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Supporters and family members of the Brothers to the Rescue pilots shot down 13 years ago gathered Tuesday around UP’s Graham Center fountain to commemorate the anniversary of their death.
Teresita Mestre, a supporter; Nancy Morales, sister of downed-pilot Pablo Morales; and Eva Barbas, mother of Pablo Morales join hands in a six-minute silent vigil for the Brothers to the Rescue pilots shot down by Cuban MIGs on Feb. 24, 1996.
By Sissi Aguila
The Free Cuba Foundation, an organization founded by FIU students, held a vigil Tuesday, Feb. 24 to mark the 13th anniversary of the deaths of the four Brothers to the Rescue pilots – Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre ’88, Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales – who were shot down by Cuban MIG jets in international airspace.
Families of the victims joined FIU students, faculty and staff in forming a human chain around University Park’s Graham Center fountain at 3:27 p.m. -the time the first plane was shot down. They then observed six minutes of silence to mark the time between the first and second plane’s downing.
The victims were searching for Cuban rafters off the Florida straits when they were fired on by two Cuban pilots. Two planes were hit. A third plane, flown by Jose Basulto, escaped. U.S. investigators found that the Brothers to the Rescue planes were attacked on orders from Fidel Castro and the UN Security Council concluded in a report issued in 1999 that “Cuba was responsible for violating the right to life and the right to a trial that would indemnify the relatives for the damage they suffered as a result of those illicit acts.”
“This is an opportunity for our community to remember these crimes,” said John Suarez, member of the Free Cuba Foundation. “It is a silent, dignified way to ask for justice.”
“I wanted to be present and share this moment with them,” said Venezuelan-born Miriam Martorella, who was visiting the campus when she saw a flyer for the event. “Liberty is the most beautiful thing God gave us and we must all stand up when we see injustices like what happened to these men.”
“Justice may be late but it will come,” said Nancy Morales, sister of downed-pilot Pablo Morales.
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After 50 years of a brutal dictatorship what can u possibly expect of that sorry excuse for a Government. Basulto was absolutely irresponsible in entering Cuba on other occasions what exactly did he expect to achieve FREEDOM get serious it was absolute stupidity and they were wating for them. After 50 years of Castro violating human rights in every possible way what makes u believe they have limits?What can u possibly expect from that dictatorship to be brought down peacefully does anyone enter a dangerous neighborhood in Miami or anywhere at night and expect what?
In remembrance of the Brothers to the Rescue that were shot down by the Cuban government.
I along with the Cuban society and former students of FIU, are saddened by such sadistic crimes committed by the Cuban government, by the shooting of the planes of our "Brothers to the rescue" while they were saving lives off the Florida straits. We give our condolences to the families on this 13th anniversary, for the lost family members and we promise them to look forward to a free Cuba in the near future, where the "Brothers to the rescue" will always be remembered and honored for their efforts, courage and patriotism; one that will always be embraced by our history and passed on to future generations.
I look forward to a free Cuba and the election of a government for the Island, those who will provide freedom and democracy to this long suffered country.
With deep sympathy,
Jesus Perez
Former FIU graduate.
lourds
1. That same attitude was expressed against MLK, Mahatma Gandhi, and others who sought to challenge structural violence and injustice as exist today in Cuba. Examples of brutal dictatorships brought down peacefully are abundant: Poland, Philippines, Chile, Estonia, Lithuania, and Hungary just to name a few.
2. On February 24, 1996 the two planes shotdown had not entered Cuban airspace and in fact were more than 20 miles away from Cuban airspace.
3. Forty years ago today, April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. met his end at the hands of an assassin’s bullet at the age of 39. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi another apostle of non-violence met his end on his way to morning prayers at the hands of an assassin’s bullet murdered sixty years ago at the age of 79 on January 30, 1948. Steven Bantu Biko, nonviolent student leader and anti-apartheid activist, was brutally beaten to death by South African police on September 12, 1977 at the age of 30. Benigno Aquino Jr. returned to the Philippines on board a commercial jet from exile to carry on his struggle for democracy in the face of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship only to meet with an extrajudicial execution by government forces at the airport on August 21, 1983 at age 50. Despite their deaths – their nonviolent struggle triumphed over injustice and tyranny.
After the past 50 years of dictatorship in Cuba, we don't expect to receive criticism from our Cuban American brothers, and fellow FIU alumni, but instead, we expect the support and efforts that we need in order to unite us all. The future generation that will follow, will be the ones to live in a new government of a liberated Cuba. I believe that a free Cuba will emerge and that future generations will enjoy the freedom that we enjoy now days here in the United States of America. We cannot judge those that have been living under tyranny and never had the opportunity to enjoy freedom itself, but what we can do is help and embrace those that are suffering and crying out for help. Ask not what you can do, but follow what your introspection tells you to do.