180-10142-10238 ee DRAFT - MDC - 11/7/78 ouo it[8/(¢ A2O% AB Betsy Palmer ZLOaP£ R2S w26 fk MOVIMIENTO DEMOCRATA CRISTIANO f Rew pm yw o (MDC) |. (fheer Castro's assumption of power in 1959, it became evident to many Cubans that political parties were being surpressed and the 26th of July Movement was being infiltrated by Communists. This political atmosphere gave rise to the creation of underground organizations such as the Christian Democratic Movement of Cuba (MDC). Octaspv0, MDC Volume 3, Objectives of upc) Chelainwee doctrine of Christianity as its foundation, the MDC published a manifesto in March, 1960, {rbia) denouncing Communism, and strongly advocating the free enter- @ prise system. “(HSCA #009538, Item 4, p. 2, FBI #105-87909-5, 1/30/61) One of the founders of the MDC, 35-year-old law professor, Dr. Jose Ignacio Rasco, was elected head of the organization” (Ibid) and pabiiciy criticized the violence prevelant in the Castro regime. (CIA/DDO, MDC Volume 3) This* open criticism Lt ‘ced—his_exfiltrationfxem Cuba and he pap . Ra, fo, wes-granted safe-condiuct to” the UTS. , arriving in Miami on April 22, 1960. (HSCA #009538, Item 4, p. 2, FIB #105-87909-5, B 1/30/61) <4 June, Rasco had allied himself and the MDC with ~. Thus the Frente Revolucionario Democratico (FRD)~ (Ibid) and sesved ALES: beovokr Bsether one of the five original exile Cuban leaders\recommended——~_ \ by the State Department and the Hawana CIA-statééen to form the nucleus of a Cuban government-in-exile. “(Give Us This Day by E. Howard Hunt, Popular Library Edition, pp. 43-44. After the Bay of Pigs invasion, the MDC split into factions. (CIA/DCD docuffpt, Jose Ignacio Rasco, Information Report 00-K-3,233,366, 8/16/62) Rasco remained head of the DO. NOT REPRODUCE RETURN TO CIA INGA BS
DRAFT- MDC - 11/8/78 Page. 2 largest faction and Baw organized delegations in Miami, New York, Chicago, Venezuela and Cuba. (Ibid) The Clandestine o” faction operating in Cuba was lead by Pepin Fernandez Badue who used the alias "Lucas". (Ibid) When Fernandez arrived in the U.S. in October, 1961, he presented his credentials to the Cuban Revolutionary Council, (CRC), glaiming he was the rep- (2CTe resentative of the MDC movement in Cuba, e#d Council president, Dr. Miro Cardona, accepted him into the CRC hierarchy. Grbia) ; ; &“Ts pale WAS The "Lucas" faction remained with the Gouncil but i i CUMEFE ERAT eyeuTally Facled ___-_imperbafree because Fernandes €etied_ts_conswlt-wiEi the execs: tive committee of-his—faction-nexr—did—he—make—any—effert to hold the group together. (HSCA Security File 092, Senstudy Document, Volume 32, Item 1, #97-4110-72) The Rasco faction of MDC had as its Military Chief an & imidgpendently wealthy young Cuban, Laureano Batista Falla. (Ibid, Item 2, #97-4110-123) Free-spirited and under no financial pressures, Batista was—-abte-te organized and partially finance’ the infiltration attempts of the MDC.(HSCA #009303, FBI #97-4623- tH was 149, Section V) wirch—made—thts one of the most active and effective underground groups in Cuba during the early 1960's. (HSCA Security File 092, Senstudy Document, Volume 37, Item 4, \ #105-95461-15, page 4) WZ From(1960 - 1962) (HSCA #009303, p. 6, FBI #97-4623-149, 72) | (ae Section V) Batistafwas' | —— ” « + | CIA/Office of Security, Laureano &. Batista Falla | He trained at the a 4 CIA-sponsored) camp for the “CD near Perrine, Florida, prior to the April 1961 invasion. (H (Hecn #009303, p. 4, FBI #97-4623-l#7 Se.
DRAFT-MDC-11/8/78 Page 3 and made many trips from this camp to deliver explosives, guns and ammunition to the Cuban underground. (Ibid) At SLOPE “time Oe ander d ked : ground groups worked together, Sharing supplies and information. (HSCA Security File 092, Senstudy Document, Volume 37, Item 4, #105-95461-15, p. 4) However, the repressive measures of the Castro regime after the April 1961 invasion, caused members of the Cuban underground to live in fear of discovery and made inter-group liaison extremely risky. “Opia. p. 2) Despite the inherent dangers, .the under- ground movements of the MDC and Movimento Revolucionario del Pueblo (MRP) worked jointly for an all-out sabotage effort in the fall of 1961. “Fipia) The "Batista" faction of the MDC, (‘So named after the youthful military chief rose to the position of president in 1962) Gasca #009303, p. 8, Item 4, FBI #105-183815) entered into-a—-number—ef similar cooperative alliances with other exile groups for the purposesof propaganda, sabotage and supplying the Cuban underground. Many MDC members joined the Cuba Propaganda Committee in 1962 which was formed to counteract the,Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a pro-Castro organization in the U. sons DDO, MDC Volume 3, Cable to Director from JMWAVE, 6/21/62, #14986) The MDC and the Directorio Revolucionario Estudiantil (DRE) worked together to formulate plans for an underground - organization to infiltrate Oriente Province. IA/DDO, Laureano Batista Falla, Information Cable TDCS DB 3/660-090, 3/14/64)
DRAFT-MDC-11/8/78 Page. 4 The @eactive operations between the MDC and other anti-Castro einen dt groups peaked in the year 1963.A In April, Frank Sturgis, Miami- based soldier of fortune, supplied information that Batista, Orlando Bosch Avila, Manuel Artime and Alexander Rorke were , tla jointly planning an air strike over Havana on April 25. ~(HSCA a te Recupurranion Gavobslioiaria. wordbeadiss 3 CMIERR) aud Ae rspernente- #009303, page 1, FBI #97-4623, Sections) According to Sturgis, the strike was to originate from an airstrip in Puerto Rico and the targetya sugar refinery. “trbia) The bombs were @f=sbe homenade, variety, amd-patcogether by Batista. ‘ibid, p. 5, Item 2) Rorke publica ly announced that the strike had taken place as scheduled, which took the other planners by surprise. (Ibid) Sturgis claimed the strike was still in the planning stage and financial backing had not been completed. (Ibid) This incident created a stir and resulted in an intensive FBI investigation of Rorke's allegation. TSCA #009303, p. 3, FBI #97-4623, Sections II through VI) Since Radio Havana, contrary to usual policy, made no immediate protest over the bombing, Gp ae FAL | Ibid, p. 3, FBI #97-4623, Section IV) idt=wes concluded that Bre erteluegl te 00, Ce Monement Rorke's story was probably untrue (Ibid, p. 2, #97-4623-35) Luaont ; and, according to Sturgis, merely a publicity stunt. (Ibid, p. 2, Item 1 (9), FBI #97-4623) \ In early June, 1963, the MDC made a unity pact with Commandos L in which the latter group was to provide training and assistance in military intelligence and the MDC to provide WE Snail boats and a team of men to infiltrate cana. Cera/pp0, MDC Volume 5, Information cable(ur6 3536, 9/3/63) The MDC also made a pact with Dr. Carlos Prio Socarras, former President of
DRAFT-MDC-11/8/78 Page 5 Cuba, who donated $50,000 cé=tr-s—own-morwey to the group for military aid in return for its promise of political support. (Ibid) Ricard Rudolph Davis, a Cuban alien, (HSCA #012981) had a peripheral association with the MDC through his contact with Batista in the summer of 1963. This association was WEE in Book V, Final Report of the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations, page 12. (Footnote to discuss discrepancy) Davis was residing in New Orleans and, although not an OF AZ., MDC member, claimed to have,= , been a . . XH "coordinator" for the group and the New York Police pepakment. (HSCA #012981) 1He was a friend of Batista and contacted him he 32 xy), , ae because, Batista was in a position to recommend men in the Miami area who needed work. (Ibid) Davis claimed he could provide employment for a small group of Cuban emigres ~Hethta entered into a business deal with geologist David L. Raggio and a wealthy, right-wing New Orleanian, Gus de LaBarre, forming the GuatemalahLumber and Mineral corporation. (bia) It was their intention to train the Cubans on some land in Lacombe, Louisiana to which de LaBarre had access through his nephew, Frank de LaBarre. ® a) After a necessary training period, the group was to be sent to Guatemala to cut mahogany trees, he AQig. ee iy on haresesnms & . A group of about 18 Cubans did abrivex udex Eneokesdee Leacts ft G hen La 4D ene a well-know Cuban exile, Victor Paneque (Ibid) who & : ao used the military code name of ‘Commadante Diego, (HSCA #092 Security File, Senstudy Vol 32, Item 2. #97 4110- 123, - 2)
DRAFT-MDC~11/8/78 Page 6 Dave. tar ab cttlent ty he pai tet J ( necoxding—to-Davis; the men erived dressed in khakis (HSCA FBI, Richard Rudolph Davis, Volume 1, Report from N.O. #006716, p. 4 /wiethy the idee that they were to receive military. 7/3/64) (PD AK 2UGET training. (Ibid, p. 2) In the latter part of July, 1963, the FBI conducted a raid on property near that of the “lumber company” training camp , The “Pv eenw . . ._ _ WRGiexshey seized a cache of dynamite and other explosives. (Ibid) This raid, according to Davis, unnerved his trainees, and they elected to return to Miami. (Ibid) A somewhat different version of this episode comes from de ba BAe-2e, Gus de LaBarre’'s nephew and attorney, Frank who first related his story in 1966 to his former law school classmate, Jim CS 7 . carrison. Arca #012981, Fonzi memo 9/6/78) Me LaBarre said his’Uncle Gus‘ had introduced him to = . Davis, whom We LaBarre described as a "floater." They came to see We LaBarre about drawing up rticles of Zncorporation Ke for the Guatemalan Lumber Company and that is when he/learned of their plans to bring unemployed Cubans from Miami to train as lumberjacks. Uncle Gus sent provisions to the exiles on a daily basis and solicited money for food and clothing from friends and relatives. (Ibid) . . eas ssa peck bint erably Tasming wars tivig Sonata 4 hy Camp 1A de LaBarre said he didn't pay much attention to the \ FRAR er 2a 5 activities of the group, Mile , When he heard on his car radio that the FBI had seized a cache of ammunition at a house in Lacombe, he immediately called his uncle. Although receiving assurances that the lumber group was not involved, fe LaBarre calied the officers of the corporation together and insisted that the Cubans Aare vere told hom be taken out of there. Davis, etained; -secording=tt-de-tabarrets verstzen,y that the Cubans did not want to leave, whereupon
DRAFT-MDC-11/8/78 Page 6] es cathe eLaBarré{had to do some real “brainstorming.” He rented a Hertz ton-and-a-half truck and instructed Davis to take it to the camp and tell the Cubans "that the invasion is on." Davis complied, and the Cubans loaded their gear, jumped in the truck and were brought to the Greyhound bus terminal in New Orleans. Each was given a one-way ticket to Miami plus a small amount of cash and told they would get their orders when they reached Miami. Looking as though ready for war, with knapsacks and guns bulging from under their clothes, they boarded the bus, and har was the bast, Delalince Seid, he Sn 2 Them, CGe—baBarre had na more contact with them. & The last he heard he sad, of pavisywas in 1964 when one of We LaBarre's friends reported he had gone into business with Davis and was left with a lot of pitts. frpia) Other than providing the manpower for the training fhivolve & camp, Batista was not\ implicated in this episode nor was the MDC as an organization. Concurrent with his involvement with leaders of other exile organizations, Batista was dealing with foreign governments in an effort to gain. support for his faction of the MDC. After the World Congress of Christian Democrats in Strasburg, France, two West German officials of the Christian Democratic Party \ conferred with the MDC in Miami. (CIA/DDO, MDC Volume V, Information cable(urd-4531, 1/29/64) According to one of the officials, the West Germans, after months of study, had decided to help finance the MDC, not because they were particularly fond of them but felt once Cuba was liberated, the Cubans would have a moral superiority over the rest of Latin America. Ibid)
DRAFT-MDC-11/8/78 Page 8 Another offer of help came from huis Sowoza, former fRoujded President of Nicaragua, who effered the MDC a base for opera- tions in that country, whieh-was~accepted. Corn /ppo, Laureano Batista Falla, Volume 1, Information Report CSDB-3-655,718, 7/26/63) Venezuelan President, Romulo Betancourt, allegedly ss offered to make a base available for the MDC and provide it with personnel and supplies. (CIA/DDO, Laureano Batista Falla, Volume i, Information Cable TDCS-DB-3/658,177, 11/14/63) Recognizing that these Latin American bases of operation were important to the MDC, Batista nonetheless preferred to work out of the Miami area. Its proximity to Cuba, good facilities for operating boats, and the availability of a large number of Cubans to serve as mechanics and do other necessary labor made Miami more desirable thaw’ the Latin American facilities. (HSCA Security File 092, Senstudy Document 33, Item 1, #97-4110-86, p. 13) The ‘ay drawback in Miami was the presence of U.S. government officials determined to strictly enforce the Neutrality Acteud othe thud cabitie, U. S. Customs raidéd MDC headquarters in Miami on April 21, 1964 and confiscated a large cache of arms and CED agin , Vol. sr, Otiwe 2, 97-40-23, @ 1) ammunition. Undeterred, the MDC simply relocated the military section in separate headquarters, awd continued to store materials for infiltration and attack missions against Cuba, Ibid, ¥ehume avd. Conduttrol 327 Etem-27- 49 7=4T10-1237-p-- 4 , Study courses in military training and theory,-were-atso comineted—at_the new location (Ibid, Volume 33, Item 2, #97-4110-132, p. 2) In July, Batista
MDC —- DRAFT - 11/8/78 Page 9 and Victor Paneque infiltrated men and equipment into Cuba to OMe. hE Ga . form a nucleus of guerrilla bands who , apomaseesipt of adequate arms and ammunition, planned to go into the mountains of. @ Cuba.~ (Ibid) eye Tally. The MDCySuf fered the fate of other anti-Castro organizations -- finding it increasingly difficult to finance infiltration and sabotage missions, and experiencing increased surveillance by U. W. authorities determined to limit their | Agtwithes. activities. The organization}sFadually declined ip impextence. Batista eventually gave up his anti-Castro activities, moved to Washington, D. C. and received a Doctoral degree in political science. (HSCA #009303, p. 7, Item 3, FBI #97-4110-207, Report from Miami, 1/28/70. In the spring of 1970, he moved to Venezuela.