AGENCY : RECORD NUMBER : RECORD SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: PAGES: SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE: CLASSIFICATION : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : v9.1 HW 54756 Docld: 32748420 JFK Assassination System Identification Form Agency Information HSCA 180-10078-10478 NUMBERED FILES 009427 Document Information HSCA FBI 06/22/1978 26 ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES FBI CIA OUTSIDE CONTACT REPORT Unclassified 3 Redact 01/01/2003 173-4. Box 173. Page 1 Date: 10/14/20 Released under the John Kennedy Was5assination Records ollection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Nate). ases#: NW S4756 Date: WO-31-2017
_ KENNEDY | 0059427 - QOUTSIDE CONTACT REPORT oe . DATE 6/22/78 TIME I. Identifying Information: Name FBI. ae -° “melephone Address: . Type of Contact: — Telephone ; oe, ; _X Person “OED. Summary of Contact: On May 18, 19 and June"1l, I reviewed the files of Orlando . nen un Tn PS SEEDS oo Bosch Avila and the Cuban organization which -he headed; © ; Movimento Insurreccional de Recuperacion Revolucionaria re RR - . “(MIRR) . It should be noted that on pages 8 and 9 of the MIRR “review, items 3,-4, and 5 contain information ‘about’ Frank Fiorini which is of interest to this’ committee. cen re ret A nee et nr ertrnerersreettinteensenrtennerttetetenrapth enna ternary rattan re III. © Recommended Follow-up (if any): | nd HW 54756- poctdisaneuvse pagh ez Gebrve ee Bo Form BS
2 FBI File Review ’ May 18, 1978 Betsy Palmer Misc. 1.) Orlando Bosch Avila References -- Access only Cable from Buenos Aires to Director - 14 Aug. '77. AUSA Propper going to Venezuela to interview Bosch re captioned assassination.. (CHILBOM: PFO MURDER; EID; OJJ; OO: 219) (pp. 6 Venezuela denied Propper direct access to Bosch but Bosch has been allowed to be interviewed by reporters. Bosch has been mentioned constantly in captioned matter, too often for him not to be directly or indirectly involved (in sender's opinion) .) pp. lg2 . Propper should request documents given by DINA to Bolando Otero Hernandez with regard to assassination of Luis Andres Pascual Allende in Costa Rica. Also, Propper should get info on June 1976 CORU meeting in Dominican Republic. mg One of possible motives for Letelier assassination was revenge against Chilean government by Cuban exiles ‘for delivery to FBI of Otero, which was viewed by Cuban 2.) many deletions exiles as betrayal of their cause. Letelier's assassination may have been conceived at June 1976 meeting. Joel Dionisio Suarez Esquivel proposed there that each group be represented ina military -coordination group and first meeting should be in Florida on 6/27/76 at a location selected by Armando Lopez Estrada of 2506 Brigade. Dr. Juan Pulido proposed that Morales be assassinated but Legat B.A. doesn't believe it was because of his betrayal of Bosch 10 years ago--rather his betrayal of Otero. Cable from B.A. to Dir. 23 Sept. '77. Suarez arrived in Chile one day after Bosch and Guillermo Novo and Dr. Orlando Fernandez and he departed with Guillermo Novo en route to Columbia. Ejercito Secreto De Cuba (ESC) believed to be anti- Castro Cuban exile group affiliated with URO (United Revolutionary Organization). URO formed of 5 terrorist groups in June 1976 D.R. meeting and under leadership of HW 54756 Docld:3227464270 Page 3
a) HW 54756 Orlando Bosch Avila 2 O.B. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police memo dtd. 10/6/76.) . Ejercito ZS Secreto <-—— _ Symbol De Cuba Attack on U.S. Embassy in Ottawa in 66/67 and Cuban Commercial Office in Montreal carried out by Joven Cuba - group of young fascists who had formerly been allied to Carlos Prio and a group of Ramiro de la Fe; a Bay of Pigs invador. (Allegation made in press conference of Carlos Rivero Collado over Radio Havana Cuba, circa Jan. 1975. Cuban Secret Government is a terrorist gang of formér 1968 Cuban Power and ARA-MIRR members. In Nov. 1973, they planned to assassinate U.N. Ambassador Ricardo Alarcon Quesada. Among these terrorist groups, there are coordinators, cell chiefs and cell members. Cuban Nationalist | --- Felipe Réviro Diaz Movement and Zero Group --- Guillermo Novo Sampol Cuban Secret Gov't. --- Hector A. Fabian Francisco Hernandez Guillermo Miguel . Cuban: Action --- Orlando Bosch Avila Antonio Calatayud Cuban National --- Ramon Orozco Crespo Liberation Front -~- Angel J. Ferrer Frank Castro Humberto Lopez Alfredo Sayuz “Gustavo Marin Duarte Former Bay of Pigs Cell Chiefs | --- Luis Acevedo ' Edwin Gonzalez Guido Sanz y Perez de Villa Reviro Collado claims Manuel Artime was an active partici- pant in Watergate break-in. Also involved Mike Suarez DoclId: 32274684270 Page 4
HW 54756 Orlando Bosch Avila 3 4.) 6.) Fernandez. Claims Cuban Liberation Front participated inWatergate Conspiracy. Also Bebe Rebozo and Edgardo Buttari. Memo - first page missing -~ informant info. RE: Jrank Castro & FLNC. Castro says FLNC should concentrate on plans to bomb Cuban embassies. Castro has passes to military bases in D.R. Castro says Raul Cabrera has all FLNC equipment and only he (Cabrera) knows where it is hidden. Says he can easily transport explosives due to his excellent contacts in Dominican Air Force. Cable from B.A. to Dir. dtd. Jan. 28, 1977. Bosch, utilizing Pedro Antonio Pena identify, entered Chile from Peru 12/3/74. Female source says he left Dec. 28, 1975--was using Pena identity. CIA advised. .. cece cee ween, (about 4 lines) Obviously Delgado would have valuable information concerning Cuban exile contacts who visited Bosch in Santiago during year he was there. Legat B.A. will show photos to Delgado. , Bosch resided at San Barja Towers and this apartment building has been identified as one of DINA locations. (More CIA deletion - 2 lines) Cable from Caracas to Dir. 24170024 Sept. '76. Bosch confides to intimales that Novo brothers planned Letelier murder for DINA. Frank Castro, CORU leader, failed to travel to Caracus and join Bosch 9/19/76 as planned. Left Managua, Nicaragua for Miami 9/12/76. Returned to D.R. and proceeded to San Juan P.R. on 9/17/76, back to D.R. on 9/20. To proceed to Caracas on 9/24. CORU planning to kidnap a Mexican diplomat to force release of jailed CORU members Oresta Ruiz Hernandez and Jaspar Eugenio Jimenez. (source information) DoclId: 32274684270 Page 5
HW 54756 Orlando Bosch Avila _ 4 7.) 8.) 9.) 10.) 11.) Cable from Caracas 9/17/76 rec'd. Bosch arrived Caracas 9/12 from Nicaragua, using > passport issued to Carlos Luis Paniagua Mendez. Also has Chilian passport--Hector Emilio D'Avanzo Cintolecci. Report from San Juan dtd. March 21, 1977 Brigade 2506 is one of 5 original groups that make up CORO. Informant said Roberto Carballo, Pres. of Brigade, issued press release condemning terrorist acts of CORO and "El Condor." Criticism could stem from need to publicly disclaim association. Carballo hinted he may withdraw from group but Armando Lastra, 2506 leader in Puerto Rico, unaware of any such plans. An informant said Miami people connected with Pragmatistas recently in P.R. attempting to identify informants with in CORU. Pragmatistas connected with numerous political Rellingo in Miami. Cable from Caracas to Director - 22 Sept. '76. Bosch feeding misinformation to Oscar Angulo because Angulo is known as an informer to Law enforcement authorities. Bosch said Angulo was the "Mister X" who furnished info on Bosch during his. trial in Miami. Informant said Frank Castro could give him name of other CORU member suspected of being an informant. Cable from Caracas to Director - 4 Oct. '76. Frank Castro in Caracas. Says Angulo only CORU informant. Denied CORU plans to kill informants. DE RUE A ll: A #39443162356 Cable from CIA to FBI dtd. 11 Nov. 1976. Cite CIA 941916 Sub: Travel of Eulalio Francisco (Frank) Castro Paz Official Dominican Service reported Castro, affiliated with CORU, arrid Santa Dominto from Madrid on 11/7/76, Iberia #979. Noted Cubana airlines office in Madrid bombed on 7 Nov. '76 at 0200 hours and Iberia #979 for S.D. deported Madrid at 0155 hrs. same day. Have no info. Castro involved. Info concerns a U.S. person who reportedly is involved in international terriorist activities abroad. DoclId: 32274684270 Page 6
HW 54756 Orlando Bosch Avila . 5 12.) 13.) 14. ). 15.) 16. ) DE RUEAIM 5879 363 2056 CIA Cable to FBI. 28 Dec. '76. Cite CIA 963642 Info. from Frank Castro re: Activities of CORU. (a) According to official Costa Rican service, Castro in C.R. Dec. 13-18, 197_, said he was Chief of operations of CORU but not in C.R. to undertake terrorist acts. CORU had a pack with Pres. Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela not to undertake terrorist acts in C.R., Nicaragua, Guatemala or Venezuela in return for safe passage for 0. Bosch in March 1976. Bombs in San Jose, C.R. on 24 Aug. '76 were placed by CORU Command Unit - lack of CORU coordination resulted in this error. Parama not included in agreement because it has become transfer point for Castro-Cuban subversives. FBI report dtd. Dec. 14, 1976. Re: Ignacio Roberto ‘Novo Sampol Interviewed on 10/21/76 re: Letelier Murder on 9/21/76. Novo says Frank Castro invited CNM reps (Cuban Nationalist Movement) to meeting in Santo Domingo but CNM did not trust CAstro. Some of their members attended independently, Novo thinks Morales and Bosch both Castro agents. Feb. 13, 1976 Cable from USSS says extremely reliable confidential informant of Dade Cty. Publ. Safety Dept. just returned from So. America. reported info of alleged attempt to be made on life of Henry Kissinger. Informant reportedly very close: to Orlando Bosch. © - Correlation Summary dtd 9/21/67. #105-141949-4 Subject: Orlando Bosch Avila Bosch and Varona met in NYC on 6/3-4/67 with Novo brothers to discuss future plans of anti~Casto Cubans and plans centered in Canada. Report from Miami dtd. May 8, 1975 Subject: Dunney Pio Perez Alamo Formerly with Cuban Revolutionary Army, associated with © Hubert Matos. Collecting money for Bosch in 1975. ) DoclId: 32274684270 Page 7?
HW 54756 Orlando Bosch Avila 6 17.) 18.) Memo titled:. Anto-Castro Activities by SA Robert James Divyer, dtd. 8/12/75. I Bombings and Terrorism ' On 8/6/75, stick of dynamite went off in parking lot of offices of "Revista" Magazine. Little damage and authorities speculate Max Lesnik himself exploded dynamite for publicity purposes. - Report dtd: Apri. 28, 1967 Frank Angelo Fiorini Orlando Bosch Avila etc. Info. that Fiorini going to Mexico to blow up a Cuban ship, possibly in Veraeruz, Mexico. Accompanied by his son, Ronald Edward Thompson and Donald Francis Roche. Thompson supplied following. information: ' Fiorini planned bombing with O. Bosch head of MIRR. Bombs were inside panels of rear doors of Fiorini’ | @ar. While in Mexico, Fiorini wired for and received $200 from Bosch.-. Buried explosives between Cuidad Mante and Cuidad Victoria. Thompson and Fiorini and Bosch met at Golden Fontain restaurant about 3 times during first week of April, 1967. , cs BDoclId: 32274684270 Page 6
HW 54756 1.) 2.) Miscellaneous References. . Report dtd. 11/29/76 from Miami Re: Roberto Carballo Diaz “States 2506 Brigade is part of CORU. Action was taken in concurrence with Directorate of Brigade 2500, of which Armando Lopez Estrada is a part~-Lopez Estrada is military director. Carbello says he is aware of fact that Ruiz and Jimenez arrested in Mexico and.charged with attempt to kidnap Cuba's Counsul in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico in July '76. Denied any prior knowledge of this act. Would not say who was supporting Ruiz/Jimenez. A Cuban national was killed in kidnapping attempt. Says he knows of an organization called FLNC but would not comment as to its members. Informant (2506 member) says Carballo and Armando Lopez Estrada have aligned themselves with CORU and other. Brigade members opposed to this cooperation with a terrorist group and were considering challenging Carballos leadership. Report from Miami 8/25/76. Teofilo Babun advised FBI he was close friend of Admiral Cesar .Dewint of D.R. When Babun came to Miami as exile in 1962, he contacted Dewint and obtained franchise to operate cargo vessels between U.S. & D.R. Babun is a D.R. citizen. Said Frank Castro married Deivent's daughter and lives in D.R. Babun's nephew in business: with Castro in D.R. Castro and Babun travel to D.R. together in Babuns' Lockheed Lodestar. Castro advised FBI on 10/8/75 he leader of FLNC, closely associated with Dominican Air Force, teachs: ° parachuting. States he was not involved in bombing of Dominican Consulate in Miami in Oct. 1975. Ships owned by Babun have been used to carry supplies for raiding parties and to transport Cuban exiles going to D.R. for clandestine purposes... Also, his ships have been used by terrorist inflitration teams: which have .. entered,Cuba. DoclId: 32274684270 Page 9
Miscellaneous References 2 Humberto Lopez Nunez, FLNC terrorist, is fugitive of U.S. and lived with Castro in D.R. On 9/27/75, two bombings in Bogato, Columbia for which FLNC claimed credit. Castro told FBI he had been in Bogata and spoke knowledgeably of bombings. 3.) Report from Miami, . 9/14/76. Re: CORU. Frank Castro has formed a satellite organization to carry out terrorist activities in U.S. In Miami the Calandestine cell will be called Youth of the Star and in N.Y..called F-14. Castro pointed out that terrorist activity in U.S. beneficial to CORU must be claimed by these secret cells, but CORU must publicly condemn these actions. (informant info). 4.) Cable from Buenos Aires to Dir. Jan. 13, 1977. CIA secured info that after Letelier murder, Directorate General of Investigations (DGI) started investigation into activities of Orlando Bosch during his 1975 stay in Santiago. CIA reported that Director of DINA was instrumental in stopping the DGI ‘investigation and prohibiting Chilean officials from discussing case with any Americans. Jamie Vasquez Alcaino, Director of Interpol Section of Chilean Investigations (I.C.) reflected that DINA director might well have briefed the President Pinochet Bosch's connections with Chilean Air Force Intelligence Services and that Chilean gov't. might easily be indicted by inference with Letelier assassination. Pages and Pages of CIA deletions--also St. Dept. 1977. 5.) Report from Miami’ 3/24/77 Re: Accion Cubana (AC) Informant says Gaspar Jimenez made two attempts to sabotage and blow up Cubana Airline planes in summer of 1976 in Panama and Kingston, Jamaica. cs HW 54756 DBocld:3227484270 Page 10
HW 54756 5/19/78 FBI File Review - MIRR...page 2 Palmer MIRR #97-4474 - Section. 1 of 7 Serials 1-60 - 1960-63 1. Cable to Director from Miami dated 11/2/60 Bosch says objectives of MIRR are: defection of army officers and men sabotage throughout Cuba isolation of Cuba by all countries of the Americas - intense propaganda abroad. BmWN HE . @#* 8 Bob Hopkins, CIA-Miami, says they have no operational or other interest in Bosch. Unverified reports they have received indicate Paneque is a Castro agent. (Notation says ONI informed FBI they have no operational interest in Paneque, but he was in for an interview.) 2. November 20, 1960 - Cable to Director from Miami Alexander I. Rorke, aka Alex Rourk, is informant for FBI -- having been previously employed by them for six months in NYC as a clerk. Rorke scheduled to depart with Paneque on boat -- mission sponsored by MIRR. Transporting weapons and radio equipment into Cuba. Boat probably was Jolly Roger III. Customs and Border Patrol alerted. 3. Report from Miami dated January 23, 1961 #62-3583 Informant states Frank Fiorini presently cooperating and associating with Paneque and Bosch and that MIRR is establishing training camp in Florida and anticipates military expedition in Cuba in near future. 4. January 19, 1961 - Cable to Director from Miami Bosch tells authorities he wishes to cooperate with U.S. government. Informant advised that Paneque was going to be placed in Cuba through Guantanamo Bay sometime soon by "the Americans" w-+ not:.further identified. CIA advises FBI "that it has absolutely no operational interest in MIRR or Frank Anthony Sturgis, aka Fiorini.” Docld:3224684270 Page 12
HW 54756 FBI File Review - MIRR...page 4 #97-4474 - Section 1 of 7 (Cont'd) Serials 1-60 1960-63 Bosch estimates strength of MIRR in Cuba as 700 - 1,000 _ fighting against Castro. Has a total of 2-4,000 men -- some in each province but greatest strength in Santa Clara Province. Members consist of civilians, professional and military men. Only 10-12 members in Miami. Program of MIRR 1. Immediate removal of all Communists 2. Revision of all laws passed since January 1, 1959 3. Agrarian reform 4, Encouragement of tourist trade 5. Abolition..of death penalty 6. Elimination division and class hatred 7. Amnesty for political prisoners 8. Revision of all sentences passed by revolutionary tribunals 9. Revision and study of international policies 10. Revise and reconsider all treaties ll. Protection of private capital, Cuban and foreign 12. Attempt to nationalize foreign industries w/proper payment 13. Abolition of militias, juvenile patrols, étc. 14. Immediate repression of secret police 15. Removal of Communists from the judiciary 16. Reestablishment of freedom of the press 17. Return of property to rightful owners 18. Build up foreign exchange 19. Free elections as soon as possible 20. Respect and protect worker as well as property owner 21. Reparation of injustices committed by Communist regime. Slogans are "Democracy or death" and "We Give Our Lives to Fight Communism." March 29, 1961 - Memo to Office of Security, Dept. of State From: John Edgar Hoover - Subject: MIRR Bosch interviewed by Miami FBI on 3/27/61 and admitted he sent small expedition aboard Jolly Roger on 3/17/61 for purpose.of opening another front in Los Organos Hills of Pinar del Rio Province in Cuba. Five men went ashore, including an American, Angus McNair, Jr. Cuban government reported all five were arrested on 3/20/61. Bosch claims his contacts indicate only one Cuban arrested - Gilberto Betancourt. Docld:322746470 Page 153
FBI File Review - MIRR...page 3 #97-4474 - Section 1 of 7 (Cont'd) Serials 1-60 1960-63 9 5. January 18, 1961 - Report from Miami by George E. Davis, Jr. Subject: MIRR - 33 pages Victor Manuel Paneque y Batista, aka "Commandante Diego," arrived U.S. September 3, 1960 after stealing a fishing boat and picked up by U.S. Coast Guard. Said purpose of trip was to solicit aid for MIRR. Paneque joined 26th of July Movement in early 1956 in Cuba and engaged in underground activity against Batista government. Joined Fidel Castro on November 22, 1957 and received commission as Major in Rebel forces. On 1/1/59 commissioned Major in regular Cuban Army and named Chief of Rural Police until dissolved in April 1959. In July he became Chief of Public Order and served as such until his departure September 1, 1960. Bosch seeks legal counsel in December 1960 to become registered under Foreign Agents' Registration Act. Bosch DPOB: August 18, 1926, Las Villas, Cuba Arrived Miami, July 31, 1958 as a tourist, suffering bleeding peptic ulcers Wife: Dr. Myriam Ares Fernandes Bosch INS #Al1l1 881 810 Pediatrician by profession. Graduated University of Havana Medical School 1953; interned at Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio in 1953-54 and served as resident at St. Joseph's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee from 1954-1955. Named Chief of 26th of July Movement in Las Villas Province on January 1, 1959 when Batista regime collapsed. “Resigned three months later when known communist, Calixto Morales, was appointed Military Governor of Las Villas Province. When he realized Castro government was becoming communistic, he formed MIRR with Joaquin Membribe and Victor Paneque. Came to U.S. July 30, 1960 as a tourist to serve as Civilian Coordinator of MIRR. Also was his purpose to secure arms and supplies for MIRR in Cuba. - HW 54756 Docld:32248420 Page 14
HW 54756 FBI File Review - MIRR...page 5 #97-44%4 - Section 1 of 7 (Cont'd) Serials 1-60 1960-63 ‘7. June 9, 1961 - Report from Miami - George E. Davis, Jr. Subject: MIRR Informant advises Bosch has shut down radio transmitting equipment in his’ home and inactive at present time. Hopeful U.S. government will take action against Cuba. 8. June 9, 1961 - Report from Miami contains statement of Bosch de- “.nouncing U.S. government for its failure in Bay of Pigs op- ..@ration and asserts Cubans must help themselves. States that he and Paneque still friends but Paneque no longer a member of .MIRR. 9. January 22, 1962 - Report from Miami Bosch reports MIRR presently dormant. 10. August 16, 1963 - Cable to Director from Miami MIRR claims responsibility for bombing of Bolivar Sugar Mill in Camaguey Province. Miami Cubans doubtful as MIRR is not an active group. 11. September 13, 1963 |. MIRR claims responsibility for bombing Cunagua sugar mill.August 15, 1963. On 9/10/63 Bosch advised two planes bombed Jaronu sugar mill from a Central American base on 9/8/63. Said all crew were Cubans -- no American citizens. 12. December 13, 1963 - Report from Miami Subject: MIRR U.S. Customs claims Cessna-310 aircraft, N4822B, used on bombing raids over sugar mills in August/September 1963. Plane rented by Jack Benson Griffin of Miami (DOB - 12/4/22). Griffin is a well qualified pilot. Griffin said Bill Johnson instructed him to fly plane to Bimini. Prior to the August 14 flight, Griffin and Johnson met with Orlando Bosch. Griffin left plane on airstrip at Bimini with full tank of fuel. Picked it up next day with nearly empty fuel tank. Repeated this operation August 3l, 1963 and September 7, 1963. Bosch in Chicago circa Sept. 1963 on fund-raising activities. When they get $20, 000 they will move their operation out of the U.S. Docld: 3227468470 Page 15