|
Patterns of Global
Terrorism 2003 (CUBA)
Released by the Office of
the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, April
29, 2004. U.S
Department of State.
Full
report
Cuba
Cuba remained opposed to the US-led Coalition
prosecuting the global war on terrorism
and actively condemned many associated US
policies and actions throughout 2003. Government-controlled
press reporting about US-led military operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan were consistently
critical of the United States and frequently
and baselessly alleged US involvement in
violations of human rights. Government propaganda
claimed that those fighting for self-determination
or against foreign occupation are exercising
internationally recognized rights and cannot
be accused of terrorism. Cuba's delegate
to the UN said terrorism cannot be defined
as including acts by legitimate national
liberation movements -- even though many
such groups clearly employ tactics that
intentionally target innocent civilians
to advance their political, religious, or
social agendas. In referring to US policy
toward Cuba, the delegate asserted, "acts
by states to destabilize other states is
a form of terrorism."
The Cuban Government did not extradite
nor request the extradition of suspected
terrorists in 2003. Cuba continued to provide
support to designated Foreign Terrorist
Organizations, as well as to host several
terrorists and dozens of fugitives from
US justice. The Government refuses to return
suspected terrorists to countries when it
alleges that a receiving government could
not provide a fair trial because the charges
against the accused are "political."
Cuba has publicly used this argument with
respect to a number of fugitives from US
justice, including Joanne Chesimard, wanted
for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper
in 1973. Havana permitted up to 20 ETA members
to reside in Cuba and provided some degree
of safehaven and support to members of FARC
and the ELN. Bogota was aware of the arrangement
and apparently acquiesced; it has publicly
indicated that it seeks Cuba's continued
mediation with ELN agents in Cuba. A declaration
issued by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in May 2003 maintained that the
presence of ETA members in Cuba arose from
a request for assistance by Spain and Panama
and that the issue is a bilateral matter
between Cuba and Spain. The declaration
similarly defended its assistance to the
FARC and the ELN as contributing to a negotiated
solution in Colombia.
Dozens of fugitives from US justice have
taken refuge on the island. In a few cases,
the Cuban Government has rendered fugitives
from US justice to US authorities. The salient
feature of Cuba's behavior in this arena,
however, is its refusal to render to US
justice any fugitive whose crime is judged
by Cuba to be "political."
With respect to domestic terrorism, the
Government in April 2003 executed three
Cubans who attempted to hijack a ferry to
the United States. The three were executed
under Cuba's 2001 "Law Against Acts
of Terrorism."
Cuba became a party to all 12 international
conventions and protocols relating to terrorism
in 2001.
|
