Free Cubans Recall Victims of '13 de Marzo'

Stephan Archer
Thursday, July 13, 2000
Newsmax.com

With the saga of 6-year-old raft boy Elian Gonzalez fading out of the media spotlight, Cuban-Americans today commemorate the loss of their kinsmen at the hands of Fidel Castro during the ill-fated voyage of "13 de Marzo."

Six years ago today, in an attempt to escape the clutches of communism in their homeland, more than 70 Cubans boarded the "13 de Marzo," a World War II-era tugboat that had reportedly been repaired for seaworthiness.

Since many Cubans had before and have since tried to escape to the United States on rickety rafts and inner tubes, the restored relic probably seemed like a grand ocean liner as it crossed the 90-mile, shark-infested Straits of Florida.

But when the "13 de Marzo" was about seven miles off the coast of Cuba, three other tugboats began chasing the refugees, and when they had caught up, rammed the fleeing ship until it sunk.

Meanwhile, crew members from the tugboats doused those aboard the "13 de Marzo" with water, using water cannons. Survivors of the surprise attack later recalled how the men from the other ships relentlessly sprayed the crowd, knocking infants out of their mothers' arms and into the sea.

Forty-one people on board the "13 de Marzo" died that day, and the survivors were taken back to Cuba for questioning. Eleven of the dead were children 11 years old or younger.

Cuba’s press, which is completely controlled by the Castro regime, had conflicting reports about the attack, some reports stating the ship sank because it wasn’t seaworthy and others saying the collision between the tugboats was an accident. However, reports in the United States stated at the time that the "13 de Marzo" fell victim to the Cuban navy, which was under orders from Castro.

In an effort to remember those who died, Ramon Saul Sanchez and his group, Movimiento Democracia, will be sailing the Democracy Flotilla out of Miami today at 10 a.m. to Conch Harbor Marina in Key West.

After a day in Key West, the flotilla, which may consist of more than 10 ships, will set sail with its passengers tomorrow for international waters, some 12 miles off Havana. According to a spokesman at Movimiento Democracia, each boat will carry 15 to 16 people. One larger one will carry about 45 people.

While off the coast of Cuba, a religious ceremony will be held. Prayers will be made as flowers are dropped from the sides of the ships.

Recalling an account he had heard about the July 13, 1994, attack, Sanchez described the power of the water cannons as they were aimed at the refugees.

"There was a pipe that was welded from top to bottom, and they put a plywood between the water cannon and that pipe so they could hide behind the plywood to protect themselves from the water cannon," Sanchez said. "The strength of the water was such that it bent the 1-inch-thick plywood and broke it, and they just got thrown into the water."

On Saturday, the flotilla will sail into Point Democracia, near Havana.

Another Cuban-American group, unrelated to Movimiento Democracia, will also hold a vigil of sorts today in Washington, D.C., in memory of the "13 de Marzo."

Israel Moya, founder of NoCastro.com, will lead a group of protesters in front of the Cuban Interest Section, recounting the events surrounding the "13 de Marzo." The protest begins at 5 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m.

During the protest, Moya and the protesters will demand the following:

That the 41 victims as well as the "13 de Marzo" tugboat be recovered; That the May 1995 Migration Accord with Cuba by the Clinton administration be suspended; That justice be served for this and all other atrocities committed by the Castro regime.

Before the protest, Moya and several others plan to walk the halls of Congress informing the legislators of the event.

"We believe the Clinton administration is trying to do deals with Castro, and it is not convenient for the Clinton administration to cover what happened," Moya said.

"This, like any other thing with Castro, is full of lies – full of deceptions and cover-ups. The media tries to convey to the American people that Castro is OK," continued Moya.

"Our position is we don’t think criminals should lead countries, especially Fidel Castro, who pointed nuclear weapons at the U.S."

Listed below are the names and ages of those who died July 13, 1994, while trying to escape to freedom on board the "13 de Marzo."

• Amado González Raíces, 50

• Angel René Abreu Ruiz, 3

• Guillermo Cruz Martínez, 46

• Caridad Leyva Tacoronte, 4

• Eduardo Suárez Esquivel, 39

• Eliécer Suárez Plascencia, 11

• Ernesto Alfonso Loureiro, 26

• Fidencio Ramel Prieto, 51

• Giselle Borges Alvarez, 4

• Helen Martínez Enríquez, 6 months

• Joel García Suárez, 20

• Jorge A. Lebrígio Flores, 28

• Jorge A. Balmaseda Castillo, 24

• José Carlos Nicle Ayala, 3

• Juan M. Gutiérrez García, 11

• Julia Caridad Ruiz Blanco, 35

• Lázaro E. Borges Briel, 34

• Leonardo Notario Góngora, 28

• Lissette M. Alvarez Gutiérrez, 24

• Manuel Sánchez Gallot, 58

• Marta Carrasco Tamayo, 44

• Marta C. Tacoronte Vega, 35

• Magalys Méndez Tacoronte, 17

• Miralis Fernández Rodríguez, 27

• Odalis Muñoz García, 21

• Midalys Sanabria Cabrera, 23

• Omar Rodríguez Suárez, 33

• Pilar Almanza Romero, 31

• Reynaldo Marrero, 45

• Rigoberto Feul González, 30

• Rosa María Alcaldes Puig, 47

• Cindy Rodríguez Fernández, 2

• Yaltamira Anaya Carrasco, 22

• Yasser Perodín Almanza, 11

• Yousel Pérez Tacoronte, 11

• Yuliana Enríque Carranza, 23

• Estrella Suárez Esquivel, 49

• Yolindys Rodríguez Rivero, 2

• Myladys Fernan Rivero, 27

• Mario Gutiérrez, 35

• Augusto G. Martínez, 45