By Jim Burns, CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer. September
06, 2001. CNS News
(CNSNews.com) - A former Cuban government security agent said Cuba needs to
infiltrate Cuban exile groups in the United States because that's the only way
to prevent "terrorist groups" in Florida from attacking the island.
Radio Havana, the official voice of the Castro government, on Wednesday
quoted the former security agent, Percy Francisco Alvarado Godoy, as saying that
in order to prevent incidents such as the 1997 Havana hotel bombings, in which
an Italian tourist was killed, it was essential for Cuba to infiltrate
organizations such as the Cuban American National Foundation. Godoy accuses the
CANF of organizing what he called "terrorist acts" against Cuba.
He also criticized American authorities for failing to stop the exile
group's activities, something that in his opinion forces the Castro government
to act in its own self-defense.
The Cuban-American National Foundation denied that it sponsors terrorist
acts inside Cuba. CANF spokesperson Mariela Ferretti said the Castro government
is simply trying to justify the infiltration of anti-Castro groups by its
agents.
"The FBI hasn't done anything against the Cuban-American National
Foundation because there is doing to do," Ferretti said.
"We are a legitimate organization that was created 20 years ago. We
have made a reputable name for ourselves and we have absolutely nothing to do
with any of the actions that have taken place inside of Cuba, which the Cuban
government would like to pin on the foundation," she said.
The Castro government in the past has made no secret of its disdain for the
CANF as a "terrorist group" and Ferretti acknowledged that CANF is the
Castro government's "number one enemy."
"That is so because of the work that we have developed over the course
of 20 years in Washington, D.C., and around the world," she said, adding
that, "Everywhere Cuba attempts to go to promote or widen their influence,
the foundation has been there to respond and that is what bothers them. The
foundation has nothing to do with violent activities," Ferretti said.
Ferretti also believes the Castro government is paranoid about the CANF
because the group is so well known inside of Cuba.
"We are dedicated and devoted in what we see as the cause of freedom
for Cuba. We have been seen by media analysts and others as the most influential
Cuban exile organization in the United States, and I think that's definitely
cause for concern for the Cuban government."
"They would like nothing more than to slander us because our works
speaks for itself and it's absurd that the regime that is known for terrorism
and provides safe haven for them inside Cuba is pointing the finger at us as
terrorists," Ferretti concluded.
Earlier this week, the FBI announced it expects to make more arrests in
connection with a Cuban spy network that sought to infiltrate Miami's
anti-Castro Cuban-exile organizations and the United States military command for
the Americas. Two people, a husband and wife team, were arrested and taken into
custody last Friday.
FBI officials said it was the "largest" Cuban spy ring ever
detected by bureau investigators.
George Gari and his wife, Marisol were arrested and charged as members of a
Cuban espionage operation known as "the wasp network."
Agents said the two went by the code names of "Luis" and "Margot."
Their arrests bring to 16 the number of people indicted since 1998 in an ongoing
investigation of Cuban espionage operations in the U.S.
Both were named in a three-count indictment on charges of conspiracy to act
as agents of foreign governments without proper identification or notice to the
attorney general of the United States. If convicted, they could receive 15 years
in jail.
FBI officials allege that the Garis committed espionage between 1991 and
1998. George Gari was employed by Lockheed Martin in Orlando and had been
ordered by his Cuban handlers to apply for work at the U.S. military command for
the Americas. Officials would not elaborate further.
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