The Hostosian National Independence Movement of Puerto Rico (MINH-PR), joins the Cuban Embassy in Barbados, The Cuban Barbadian Friendship Association, the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration, the July 26 Movement (Barbados) and other progressive organizations in the commemoration of the 37 years of the crime committed against Cuba by terrorists backed by the U.S. government that blew in the air a Cubana de Aviación Flight 455 on October 6, 1976.

In the deadliest terrorist airline attack in the Western Hemisphere, all 78 people on board were killed. Among the dead were all 24 members of the 1975 national Cuban fencing team who just won all the gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Championships, many of them were minors.

In 1985, the Cuban terrorist Luis Posada Carriles was indicted and prosecuted as the mastermind of the murder of the 73 persons aboard that plane. But before the Venezuelan court pronounced a verdict, he escaped from prison. He now lives in Miami protected by the CIA and the United States.

Like Cuba, Puerto Rico also knows the terror inflicted by Posada Carriles’s followers. Santiago "Chagui" Mari Pesquera, son of independence leader Juan Mari Brás was killed on March 24, 1976. In April 30, 1979 a commando of Cuban counterrevolutionaries shot and killed Carlos Muñiz Varela. Muñiz was a Cuban and activist for the independence of Puerto Rico who also started a traveling agency for trips between Cuba and Puerto Rico. These are only two cases, but there have been others, bombs and murders of comrades. No murder by Cuban counterrevolutionaries has been prosecuted by the FBI or Puerto Rico’s police department.

The people assassinated in Barbados are not forgotten. Nor will we forget our own. Behind their deaths is the criminal hand of imperialism.

For a Caribbean integration and solidarity,

Héctor Pesquera Sevillano - MINH Copresident & Julio Muriente Pérez - MINH Copresident

Friday, October 4th, 2013