Armando, Carlos, Mario y Pablo Viven!
What happened: An act of state terrorism by the Castro regime that killed four persons
Wednesday,
February 24, 2016 will mark 20 years since Fidel and Raul Castro
ordered Cuban MiGs to hunt and shoot down two Brothers to the Rescue
planes that at the time were in international airspace
killing Armando
Alejandre Jr. (45 years old), Carlos Alberto Costa (29), Mario Manuel de
la Peña
(24), and Pablo Morales (29). A thorough international investigation
carried out by the Inter-American Commission on the merits made public
in 1999 concluded:
"Cuba is responsible for violating the right to life (Article I of the
American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man) to the detriment of Carlos
Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario De La Peña, and Armando Alejandre, who died as a
result of the direct actions of its agents on the afternoon of 24 February 1996
while flying through international airspace."
Furthermore with the issue of justice for the four victims and their families the IACHR report stated:
"Cuba is responsible for violating the right to a fair trial (Article
XVIII of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man) to the
detriment of the relatives of Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario De La Peña,
and Armando Alejandre, in that to date the Cuban authorities have not conducted
an exhaustive investigation with a view toward prosecuting and punishing the
perpetrators and have not indemnified those same relatives for the damage they
suffered as a result of those illicit acts."
How we've remembered and continue to demand justice
Beginning in the days following the February 24, 1996 shoot down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes the Free Cuba Foundation organized silent vigils for justice at Florida International University and the University of Miami and took part in a flotilla to remember and pay our respects to Mario De La Peña, Armando Alejandre, an FIU alumnus,
Carlos Costa and Pablo Morales. Over the next two decades at the end of February at Florida International University students and family members of the four martyred men would gather in silence between 3:21pm the time the first plane was shot down and 3:27pm the time the second plane was shot down in a vigil for justice. Below is a partial recollection of the past two decades. Join us
on February 24, 2016 as we mark 20 years demanding justice and remembering a terrible crime. We are still updating this blog entry and welcome your input and recollections.
Free Cuba Foundation denounces
planned shutdown of Miami International Airport and participates in the flotilla days later on March 2, 1996 to honor the four pilots who perished on February 24, 1996.
The
FIU Beacon gave extensive coverage in March of 1996 on Free Cuba
Foundation's participation in the Flotilla for Brothers to the Rescue
and activism on campus.
On February 24, 1997 at 3:20 pm the Free Cuba Foundation led the call for a prayer
chain to honor the memory of the four young men who died one year earlier
trying to save the lives of others.
Free Cuba Foundation participates in the
planting of a tree at Florida International
University to honor the memory of the 4 martyrs of Feb. 24, 1996. Jose
Basulto and members of the family participated along with the University
Community.
On February 24, 1998 at 3:20 pm the FCF formed a chain of silence, and
left white roses under the tree planted in their memory to honor the
the 4 young men who died two years earlier trying to save the
lives of others. Armando, Carlos, Mario y Pablo Viven!
On February 24, 1999 at 3:21 pm the FCF joined
with the families of Armando, Carlos, Mario and Pablo and formed a seven
minute chain of silence coinciding with the span of time in which both
planes were shot down. Afterwards family members left white roses under the tree planted in their
memory to honor the the 4 young men who died three years earlier trying to
save the lives of others. Armando, Carlos, Mario y Pablo Viven!
In the early morning hours of February 24, 2000 students from American
University, Catholic University, and Georgetown University signed the
Washington Consortium Declaration
announcing the formation of the Free Cuba Foundation - Washington
Consortium.On February 24 at 3:21 pm the
FCF formed two chains of silence, one at
FIU's main fountain and another in Washington DC in front of the
Department of Justice. Afterwards FCF (FIU) members left white roses under
the tree planted in memory of the 4 young men who died four years earlier
trying to save the lives of others. FCF (DC) delivered a
formal
communication to Attorney General Reno demanding justice. Meanwhile
members of FCF(DC) marched in a picket line for the next few hours
demanding justice. Armando, Carlos, Mario y Pablo Viven!
Washington Consortium Declaration
We the Students of the Washington Consortium recognizing
that students have played a leading role in the protection of human rights
around the world, do hereby declare our support for the principles, and
purposes enshrined in Concilio Cubano's founding statement
in Havana, on October 10, 1995:
FIRST: The determination to work for a non-violent transition
toward a democratic society under the rule of law, devoid of any
vindictiveness, and equally comprising all Cubans.
SECOND: Obtaining unconditional amnesty for all political
prisoners.
THIRD: Launching a series of legal transformations that will
provide
the necessary framework, within the law, to secure absolute respect
for all universally recognized human rights, as well as equal
participation by all Cubans in an opening process that will lead to
economic independence.
FOURTH: The belief that, in order to harmonize the
peaceful
transition we are advocating the principle that Cuba is the fatherland
and the home of each and every Cuban, it is essential to provide such
conditions as will guarantee participation for all Cubans, with no
exclusions whatsoever.
Concilio Cubano was designed to be a permanent forum where all
participating organizations could fashion joint proposals while
maintaining their own identity. We the students believe that the
systematic denial of human rights and human dignity in Cuba cannot
be tolerated. We believe that the moral and pragmatic solution is
non-violent resistance to the intolerable situation in Cuba.
On February 24, 1996 our generation of Cuban youth had its first four
losses in this
struggle. Mario De La Peña, Armando Alejandre, an FIU alumnus,
Carlos Costa and Pablo Morales where of our generation. Four years after
the massacre of February 24.
We the students wish to join with our brothers and sisters inside of Cuba
for the liberation of the Cuban nation.
To this end we seek to follow the lead of the internal opposition,
embrace the principles of non-violent resistance, speak out on behalf
of Cuba's prisoners of conscience, and issue a call to educate students
about the history and reality of the ongoing tragedy in Cuba. Therefore,
we form the Free Cuba Foundation in the Washington Consortium.
Signed on February 24, 2000
Sandy Acosta
American University
Mario Morlote
Georgetown
Camila Ruiz
Catholic University
February 24, 2000
Attorney General Janet Reno
Office of the Attorney General
Department of Justice
Tenth Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Madam Attorney General Reno,
I just spoke with the mother of Mario Manuel de la Peña, 24 years of age
when he was murdered by agents of the Cuban government. She spoke on
behalf of the other families when she stated, "We want justice. We want
them [those responsible] indicted."
We are here today engaging in a moment of silence coinciding with the time
3:21pm - 3:27pm in which the planes carrying all four were blown out of
the sky by Cuban MiGs.
On behalf of the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and daughters of
Mario, Pablo, Carlos, and Armando I beg you that you provide them with a
little justice for a devastating loss.
Sincerely,
John Suarez
Coordinator
Free Cuba Foundation
Graham Center 340
Florida International University
Miami, FL 33199
Sandy Acosta
Co-Chairperson
Free Cuba Foundation
Washington Consortium
2907 "Q" St., NW
Washington DC. 20007
February 24, 1996 Shoot-down recalled / The Miami Herald
Shoot-down recalled
Mahatma Gandhi observed: "To forgive is not to forget. The merit lies
in loving in spite of the vivid knowledge that the one that must be
loved is not a friend. There is no merit in loving an enemy when you
forget him for a friend."
For a decade the Free Cuba Foundation has organized silent vigils on
the anniversaries of the 13 de Marzo tugboat sinking that resulted in
the deaths of 37 men, women and children on July 13, 1994, and the
shoot-down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes on Feb. 24, 1996, which
resulted in the murders of Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario De La
Peña and Armando Alejandre, a Florida International University alum.
Our objective is to show that FIU students remember these crimes and
continue to demand justice.
On
Feb. 24 at 3:20 p.m. we will hold a seven-minute silent vigil at
FIU's main fountain facing the Charles Perry building. This coincides
with the time that the planes were shot down by Cuban MiGs in
international airspace. Family members of the victims will join the
observance.
NERI MARTINEZ
coordinator,
Free Cuba Foundation
Florida International University
Miami
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/letters/10941580.htm?1c
Current Issue: Monday, February 28, 2005
In memory
Media Credit: Luis Nin and Jessica Marshall/The Beacon
(Top and bottom, center) President Modesto A. Maidique holds hands with
family members and FIU students and staff during a Brothers to the
Rescue silent vigil held on
Feb. 24. The memorial was held to honor the
death of the four Brothers to the Rescue members who lost their lives
during a humanitarian effort in international waters near Cuba. "We
hold this moment of silence every year on this day," said Neri
Martinez, the Free Cuba Foundation coordinator and vigil planner.
Following the commemorative memorial, family members announced that
with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, two rewards
of$100,000 and $50,000 will be given to anyone with information leading
to the capture and arrest of known suspects involved in the 1996
shooting.
http://www.beaconnewspaper.com/media/paper540/news/2005/02/28/News/In.Memory-879846.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.beaconnewspaper.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Today, February 24, 2004 between
3:20-
3:27pm members of the Free Cuba
Foundation led by Neri Martinez along with other FIU students, family
members of the martyrs, and members of the FIU community held a silent vigil at
Florida International University with hands linked in a circular human
chain around the main water fountain. The vigil was seven minutes long
coinciding with the time that both planes were shotdown by Cuban MiGs
in international airspace.
We have an on-line website at
http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/brothers.html
that offers information on the Brothers to Rescue organization, and
places the shootdown into context.
Members of the press asked if students at FIU still remembered this
tragedy. By our actions today we have answered their question. We
shall not forget until justice is done for the families of the
victims.
Free Cuba Foundation
Graham Center 340
Florida International University
Miami, FL. 33199
Supporters and family members of the Brothers to the Rescue pilots shot down 13 years ago gathered on February 24, 2009 around UP’s Graham Center fountain to commemorate the anniversary of their death.
In
2009 UM Causa held a vigil on February 24 at the Rock at the University
while we were at FIU holding the traditional vigil at the main fountain
at FIU.
On February 25, 2010 El Nuevo Herald reported on the previous days silent vigil at FIU:
Around seventy persons carried out a silent vigil at the Modesto Maidique campus of Florida International University, to commemorate the fourteenth anniversary of the downing of two civilian airplanes of the organization Brothers to the Rescue by the Air Force of Cuba on February 24, 1996, where four persons died.
The vigil, organized by the Free Cuba Foundation of FIU and families of the victims of the shoot down, lasted exactly seven minutes, from 3:21pm to 3:27 p.m., the time that both planes piloted by Carlos Costa and Mario Manuel de
la Peña, respectively where downed, in 1996. Armando Alejandre Jr. and Pablo Morales also died.
