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JW, Basulto Take on Castro Communist Dictator Murdered Basultošs Brothers to the Rescue On February 24, 1996, Fidel Castro ordered Cuban Air Force fighter jets to fire on three unarmed civilian search and rescue planes that were on a humanitarian mission in the Florida Straits. Two of the aircraft went down killing four individuals. Jose Basulto, Founder of Brothers to the Rescue, survived the attacks that day, and now, more than six years later, he wants justice (see interview, pages 6 & 7). On May 18, Cuban Independence Day, JW filed suit against Castro on Mr. Basulto's behalf under the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. "I have come to realize we are totally lost and no president is willing to help us," said Basulto in an interview with the Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Its shameful we had to come to this." Proving Castrošs role in the attacks will not be difficult. The arrogant dictator admitted to Dan Rather in a CBS News report on September 3, 1996, "In fact they had the authority to do it, and I assume the responsibility." Furthermore, the case is not without precedent. In 1997, families of three of the victims successfully used the same law to win $188 million in damages against the Cuban government. In a separate case, Judicial Watch filed suit on October 4, 2001 against Castro in the Belgian Royal Court for Castro's "crimes against humanity." A Belgian investigative judge is pursuing a formal investigation. JWs legal actions forced Castro to hire a defense attorney in Brussels. "Many politicians of both parties may want to coddle Castro, but we will not," said Judicial Watch Chairman Larry Klayman. "Judicial Watch will pursue Castro until he pays for his crimes." |
