ORLANDO
BOSCH AVILA
and
MIRR
[REFERENCE: APPENDIX TO HEARINGS before
the SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSASSINATIONS of the U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Ninety-fifth Congress, second session, VOLUME X: Anti-Castro activities and
organizations, etc., March 1979, pages 89-93]
NOTE: Please read the footnotes.
page 89
X. MOVIMIENTO INSURRECCIONAL DE RECUPERACION REVOLUCIONARIA
(MIRR) AND ORLANDO BOSCH AVILA
(324) When four of Castro's army officers
and 100 men deserted and left for the Las Villas Mountains in August 1960,
they formed the nucleus of the Movimiento Insurreccional de Recuperacion
Revolucionaria (MIRR).(1) Helping lay the groundwork for this organization
was the former chief of the 26th of July Movement in Las Villas Provence,
Dr. Orlando Bosch Avila. (2) Bosch had left Cuba 1 month previously and,
from Miami, issued a call for rebel army men to desert. (3) Promoting the
defection of army personnel and carrying out sabotage operations throughout
Cuba were the early primary activities of the MIRR. (4) In both, it was extremely
effective.
(325) Former rebel army officer Victor Paneque
assumed military leadership of the group (5) and, within a few months of
his escape from Cuba, organized a team of infiltrators to reenter the country
to continue MIRR operations. (6)
(326) Orlando Bosch became general coordinator
of MIRR, working with individuals and other groups involved in operations
against Cuba and securing necessary financial backing. (7)
(327) A pediatrician by profession, (8) Bosch
became immersed in his political movement and for 18 years carried out a
crusade to overthrow Castro. His efforts at times have been characterized
as "bumbling," but he has also been termed "single-mindedly" and "morally
committed." (9) Widely viewed in the U.S. press as a Cuban patriot when he
first began his anti-Castro activities, Bosch's increased acts of violence
gradually changed his image to that of a terrorist. (10) the intensity and
violence of his activities, which have always been widely publicized, were
a major factor in the committee's decision to examine Bosch and the MIRR
among those Cuban exile organizations considered capable of involvement in
an assassination conspiracy.
(328) Bosch was interviewed by the committee
in Cuartel San Carlos prison in Venezuela. He is charged with complicity
in the October 6, 1975, bombing of a Cubana Airlines plane which resulted
in the deaths of 73 people. (11) Although denying involvement in the airplane
bombing, Bosch said he approved of it. (12) Claiming terrorism a necessary
evil in fighting Castro, Bosch stated, "You have to fight violence with violence.
At times you cannot avoid hurting innocent people." (13)
(329) The activities of the MIRR in the early
1960's were carried out by a small group of individuals. There were
reportedly never a great deal of members in Miami. (14) In 1966, Bosch claimed
to have only 20 men outside Miami, located in various seaport cities in the
United States (15) One of the major interests of the MIRR was to blow up
vessels trading with Cuba. (16) In this, it was effective, but
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the MIRR successes in the early 1960's was
a result of its association with a number of other anti- Castro organizations
and individuals.
(330) Bosch said that in late 1961 he was
contacted by Evelio Duque, leader of Ejercito Cubano Anticommunista (ECA),
who indicated he might be getting CIA support for his group and wanted Bosch
to join him. (17) Together they submitted a plan to the Agency outlining
their conditions for CIA support and were informed about a month later the
plan had been approved. (18) Acting as the political leader in this alliance,
Bosch joined Duque, the military leader, at a camp in Homestead, Fla., and
was in touch with a CIA liaison officer. (19)
(331) Bosch soon came to the conclusion that
the camp was an exercise in futility. He believed that the CIA had
no intention of mounting another invasion or initialing attacks against Cuba.
He felt the U.S. -sponsored camps were merely a means of keeping the exiles
busy and, privately and unofficially, his CIA contact confirmed his suspicions,
Bosch said. (20) After 9 months of frustrating inactivity, he published a
pamphlet, "The Tragedy of Cuba," in which he accused the United States of
misleading the Cuban exiles. He sent a copy to President Kennedy and
then closed down the camp. (21) After this, Bosch said he had no more dealings
with the CIA. (22)
(332) Bosch maintained an ongoing relationship,
beginning in late 1960, with Frank Sturgis, well- known anti-Castro soldier
of fortune; (23) Alexander Rorke, former clerk at the FBI; (24) and William
Johnson, an American pilot who, along with Sturgis, provided information
to the CIA on Cuban exile activities. (25) Johnson had full control over
all MIRR operations. (26) Bosch was concerned with financing raids against
Cuba and did not know the nature of the missions until their completion.
(27)
(333) According to Johnson, American pilots
were placed under contract to fly three airstrikes over Cuba for the MIRR.
(28) They were to receive $2,000 per mission. (29) Johnson admitted his own
motive was purely mercenary. (30)
(334) Although relatively inactive in 1962,
(31) the MIRR engaged in a series of bombing raids over Cuba in 1963 primarily
aimed at destroying the production of sugar (32) in an effort to disrupt
the economy. It also reportedly conducted airstrikes against a MIG
base in Cuba (33) and various other strikes aimed at strategic targets. (34)
The raids were effective but not without risk. In several instances,
the raiders' planes were shot down and pilots killed. (35)
(335) Concurrent with an association with
American adventurers, the MIRR also had associations with other exile organizations.
It planned raids against Cuba in cooperation with Commandos L (36) and discussed
unity raids with members of RECE. (37) Bosch, at this time, was interested
in establishing a base of operations in the Dominican Republic to facilitate
long-range planning. (38)
(336) The documentation the committee examined
failed to explain how the MIRR was able to finance its extensive operations;
further, Bosch did not specify any source. Bosch told the committee
that his association with Frank Sturgis alone culminated in 11 airstrikes
over Cuba. (39) At that time, he said, they usually rented a plane for $400
plus $60 an hour. (40) Bill Johnson charged $4,000 for pilot
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fees for each mission. (41) Bosch said he
knew the pilots only got $2,000 and Johnson pocketed the rest, but his purpose
was to fight Castro whatever it cost. (42) Bosch's commitment to fight Castro
extends to the present. (43)
(337) The funds were initially furnished MIRR
from a Chicago-based Cuban exile, Paulino A. Sierra, who allegedly collected
moneys from gambling interests. (44) some money came from anti-Castro supporters
in Puerto Rico. (45) It is known that the FBI was long interested in the
source of finances of the MIRR and in March 19164 authorized a 30-day mail
check on it and Bosch in an effort to identify possible sources. (46) During
this time, several wealthy Cuban exiles received threatening letters demanding
large contributions for the fight against Castro. (47) Bosch was implicated
in these extortion attempts, (48) brought to trial, and acquitted. (49) He
told committee that in 1967 he once used the funds he had collected in settlement
for a personal injury automobile accident to buy explosives and weapons.
(50) Whatever Bosch's methods of raising money, there is no indication he
ever used it to enrich himself. (51)
(338) Well financed and totally dedicated,
Bosch managed to run afoul of the U.S. Government authorities at least seven
times in slightly over a 4-year period. Several of these encounters
resulted in his arrest, (52) but he was always acquitted. (53)
(339) In July 1967, Bosch and the MIRR became
assimilated into a new movement, known as Cuban Power (54) and the tempo
of violent activities increased. On September 16, 1968, Bosch was arrested
for firing a bazooka into the hull of a Polish ship anchored in Miami harbor.
(55) He was subsequently tried and sentenced to 10 years in a Federal prison.
(56) From his prison cell in Atlanta, Ga., Bosch allegedly was making plans
to resume bombing Japanese and Spanish ships trading with Cuba as soon as
he was released. (57) He was granted parole on November 1, 1972
and immediately began traveling through Latin America, in violation of that
parole. (58) he said his aim in Latin America was to forge alliances with
countries which had powerful Cuban exile communities. (59) So effective was
he in making solid political alliances, that in the ensuing years he was
able to travel freely, with forged passports, throughout Latin America. (60)
(340) Whether or not Bosch was the principal
conspirator in the bombing of the Cuban airliner, it is known that his Cuban
Power movement, which merged with other Cuban activities in 1976 (61) to
form a Cuban Secret Government (62) engaged in acts of terrorism. (63) This
latter group was linked with numerous recent bombing incidents, (64) an assassination
attempt against Henry Kissinger, (65) the assassination of Orlando Letelier
in Washington, D.C. (66) and the bombing of the Cuban Airlines plane.
(341) Orlando Bosch, a zealot, turned out
to be the most aggressive and volatile of the anti- Castro leaders.
That alone could validly raise the question of possible association with
the assassination of President Kennedy. In addition, the committee
was presented with an allegation that specifically connected him to a conspiracy.
(67) but investigation failed to support the claim that Bosch had been in
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Dallas in November 1963 in the company of
Lee Harvey Oswald. When asked, Bosch told the committee he was at his
home in Miami when he heard President Kennedy had been shot. (68)
Submitted by:
Gaeton J. Fonzi,
Investigator.
Elizabeth J. Palmer,
Researcher.
REFERENCES
(1) FBI No. 97-4474, MIRR miscellaneous references,
index of anti-Castro organizations, Feb. 8, 1960, p. 1
(J.F.K. Document 009427).
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) FBI No. 97-4474, MIRR sec. 1 cable to
Director from Miami, Nov. 2, 1960, item 1, p. 2 (J.F.K. Document 009427).
(5) Id. At p. 1.
(6) CIA cable to Director from MASH, Nov.
2, 1960
(7) CIA updated report.
(8) Memorandum to staff director, June 15,
1978, re interview with Dr. Orlando Bosch Avila, p. 1 (J.F.K. Document 009362).
(9) Gloria Marina and Arnold Markowitz, "Fiery
Bosch Courts Terrorist Label," Miami Herald, Nov, 8, 1976.
(10) Ibid.
(11) See ref. 8.
(12) "Caracas to Charge Bosch, Trio in Bombing
of Cuban Airliner," Miami News, Aug. 23, 1978.
(13) Ibid.
(14) FBI No. 97-4474, MIRR sec. 1, report
from Miami by George E. Davis, Jan. 18, 1961, item 5, p. 3
(J.F.K. Document 009427).
(15) Ibid., item 3, p. 15, FBI No. 97-4474,
sec. 6, memo to J. Walter Yeagley from Director, June 22, 1966.
(16) Ibid.
(17) See ref. 8.
(18) Ibid.
(19) Ibid.
(20) Ibid.
(21) Ibid.
(22) Ibid.
(23) FBI No. 97-4474, MIRR sec. 1, report
from Miami, item 3, p.2, Jan. 23. 1961,
House Select Committee on
Assassinations (J.F.K. Document 009427).
(24) Ibid., item 2.
(25) Ibid., item 14, p.6.
(26) Ibid., item 15, p.6.
(27) Ibid.
(28) Ibid.
(29) See ref. 8, p.5.
(30) See ref. 4, FBI cable, item 2, p. 12.
(31) Ibid., item 9, p.5.
(32) Ibid., items 10, 11,12, p. 5.
(33) Ibid., item 14, p. 6.
(34) Ibid., items 1,2,3, p.8, an items 4,5,
p.9.
(35) Ibid., items 2,3, p. 11, and item 1,
p. 12.
(36) Ibid., item 5, p. 14.
(37) Ibid., item 2
(38) Ibid., item 8, p.9.
(39) See ref. 8, p.2.
(40) Ibid.
(41) Ibid.
(42) Ibid.
(43) See ref. 12.
(44) See ref. 4, item 16, p. 6.
(45) Ibid., item 7, p.11.
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(46) Ibid., item 6, p.9.
(47) FBI No. 9-42758, Orlando Bosch, secs.
1, 2, 4, p. 5 (J.F.K. Document 013071)
(48) Ibid.
(49) See ref. 9.
(50) See ref. 8, p. 5.
(51) See ref. 9.
(52) See ref. 4, FBI cables, item 6, pp. 15,
16, 17.
(53) See ref. 47, FBI document, item 1, p.
2, FBI No. 45-10848.
(54) See ref. 4, FBI cable, p. 18.
(55) Blake Fleetwood, "I am Going to Declare
War," New Times, May 13, 1977, p. 46.
(56) Ibid.
(57) See ref. 47, FBI document, sec. 4, p.
3, FBI No. 45-10848
(58) See ref. 55, pp. 46-47.
(59) Id. At p. 47.
(60) Ibid.
(61) Id. At p. 48.
(62) See ref. 4, FBI cable, item 3, p. 2.
(63) See ref. 47, FBI cable, item 1, pp. 1-2,
FBI No. 45-10801.
(64) Ibid.
(65) See ref. 4, FBI cable, item 14, p. 5.
(66) See ref. 55, p. 51.
(67) Immunized executive session testimony
of Marita Lorenz, May 31, 1978, Hearings before the House Select Committee
on Assassinations. Lorenz, who had publicly claimed she was once Castro's
mistress (Miami News, June 15, 1976), told the committee she was present
at a September 1963 meeting in Orlando Bosch's Miami home during which Lee
Harvey Oswald, Frank Sturgis, Pedro Diaz Lanz, and Bosch made plans to go
to Dallas (pp. 31-34). She further testified that around November 15,
1963, she, Jerry Patrick Hemming, the Novo brothers, Pedro Diaz Lanz, Sturgis,
Bosch, and Oswald traveled in a two-car caravan to Dallas and stayed in a
motel where they were contacted by Jack Ruby. There were several rifles
and scopes in a motel room (pp. 43-54). Lorenz said she returned to
Miami around November 19 or 20.
All possible individuals involved in this
allegation were questioned by the committee with the following results:
--Interviewed on June 16, 1978, Orlando Bosch
told the committee he had met Lorenz once in 1962 at which time he was planning
an air raid over Cuba with Alexander Rorke. Lorenz later called him
and said she wanted to get involved in anti-Castro activities, but Bosch
turned her down and never saw her again. He further stated he had never
traveled west of New Orleans in his life (JFK Document No. 009363, p.2).
--In a March 21, 1978, deposition in Miami,
Fla., Jerry Patrick Hemming responded negatively to the questions: "Did you
ever drive from Miami to Dallas with Marita Lorenz? Or Frank Sturgis?
Or a man identifying himself as ‘Ozzie'?" (pp 170-71).
--Immunized testimony was received in Washington,
D.C. on April 28, 1978, from Pedro Diaz Lanz, who denied Lorenz' allegation
(p. 64), and explained his whereabouts on November 22, 1963 (p. 65).
--In a March 20, 1978, deposition in Miami,
Frank A. Sturgis was asked if he did, "... in the company of Marita Lorenz,
Leon Oswald and others drive from Miami to Dallas a day or two before the
assassination?" Sturgis responded:
Sir, that is an absolute lie. I have
never been with Marita Lorenz and Ozzie, as she calls him or with Pedro Diaz
Lanz, or Marcus Diaz Lanz, or Dr. Orlando Bosch, or Jerry Patrick, which
she claimed all of us besides some other Cubans, were in two automobiles
and left Miami, Fla., 2 days before the assassination of the President of
the United States. She is a liar. I took a polygraph examination
to that effect that I have never been involved in any conspiracy to kill
the President of the United States, nor was I with her in any automobile
with these people or any other people going to Dallas to plot to kill the
President of the United States. She is an absolute liar [p. 157].
Sturgis said that on November 22, 1963, he
was in his home in Miami, Fla. (P. 155).
The committee found no evidence to support
Lorenz' allegation.
(68) See ref. 8, p. 1.
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