. ~ Lo 7 . . . “a WEN DRI 2 en eee 5 SSCIBOX # 377-. RE: MOVIMIENTO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO (MDC). Ruiz stated he, along with Fidel Zaldivar, Angel Vega, Leovino Interan, Enrique Infante and 7 Laureano Batista Falla, departed from Miami about aa January 8, 1964. They were aboard the "Sigma x," Be a thirty foot commercial fishing boat owned by Batista, . - but did not have any arms or articles of war aboard the boat. They subsequently arrived at Nurse Cay, Bahamas, . waited nine days for Cuban refugees to meet them, and af- _ter running low on food and water, decided to return to Miami. They put in to Staniel Cay, and lay there for . 4 about five days while Batista went to Nassau to obtain a new fuel pump for the boat. The “Sigma X" boat was in bad operating condition; the motor would only give the t boat a speed of about six knots; and, there were other difficulties with the motor besides the fuel pump. The "Sigma X" returned to Miami about 1 A.M., February 3, 1964, and was left at a marina because of motor failure. Ruiz and Zaldivar went into Miami and located a couple of friends who also had a Sigma-type fishing boat. These friends volunteered to tow the "Sigma x" back up the Miami River where repairs could be made... When Ruiz and Zaldivar got back to the "Sigma X," they were detained by U. S. Customs Agents, and the boat confis- cated, - SAMS Ed Cee ae ee " .10- vw gS Speer TR ER ST a ee aa age YE ae 2 le i OU ee ree ee we HW 54653 DoclId:322027007 Page 12
RE: MOVIMIENTO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO (MDC). Ruiz stated that none of the occupants of the "Sigma X" went ashore in Cuba or went near the Cuban coast, but they did go ashore in the Bahamas. Ruiz advised they encountered no British frigate or other government boats, but did see a U. S. Coast Guard plane fly over them. Ruiz advised the trip was not authorized by any branch of the U. S. Government, and was made without U. S. Government knowledge. On February 6, 1964, Laureano Batista Falla advised he had no comment concerning any information to the effect that he may have been out of the United States and in the Bahamas during the past month. Batista stated as the Military Security Officer of the MDC, his duties are to brief MDC officials on general military matters as they affect Cuba. The organization has not authorized him to carry out any military operations. If, and when, Batista is involved in military activities in Cuba, he is in no way acting as an agent of the MDC. Batista said that he helped found the MDC and he created the post of Military Secretary. He continues in ‘this position, and nobody in the organization has sought the position or has objected to Batista‘s having this position. Batista said that all the equipment used by the ey Bytes A eee DoclId: 3227027007 Page 13 “SSCIBOX# 3722 | Se a A
a ony ie? a . SSCIBOX# 377- RE; MOVIMIENTO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO (MDC). Military Section of the organization is Batista's personal property, paid for by himself, and in no way belongs to “ the organization. : Batista said naturally he has some opposition in the organization. Some people consider him as being at odds with U. S. Government policy. Batista said it was his opinion that the United States political aims and foreign policy does not coincide with that of the Cuban exiles. To work with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is to work : for the U. S. aims and goals, which are not necessarily the © aims and goals of Cuba for Cuban exiles. . According to Batista, there is no mutual field of interest between the United States Government and Cuban exiles. For the U. S. Government to overthrow the present | government of Cuba, is to resolve a United States problen, not a Cuban problem. If Cuban exiles would overthrow the present government of Cuba, there would still be many U. S. Government problems not resolved. Batista said he had in the past visited Washington, D. C., and conferred with U. S.Government officials in an effort to establish a mtual field of interest where Cuban exiles and the U. S. Govern- ment could work for mutual benefit, without success. Batista charged that while the U. S. Government complains there is no unity among Cuban exiles, he believes the United States actually does not want unity. He alleged that during 1960, » ot foe ood 2 the HW 54653 DBoclId:322702007T Page 14
RE: MOVIMIENTO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO (MDC) . when the Frente Revoluctonario Democrato existed, and later became the Cuban Revolutionary Council (CRC), a unity organization, the CIA still worked against unity of Cuban exile groups. He said CIA did not work for unity within the CRC, but dealt with each individual or- ganization on different terms. CIA refused to work with the leaders of the CRC as representatives of the several organizations. He alleged this policy has persisted to the present time. Batista stated that military operations from the United States against Cuba would probably be continued by himself and other MDC members. They prefer to work in the Miami, Florida, area, because of its closeness to Cuba, good facilities for operating boats, availability of the large number of Cubans to serve as mechanics, and to do other necessary labor. __ Batista said that many of the Cuban exiles in Miami have jobs, can contribute money, and can work for organiza- tion on weekends and during their off hours. The large community in Miami, Florida, makes it easier for the Cuban exiles to obtain necessary equipment to go on military ex- peditions against Cuba. . In addition, he alleged that in Latin America, United States diplomats influence the local governments to stop the Cuban exiles from going on military missions. He said when they are stopped by the local police in Latin -13- i beni iid fan oe . “Boe a. <a oe - "wee : -yRe An me eee ro ee en ii Ala Rachael HW 54653 DoclIda: 3227027007 Page 15
RE: MOVIMIENTO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO (MDC). America, these police treat the Cubans in a harsh manner; violate their civil rights; and, confiscate property and equipment belonging to these Cuban raiders. By contrast, local police and Federal Agents in the United States treat the Cubans courteously, and very seldom prosecute anybody. Batista said it is apparent that although the United States Government has a policy of stopping Cuban raiders, it does not have a policy of prosecuting them. This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are _ not to be distributed outside your agency. DoclId:3227027007 Page 16