Cuban Nationalist Association
| Cuban Nationalist Association | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Cuban Nationalist Movement |
| Founding leader | Felipe Rivero Diaz |
| Spokesperson | Ignacio Novo Sampol |
| Dates of operation | 1962 – 1989 |
| Battles and wars | Cold War |
The Cuban Nationalist Association (or Cuban Nationalist Organization) was a terrorist organization of Cuban exiles who were responsible for a series of bombings against the Castro regime and the Cuban government. The association was a violent offshoot of the Cuban dissident movement. Eventually, the Cuban Nationalist Association changed its name to the "Cuban Nationalist Movement" (MNC).
Bombing of the Maria Teresa
[edit]On August 9, 1963, the association bombed the Cuban Cargo boat Maria Teresa in Montreal, Canada.[1][2][3][4][5][excessive citations]
Attack on the United Nations
[edit]The association was responsible for the firing of a bazooka at the Headquarters of the United Nations building in 1964.[3][4][6][7][8][9][excessive citations]
The United Nations was hosting Che Guevara, who was giving a speech at the time. Guevara did not pause his speech as the bazooka arced across the East River, falling short of its target and splashing down into the water, rattling the windows of the building as it exploded. Later, when Guevara was asked for comment, he said that the explosion "has given the whole thing more flavor," while smoking a Cuban cigar.[6]
The director of the organization at the time was Felipe Rivero.[4] Three men implicated in the attack were Julio Carlos Perez, Ignacio Novo, and Gullermo Novo.[4] Another member, Molly Gonzalesattempted to break through UN Security brandishing a knife, who said that she was trying to assassinate Guevara.[6][10]
After the explosion, the window shades at the chambers of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) were closed, in order to protect UNSC delegates from shards of glass. These curtains remained closed until 2019, when they were opened again for the first time since the attack.[10]
Bombing of the Cuban Embassy
[edit]In 1966, the group was responsible for the bombing of the Embassy of Cuba in Ottawa, Canada.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "International Terrorism in Canada 1960 - 1989" (PDF). Canadian Public Safety. p. 171.
- ^ "Cuban Exiles Claim Ship Blast in Canada". New York Times. August 10, 1964.
- ^ a b "Group That Fired Bazooka At U.N. Formed 5 Years Ago" (PDF). Tampa Tribune. December 24, 1964.
- ^ a b c d KIHSS, PETER (December 23, 1964). "New York Times: Three Held in Bazooka Firing at the U.N." www.latinamericanstudies.org. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "Cuban Nationalist Movement: Bazooka Shot at the United Nations". www.latinamericanstudies.org. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ a b c "Bazooka Fired at U.N. as Cuban Speaks". New York Times. December 12, 1964.
- ^ Maeder, Jay (2017-08-14). "The story of an attempted bazooka attack on the United Nations". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "When the UN Came Under Attack from a Mis-Guided Rocket Launcher". www.globalissues.org. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ "ACQUITTED SUSPECT: I WAS A SPY OF CIA AND UN BAZOOKA | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ a b Borger, Julian (2019-04-05). "Curtains opened on UN security council for first time since attack on Che Guevara". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "FBI memos, plot to bomb ship" (PDF). National Archives. March 16, 1998.
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