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Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar stated on X that the time has come to prosecute the dictator Raúl Castro for the shootdown of the planes belonging to the organization Brothers to the Rescue in 1996.
In his message, he stated that for nearly 30 years, Raúl has evaded justice for the murder of Americans, and assured that the evidence is clear: "he was in command."
"It's time to reopen the case, pursue the truth to the highest level, and bring it to justice," he emphasized.
The statement was made in response to a publication by journalist Marc Caputo, the editor-in-chief of the Politico portal, who wrote that "hardline Cuban" sectors are urging the Department of Justice to prosecute Raúl Castro for ordering the downing of the aircraft.
For his part, Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart also spoke out on X and linked the demand to the leadership of President Donald Trump, whom he described as a strong ally of the activists fighting for democracy.
Díaz-Balart stated that Raúl has been at the center of the crimes of the Cuban regime for nearly seven decades and recalled that Raúl was the Minister of Defense in Cuba when he ordered fire on "two unarmed civilian aircraft in international waters."
"This resulted in the murder of four innocent humanitarian workers: three U.S. citizens and a U.S. resident," he said.
30 years since the downfall
Just days away from the thirtieth anniversary of the event, four Cuban-American congressmen sent a letter to President Trump urging the Department of Justice to consider filing criminal charges against Raúl Castro for his involvement in the downing of the aircraft that occurred on February 24, 1996.
In addition to Salazar and Díaz-Balart, the letter was signed by Carlos A. Giménez and Nicole Malliotakis.
In the letter, the lawmakers also suggested evaluating the issuance of a red alert from Interpol against him. They argue that the current administration is in a "unique" position to address what they consider a long-standing injustice.
On February 24, 1996, Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, and Mario de la Peña, U.S. citizens, along with Pablo Morales, a permanent resident of the United States, lost their lives. The four were involved in humanitarian missions aimed at locating and assisting Cuban rafters attempting to leave the island.
The Congress members argue that Raúl Castro, who at the time was the Minister of Defense, would have been within the chain of command that ordered the action against the unarmed aircraft.
They cite public information as evidence, including a recording released by The Miami Herald and journalistic references from the time that allegedly point to his responsibility.
Díaz-Balart stated that the charge of murder is not subject to statute of limitations and assured that the request will be made in a "very serious" and "very responsible" manner, dismissing any notion that it is a media stunt.
In previous days, he announced on América Radio that he would formally request the prosecution of Raúl Castro for murder in connection with the events.
At the moment of the shootdown, the International Civil Aviation Organization determined that the aircraft were not in Cuban airspace when they were downed.
The case provoked strong international condemnation and, three decades later, it remains an open wound for many families in the Cuban exile.
To date, as recalled by legislators, only one person has been convicted in the United States in the case, while the top political figures have not faced criminal charges.
With the approach of the 30th anniversary, the issue is once again at the center of political debate in Washington, driven by the call from congressmen to reopen the case and take it "to the highest level."
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