JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION Peleased under the John AGENCY : CIA Rennedy RECORD NUMBER : 104-10102-10010 hasassination Records . RECORD SERIES : JFK ollection Act of 1992 AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 80T01357A (44 USC 2107 Note). aa a ase#:NWU 53294 Date: DOCUMENT INFORMATION 6-19-2017 AGENCY: ORIGINATOR : CIA FROM : TO : ’ TITLE : BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ROLANDO CUBELA SECADES. DATE : 04/13/1966 ‘ PAGES : 6 SUBJECTS : ROLANDO CUBELA . : SECADES, ROLAND DOCUMENT TYPE : PAPER CLASSIFICATION : SECRET RESTRICTIONS : 1A 1B CURRENT STATUS : RELEASED IN PART PUBLIC - RELEASED WITH DELETIONS DATE: OF LAST REVIEW : 07/19/93 COMMENTS : JFK34 : F7 : 1993.07.19.16:05:03:780270 [R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED 104-10102-10010. HW 53294 BDocld:32356561 Page 1
a ee ee tn ate bd te ld we aR b dani ates ee ; ne | Cuba BR OF 13 ‘April 1966 | NAME _ Rolando CUBELA Secades DPOB 19 January 1933, Cuba | MARITAL STATUS _ Twice married. Was divorced by his first wife by whom he had one child. Has one child by | second wife. . BIOGRAPHIC DATA _ Rolando CUBELA Secades was one of the activist = student leaders who assisted in the overthrow © 7 oo of Batista and later turned against the Castro regime because of disaffection with communism. As early as March 1952,-CUBELA was working against Batista. With student friends, including the four Humboldt Street martyrs made famous in the Marcos Rodriguez trial, CUBELA re-instituted © the University. Student Federation or Directorate - FEU or DR, as it is called. In 1956, CUBELA - participated in the assasSination of Lt. Col. ‘Antonio BLANCO Rico of Batista's Military Intelligence (SIM). Fleeing to the USA, he - _became involved in military planning and purchasing arms until 1 February 1958, when he and -16 other students returned clandestinely and into the re Escambray to fight. He led a famous column, a ‘became the overall DR military leader. “Although the DR joined military forces with Castro's 26 July Movement, they refused Ernesto "Che". Guevarra's military leadership, fighting only under CUBELA'S orders. They occupied the Presidential Palace when Batista fled on’ 1 January 1959 and initially declined to. turn _ it over to Guevara and Castro.. In October 1959, ; -CUBELA became president of the government-— —-_—-_ - ooo sponsored—Ffau aftem resuming -is—medical_— - studies: at Havana University. In 1961, after oo ; his term ended, he terminated his ‘connection a ~~ ~ —, with the-regime-secause of se serious disagreements with Castro and Guevara: . RARER CREE OPERATIONAL SUMMARY: JT. . In March 1961, CUBELA went to the Latin. - __Americar Peacé Conference in Mexicsi hero ——~he was contacted by a personal friena> = Carlos Tepedino (AMWHIP/1) who knew oo Jack Stewart (in true name) from Havana: wre , and introduced them. The KUBARK objective of the meeting was to determine whether CUBELA was anti-Castro and, if so, to bring his views to the attention of the authorities 'in the United States. JPOYS” WW -53294°" Docld:32356561 Page 2
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY: 2. 3. _In August 1962 CUBELA went to the Helsinki World Youth Festival where he was met by Tepedino who introduced William Wainwright under the alias William "Bill" Thompson. This was a follow up to the first meeting with the objective of inducing: and facilitating CUBELA'S defection. However, due to CUBELA'S plans, the objective became an attempt to set up an internal dissident group for the overthrow of the Government -. and sabotage. CUBELA said.he was not in-- terested in any small undertaking, and declared. the assassination of Fidel and. other leaders would be the most effective way to rescue the revolution from the Communists. f Later in August 1962 CUBELA "went on vacation” in Paris where he met "Bill Thompson" again and KUBARK sought more information on his proposal to overthrow Castro. CUBELA also | discussed the need for the U.S. to become _ more deeply involved with LA students who, 4. ten years later, would be on the road to becoming key figures in LA governments. oo, Tepedino was present at most of these meetings. - In late August-early September 1962, CUBELA - was taken to a U.S. Air Force Base in southern France where he was given a demonstration in explosives. CUBELA had thought of blowing up an oil refinery and was also considering the elimination of . Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, the Soviet Ambassador, and Fidel himself. CUBELA was not given any Sabotage equipment but. was trained in SW. Earl Williamson (true name) accompanied _CUBELA on this trip but was always called ‘“"Jaime'' ‘py CUBELA. Jack-‘‘Red" Stent (as Jack Stevens) and a TSD SW technician under the assumed name of Capt. David L. Harper =. - also accompanied CUBELA. a ————_— — <0 wematern epee ~~ ie an a : ant’ : a o. ii Septemver 1553>—CUBELA Was -met-in Ports - Alegre, Brazil, by "Bill Thompson" and by —_—S aera ASE Alera the_latter-“using the name-=. a—_ HW 53294 "Nicolas Sanson". Tepedino was also present ~ at these meetings. CUBELA claimed ‘he had written two SW messages with FI (one was - received) but nothing Significant had been happening in Cuba. He said he was reluctant to use SW because he feared the efficiency Docld: 32356561 Page 3 ; Of whe “Cubapepesta? censorship. 20)- 28.2234
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY: HW 53294 Docld:)32356561 6. Page 4 -=-statement— '"The-U.§, is prepared to render a MB ee ee ee a ed Ee ei He cited a group of Cuban military officers and discussed ways to approach them. The problem was, he explained, that although many of them were anti-Communist, they were loyal to Fidel or they were so afraid, they. were reluctant to discuss any conspiracies for fear they might be provocations. _ CUBELA was of the opinion that. there was no organized conspiracy within the military or in other groups in the country. Internal security and controls were effective and improving _ daily. At this meeting CUBELA volunteered the information that he thought highly of Ramon GUIN Diaz (AMTRUNK/10) who was. hiding Miguel DIAZ Isalgue (AMICE/14, an infiltration asset who was sent in to recruit Guin, and did so). CUBELA said he planned to use Guin but he was concerned about his nervous condition and the fact he drank heavily. CUBELA was told to assist Guin and let him remain in Cuba rather than help to leave the country as CUBELA proposed. From Porto Alegre, CUBELA went to Paris on 14 September 1963 where he met with Tepedino, "Nicolas Sanson", Jack "Red" Stent, Richard Long. CUBELA was attending the Alliance ~ ~ Francaise in Paris at the time. It was learned the French were “unilaterally . ~.- survéilling CUBELA_¥ \_ whereupon we advised them: “our contact .with bim was an attempt to defect him. On 15 October CUBELA insisted > that he meet U.S. Attorney General Robert. .Kennedy because he believed Kennedy ran Cuban i affairs. "Sanson's" position at the time was: ‘ "We do not consider CUBELA is working for us but since we have a'common objective, we are a willing—te-render supports Oo - > CUBELA went on vacation. and on his. return ‘on 29 October 1963, _it was. arranged for Desmond FitzGerald, —ander the name "James ,Clark", to meet CUBELA at Stent's home that s—an—emicscsy-ef the-pebicy-level— OF IT SoS -i the Government. "Clark" made the following ; t all necessary ary assistance to any anti- “Communist Cuban group which succeeds in neutralizing “the present Cuban leadership and assumes sufficient control to invite the U.S. to render the assistance it is prepared to give."Clark?. , assured CUBELA. of moral. support for any activity in this direction which CUBELA might take. - .