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Amelia Calzadilla, president of the Cuban Classic Liberal Party, described the formal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Raúl Castro and five former Cuban military officials for the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996 as a moment of "joy" and "relief."
"It brings us relief, especially to the Cuban community that has been asking for justice for our country for such a long time and, above all, for the figures of this kind who have caused so much harm to be held accountable," Calzadilla stated.
His statements were made in an interview with Noticias Telemundo from Madrid on May 20, the date when Cuba commemorated the founding of the Republic, which added a special symbolic weight to the moment.
The activist, exiled in Spain, directly linked the judicial action to Washington's policy of pressure towards Havana.
"It is impossible not to link the pressure the Donald Trump administration is exerting by standing with the people of Cuba over the injustices that have been committed."
Calzadilla also highlighted the impact of the news within the island, where he stated that Cubans remain very informed despite adverse conditions.
"They have continued to follow the news even despite power outages, which in turn result in internet connectivity issues, even though Cuba lives in this environment of informational and digital isolation where they have virtually no access to free information."
Regarding the historical significance of the moment, he was emphatic: "Those who have always tried to act as victims are actually perpetrators and have always been a threat to the people of Cuba."
Accusation against Raúl Castro in the U.S.
The acting attorney general Todd Blanche announced the charges against Castro from the Freedom Tower in Miami, including conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft, and four individual homicide charges for the deaths of Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
The Department of Justice indicated that it is the first time in nearly 70 years that high-ranking officials of the Cuban regime face charges in the U.S. for acts of violence against American citizens. The grand jury voted on the indictment on April 23, and it was declassified on Wednesday.
The reaction in exile was widespread. Donald Trump celebrated the accusation calling it "a great day" and "very important" for the Cuban-American community.
Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar stated, "Today marks the beginning of the end for the Castro family." José Basulto, founder of Brothers to the Rescue and a survivor of the 1996 attack, said he had been waiting for this moment "for a long time."
The Cuban regime responded by labeling the accusation as "dishonorable" in statements read on state television by Humberto López, while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez described Marco Rubio as a "spokesperson for corrupt and vengeful interests."
Analysts warn that the practical impact of the accusation is limited: Raúl Castro is 94 years old, has never set foot on U.S. soil, and there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the U.S.
However, Calzadilla rejected the idea that this diminishes the importance of the moment and took the opportunity to discuss the party he founded on April 27 in Madrid, aimed at preparing for the reconstruction of Cuba after the fall of the regime.
"Justice, though delayed, will be relentless against those who have caused so much harm," he concluded.
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