez Carrazana ( 22 years old)
Lissett María Alvarez Guerra ( 24 years old)
Jorge Gregorio Balmaseda Castillo ( 24 years old)
Ernesto Alfonso Loureiro ( 25 years old)
María Miralis Fernández Rodríguez ( 27 years old)
Jorge Arquímedes Levrígido Flores ( 28 years old)
Leonardo Notario Góngora ( 28 years old)
Pilar Almanza Romero ( 31 years old)
Rigoberto Feu González ( 31 years old)
Omar Rodríguez Suárez ( 33 years old)
Lázaro Enrique Borges Briel ( 34 years old)
Martha Caridad Tacoronte Vega ( 35 years old)
Julia Caridad Ruiz Blanco ( 35 years old)
Eduardo Suárez Esquivel ( 38 years old)
Martha M.Carrasco Sanabria ( 45 years old)
Augusto Guillermo Guerra Martínez ( 45 years old)
Rosa María Alcal de Puig ( 47 years old)
Estrella Suárez Esquivel ( 48 years old)
Reynaldo Joaquín Marrero Alamo ( 48 years old)
Amado González Raíces ( 50 years old)
Manuel Cayol ( 50 years old)
Fidencio Ramel Prieto Hernández ( 51 years old)
Useful links:
CUBA: The
Sinking of the "13 de Marzo" Tugboat on 13
July 1994 / Amnesty International
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. - Elie Wiesel
Since members of the Free Cuba Foundation learned in 1994 that 37 men, women and children were massacred by agents of the Castro regime as they tried to flee to freedom in the early morning hours of July 13, 1994 aboard the "13 de Marzo" tugboat FCF members have taken part in or organized flotillas, lectures, and silent vigils for justice.
Although 18 years have passed our call for justice has not diminished.
It is important to remember and denounce such injustices in an effort to ensure that these crimes are not repeated. In the video below survivors of the massacre describe what happened.
Last year we gathered at the main fountain at Florida International University for a moment of silence at 12 noon. This year we call on all people of good will to join us in a 18 minute silent vigil at noon. One minute for each year that has passed without justice at the main fountain located next to the Graham Center at Florida International University located on 107th Avenue and SW 8 Street.
In prior years the Free Cuba Foundation has organized a silent vigil for justice at Florida International University at 12 noon. The video below is from 2006.
What do you plan to do now in 2012 to denounce this crime? Please comment below.
