- (1o4-10171-10068] Cra RETURN TO CIA Background Use Only . Do Not Reproduce 4 December 1962 | -EJERCITO. LIBERTADOR DE CUBA (LIBERATION ARMY OF .CUBA). ORIGIN. AND BACKGROUND . a sibertador dé Cuba (ELC). This organie gation. form ublicly in March/April 1962, allegedly | compose former Cuban military officers in exiles, former members of. the MRP and followers of Huber MATOS, — Se In May.-1962-a. document of basic principles and status - of organizing. committoe was drawn up in Washington by Ernesto BETANCOURT, Jorge BERUFF and Jorge A. PERRAMON. A council. of 25 prominent Cuban nationals was to be selected. The council] in-turn would name a yroup of seven or-nine mon to supervige and exocute directives of the council. The organization was formed on the premise that neither the United Statea nor OAS intervention promises a solution to the Cuban problem. A second premise is that. an internal uprising if unlikely without external assistance. Fhe original thought of the organization was not to ask ‘the US government for-any assistance, simply toleration of it's activities. This group of Cubana wants complete control of-their operation, and will make a11 key decision, including time and nature of landings and guerrilla operations. The original plan of the ELC was to get. forces ashore in Cuba in timé to interfere with the sugar planting that ‘must be done dugtng the summer months. This would hapoen _ CASTRO’ s downfall. This plan wags not accomplished. HEADQUARTERS © The headquarters of the ELC is listed as 585 Riverside Station, Miami, Florida. LEADERS © fhe. following is a list of the leading representatives of the ELC: © ‘
14-00000 _ Ate military advisor, ' :. BARQUIN. declined but. agreed to ‘act as Counseloroor advisor. Col. MARTIN ELENA ‘was later approached to £111 the same , ,Pogition but refused. PERRABON isthe unofficial military REET ane wet Yea Jose “LOPEZ. Legon: _. “Napoleon BECKER (BEQUER) _ Manuel Nisto ‘Washington, -D. C.. are Ernesto —— ry orge’ A.’ PERRAMON ; .-BETANCOURT: er of the ELC. but a‘ financial advisor. ‘He assists O- named: John T, Skelly with propaganda and - or ELC. a es co Ce, ~ €01. Rano ARQUIN Wiis approached by the ELC to become” gor, Because of differences. of opinions.’ representative in Washington. — - Other ‘leading personalities of thé ELC are Duney PEREZ Alamo, Elvio. RIVERO Limonta Roberto COBAS,. Alvarez, Raul. BARANDELA, and Manolo TOYOS, a ‘@INANCES» Funds are to be forthcoming from Cuban exiles to initiate the movement and later on to solicit money throughout the '. U. 8.. and other countries.. Cuban exiles over 21 are to be subjected to a poll taz in return for which they will have the priviloge of voting for members of a Council.of Liberation, which would have primary direction of .the guerrilla army. vy STRENGTH AND MEMBERSHIP . There are contradictory reports.as to tho number of members and manpower of the ELC, 26 members have beun identified, oat of whom are.members of the "ORGANIZING COMMITTEE", It "hag algo been reported that tte ELC has 40 officers and 200 nemberg in the Miami area, |. + The ELC has branches and representatives in Tampa, Puerto — Rico and in the New York/New Jersey area. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES - fhe purpose of the ELC ig to have an eventual series of commando type attacks on Cuba , with the cooperation of the financial 7
f4-00000 ae * Oe * e ° 1 i. : > t e ~ Cuban’ underground, ‘to. encourage and aesiot in the overthrow a 7 visional: ‘president. ‘of ‘the ELC's own. “choosing. i : ACTIVITIES | aa aes well as material asests such as boata,. arms, etc, and does oS is att rated the. “Counc of ‘Liberation®. eo “become: ‘the Council” of State. and would ‘Appointaa: Pro= Ate ‘present: it appears: ‘that the ELC ‘te lacking. in. funds not” appear to be an active > Orgaadagtion. : j i wk : i od i i 03 : ? H