Agency: FBI
Originator: FBI
From: SAC, WMFO
To: DIRECTOR, FBI
Document date: 10/18/1977
Document type: PAPER-TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD_NUMBER:

124-10221-10270

RECORD_SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR 185-789-1702X

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR: FBI

FROM:

SAC, WMFO

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI

TITLE:

DATE: 10/18/1977

PAGES: 16

SUBJECT:

DOCUMENT TYPE:

ORIGINAL

CLASSIFICATION:

REVIEW DATE:

STATUS

PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

Secret

08/17/1998

Redact

NEW

CLASSIFICATION:

UPDATE DATE:

COMMENTS:

RESTRICTIONS:

Consultation

JFK Act 6 (1)(B)

JFK Act 6 (1)(C)

JFK Act 6 (4)

INC MEMO, REFERRED TO DOS

DocId: 32340877 Page 1

---

## Page 2

WFO 185-425

SECRET

Two particular points emerged from the reinterview

21 June, 1976, probably in Bonao, and identified the

following Cuban exiles as having been in attendance:

* (4)

JORGE ALONSO PUJOES, ERNESTO MERNANDEZ

PABLO, MARTIN, XERANK

TETRA,: LUIS ROSS, XJOSE XAGUILA,

WILF REDOXBLANCO X LEV

MARRERO, JOSE LUISY PRADO,

ANDRES SARGEN

JORGE MAS CANOSA,

JUANAPEREZ FRANCO, FREDD

LUGO, GERMAN ALOZANO,

ORLANDO

BOSCH,

TERNANDONBUENO, and GUILLERMO TOVO.

N(u)

HERNANDEZ

Secondly, the source identified ROLANDO/OTERO

as the individual CASTRO said had contact

responsibilities between Cuban

in Miami and Cuban

FlA

exiles in Santiago, Chile. (S)

chile

of the statement by the source that a CORU meeting was held

in the Dominican Republic between 19 and 21 June, 1976,

it is necessary to set forth the aggragate of information

available to the 00 regarding the CORU meeting in the

Dominican Republic in June, 1976, inasmuch as upon close

analysis it becomes apparent that there were in fact,

the source's information is accurate, two meetings in

Dominican Republic by CORU, the latter

of /which was

previously unknown to the Bureau. (8)(%)

A.

Information Regarding the CORU Organizational

Meeting

in the Dominican Republic in June, 1976,

from MM 1337-S

MM, 1337-s advised on June 10, 1976; FRANK

GUSTAVO CASTILLO and OSCARYANGULO, of the Frente de Liberacion

Nacional de cuba (FLNC), met In the Commodore Hotel, Santo

Domingo, Dominican Republic. FLNC matters were discussed, as well

as status, health, and similar trivia of its members.

CASTRO presented a plan that he wanted approved by the people

meeting at the hotel.

He wanted this plan approved because

he intended to present it to a Congress of Cuban Exile Groups

meeting in Santo Domingo the next couple of days. FRANK

CASTRO's plan was to form a National Directorate, made up of

a delegate from each Cuban exile organization represented, or

Aru)

2

SECRET

998-1055

DocId:32340877

Page 2

---

## Page 3

WFO 185-425

SECRET

SUAREZ ESQUIVEL then spoke of a good friend that all

present people shared. He said that this person was RAFAEL

VILLAVFRDE Of Miami, who heads a federally funded program for

Cuban exiles.

He said that VILLAVERDE had been very, very

useful in assisting Cuban people and in the movement of equipment

and materials and

other

groups represented. (X)

*S which were helpful to the several

BOSCH then spoke of two countries which are not

friends of FIDEL CASTRO's Cuba.

These are Chile and Costa

Rica; however, actions will be taken against them because of

treatment to Cuban exiles by those countries.

BOSCH specifically

mentioned that ROLANDQOTERO, a U.S. fugitive, was returned to

he U.S. by Chile.

Source advised that "everyone" knows that

BOSCH was jailed in Costa Rica during the last time that

he was

there, February, 1976. The meeting then ended. (X)

On May 12, 1977, MM 1337-S advised that in June,

1976,

he had been present

at a meeting that had been held in the

ASPAR JIMENEZ AC

WWIDO - MNC; JOSE DIONISIC

SUAREZ ESQUIVEL - MNC

IN PERIG FRANCO-- M-17; ROBERTO

CARBALLO Brigade 2506;

ARHANDO LOPEZ ESTRADA - Brigade 2506.

(N)

(81X

present In the one even to a fuete Rico, was not." /

meetings even though he was used

This was the meeting in which CORU was formed. 08)

JOSE SUAREZ ESQUIVEL from MNC stated that the political

aspect of this group should be separated from the military

and that the military coordinators would get together

for a meeting. During this meeting it was discussed that no

action should be carried out in the U.S., but JOSE SUAREL

and JUAN PULlDo were not in favor. SUAREZ stated that MNC was

planning a very important kidnaping that would produce big money.

uNc would use thei

name and would make a good money contribution

to CORU. (S) 0600

On the following morning, after this meeting in Santo

Domingo had terminated, MM 1337-S met SUAREZ by coincidence at

the airport.

JOSE SUAREZ was coming via Puerto Rico in a

clandestine fashion. In running conversation between SUAREZ

and MM 1337-S, SUAREZ had made a statement something to the

effect that there was & some a bitch WELl" in WashInEton My

that they would have to do something about. MM 1337-S did not

now anything about "LaTELIER," did not give it much important (f)

530E10916

DocId: 32340877

Page 3

---

## Page 4

WFO 185-425

SECRET

and at that time did not make any connection between the

feels that the name mentioned was in fact "LETELIER."

B.

Information Furnished by Venezuelan

Intelligence Services on March 9, 1977 to

AUSA EUGENE M. PROPPER

(5)

- On March 9, 1977, DI. RAFAEL RIVAS VASQUEZ,

Deputy-Director DISIP, advised that in Jane, 1976, two

meetings were held in the Dominican Republic

attended by leaders of the principal Cuban exile organizations.

They had two meetings, the first one, and the larger of the

two, was a political meeting to agree on a political strategy

for

The other one, a much

smaller meeting, was strictly operational and was

attended

by 6 people.

Itsspurpose was to decide on terrorist activity

against Cuba. DISIP learned from a source that the following

people attended the operational meeting: ORLANDO BOSCH,

GUILLERMO NOVO, LUIS POSADA, an unidentified representative

of the Brigade 2506, FRANK CASTRO and ARMANDO LOPEZ ESTRADA.

PROPPER volunteered

that one of his sources identified

RObERTO CARBALLO, present Head of the. Brigade 2506, as its

representative at the meeting.

"According to RIVAs, a map

was marked up during the meeting, showing the various

divisions of responsibility. For example, POSADA's group

was assigned all of South America and the Caribbean was a

target of opportunity for all groups. Mr. PROPPER asked

who had been assigned

North America.

RIVAS said he did not

•know, but that he had a copy of the map.. PROPPER asked for

a copy...of the-map-and RIVAS agreed to furnish it.

PROPPER"

explained that he speculated that North America may have

been divided in two by a horizontal line, running across

the U.s. at the level of Washington, D.C. If so, the

territory north of the line may have been assigned to the NOVO

brothers, who worked primarily out of New Jersey (although

one of them, IGNACIO, actually lives in Florida); the Brigade

2506

D.C.

may

ve been assigned North America south of Washington,

X'S

Subsequent to that meeting, said RIVAS, POSADA'S

carried out a number of operations. These were:

bombing of the Air Panama office in Bogota (carried out by

LUIS OPOSADA, HERNAN RICARDO and OLEG GUETON RODRIGUEZ) ;

SuminE of the cuban artice in TanaNa (RICARDO aNd CERON, (

7

SECRET

558-809.18

DocId:32340877

Page 4

---

## Page 5

WFO 185-425

SECRET

bombing of the Guyanan Consulate in Trinidad (RICARDO and

GUETON); bombing of the BWIA facility (which also services

Cubana) in Barbados (RICARDO and FREDDY LUGO); and,

finally,

the bombing of the Cubana airliner on October

6 (RICARDO

and LUGO).

RIVAs explained that under Venezuelan law,

there is no way to bring GUETON tostrial, so he is free,

"walking the streets.". He also

said that during the meeting

in Trinidad to decide what to do with HERNAN RICARDO and

including Caba,

FREDDy LUGo, none of the o erfect, he said, Venezuela got

wanted to try the two.

stuck with them.

He demurred when asked when the trial of

the four accused of the Cubana bombing would take place,

saying he was only in charge of the investigation and was

noi follartne the trial aspects of the castk(5)

he was told of the bombing of the Cubana airliner before

Dr. RIVAS said that ORLANDO BOSCH tOLd DISIF that !!

the fact (BOSCH arrived in Caracas in September, 1976, for

some fund raising activities), but that he neither planned

nor participated in the bombing in any way.

RIVAS asserted

that DISIP believes BOSCH was more involved in the Cuban.

bombing

than he will admit, but that he was probably not

responsible for it. RIVAS does not believe BOSCH isrdumb

enough to come to Venezuela to raise money

also com-

plicate things for himself by the bombing.

(S)

Dr. RIVAS said BOSCH told him that he believes

the NOVO brothers were responsible for the Cubana bombing.

BOSCH also told RIVAS that the Cuban Exile umbrella organization,

CORU, was responsible for the machinegunning in Rome of

Chilean Christian Democratic leader BERNARDO LEIGHTON.

RIVAS-said that DISIP-believes that CORU was also responsible

for the attempt on the Cuban Consul's life in Merida, as well

as the kidnaping (in conjunction with a right wing Argentine

group called Trinchera)

of two

Cuban embassy clerical em-

ployees in Buenos Aires.

X(S

C. Information Concerning CORU Meeting in the

Jominican Republic in June, 1976, From May

' 13,

1966 Edition of New Times Magazine Article

Entitled, "I Am Going to Declare War" By

BLAKE FLEETWOOD.

FLEETWOOD's article is a result of a four-hour

interview of ORLANDO BOSCH AVILA, who was at the time of the

interview incarcerated in Caracas, Venezuela, for his role

in the October, 1976, bombing by anti-CASTRO exiles of a

Cubana airliner plane, which cost the lives of some 73

people. The interview contained the following information U

8

SECRET

DocId:32340877

Page 5

---

## Page 6

WFO 185-425

SECRET

regarding the June, 1976, meeting in the Dominican Republic

by anti-CASTRO Cuban exileste

BOSCH's plotting culminated in a secret meeting of

the top terrorist leaders of the hemisphere in the Dominican

Republic.

"The story of CORU (Coordination of the United

Revolutionary Organizations) is true," he told me. "There

was a meeting in the Bonao mountains

of 20 men representing

all different (Cuban exile) activist organizations. It was a

meeting of all the military and political directors with

revolutionary implications.

It was a great meeting.

Everything was planned there."

The top men from Alpha 66 (New Jersey), Abdalah

(a New York-based youth group), the 2506 Brigade (veterans

of the Bay ôf Pigs invasion), FLNC, F14 (New York City)

and Accion Cubana (a group BOSCH headed) met for two days

in the Bonao mountains in early June, 1976.

They decided

to band together under

umbrella organization, CORt,

with

BOSCH as the only identified spokesman and leader. o

"At last we had all the Cuban revolutionary

fighters and leaders together after 17 years.

We decided

to upscale the action after that. We wanted to beat the

guy (CASTRO) or at least make his life impossible.

I told

them that we couldn't just keep bombing an embassy here and

a police station there.

We had to start taking more serious

actions--hijacking."

(According to a Cuban exile newspaper,

one of the resolutions that came out of that meeting.

"to besin attackins CASTiO's Planes in the air,"› ll

"I accepted the leadership of CORU because

I

wanted

to set everything up on an organized basis. We were tired

on the kind of help they could expect in Nicaragua, the

Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Chile.

Then the group

dispersed.

In the

11 months since that meeting, BOSCH

boasts, CORU has been responsible for over 50 bombings in

Miami,

New York, Venezuela, Panama, Mexico, and Argentina.

(BOSCH refused to admit any personal involvement in bombings

within the United States; police sources say the leaders

had agreed not to take credit for actions within the.U.s

because the FBI was putting too much heat on them.)

Information Furnished By RICARDO MORALES

NAVARRETE, Official

of

Services (DISIP)

* (0) (4)

the Venezuelan Intelligence

On May 9, 1977, RICARDO MORALES NAVARRETE advised

that a(DISIP official LUIS POSADA, attended one of the CORU

9

SECRET

DocId:32340877

Page 6

---

## Page 7

WFO 185-425

SECRET

meetings that were held in Costa Rica in June, 1976.

(MORALES during the interview in

fact

said Costa kica,

but it was evident from the rest of his conversation that

he meant the Dominican Republic). MORALES did not know

which specific meeting POSADA attended, but stated that

another Venezuelan had also been present and it was Dr.

AURELIO ALVAREZ ECHESARTI. Others present at the

CORU meeting as reported to MORALES, since he was not present,

Were FRANk CASTRO, member of the FLNC, OSCAR ANGULO, FLNC,

ORLANDO BOSCH, Accion Cubana, JOSE DIONISIO SUAREZ ESQUIVEL,

one of the NOVO brothers representing MNC (Moviemento Nacional

Cubano).

During one of these meetings, it was discussed that

Cor would not have any more actions in the U.S., but DIONISIO

TE PROMIC NOT TERENCE LON

SUAREZ was not in agreement because he said they already have

an operation going in

thệ

U.S

but they would be able to comply

after ninety days.

On May 10, 1977, MORALES furnished the following

information with regards to the June, 1976, meeting

(Ip-

-the

Dominican Republic of the anti-CASTRO Cuban exiles:

With regards to the June, 1976, meeting in the

Dominican Republic of the anti-CASTRO Cuban Exile Organization,

(S

attended the meeting as the representative from the CNM.

MORALES confirmed the presence at the meeting of ORLANDO BOSCH,

ROBERT CABALLO,

and ARMANDO LOPEZ ESTRADA.

MORALES further

stated that FRANK CASTRO had been the individual who had

organized the meeting, and that it had taken plaee with

the knowledge and blessing of the Government of the Dominican

Republic.

POSADA also reported that all of the groups attending,

with the

exception of the CNM, were in favor of confining any

actions against the Cuban Government to areas outside the

U.s.

POSADA also reported that actions against the Cubana

Airlines were discussed

and that as a result, subsequent

actions were taken.

MORALES continued that on the evening of May 9, 1977,

he was talking to FRANK CASTRO, who is now residing in Miami,

Florida. MORALES stated that CASTRO advised him during

the telephone conversation that during the meeting, JOSE DIONISIO

SUAREZ had made the statement that the CNM had one contract with

the Chileans in the U.S., which still

had to be carried out,

and this was the LETELIEP killing.

10

SECRET

DocId:32340877

Page 7

---

## Page 8

WFO 185-425

SECRET

in analysis of the above information reflects

several obvious factual conflicts. Dr. RIVAS VASQUE!

advised in March, 1977, that one of the DISIP sources

had reported two meetings in the Dominican Republic in

A larger one, which was a political meeting,

and the smaller one, which was strictly operational, whose

purpose was to decide on terrorist activity against Cuba.

Among those present at the operational weene, accordings

to the source, was GUILLERMO NOVO. MM 1337-S, who was

also in attendance at the June, 1976, meeting, advised

that the meetings were held in

the Dominican Republic

on June 11, 12, and 13, 1976, and that the representatives

from the Cuban Nationalist Movement were Dr. JUAN PULIDO

and JOSE DIONISIO SUAREZ, nOt GUILLERMO NOVO. Moreover,

MM 1337-S presented the conference more as one continuous

than as two separate meetings, but did advise that the

conference contained discussions of future terrorist

activities. (8)

BOSCH,

through BLAKE FLEETWOOD, confirmed that

the meeting had

taken place in June of 1976 in the Dominican

Republic and had been

attended by all of the military and

political directors of the different Cuban exile groups.

BOSCH also confirmed through the FLEETWOOD article that

CORU had been formed at that meeting, and that he himself

was the leader. (U)

MORALES in his statements confirmed that the

meeting had taken place and stated that it was only one of

the conu meetings held in June, 1976 further, MORALES

aavising that his information came through DISIP agent Ca

LUIS POSADA, stated that JOSE SUAREZ, not GUILLERMO NOVO,

had been

representative from the Cuban Nationalist

Movement

As can be

seen from the above, several distinct

celerences were made to two meetings in

the Dominican

Republic in June of 1976.

They can either be interpreted

as two meetings at the same three-day conference or as a

continuous

meeting over a period of several days, which

obviously involved more than one physical encounter of

attendees, which would thereby explain the apparent

conflict.

This in fact was the original interpretation

by the 00 as regards to the above point inasmuch-as MM-1337-g

reported the presence of SUAREZ at the June, 1976, meeting

and this was corroborated by another source.

therefore persuaded to believe that in fact ISUAREZ did

attend the meeting, and that the information provided by S

DISIP which indicated that GUILLERMO NOVO had been the

representative at the

meeting, had been simply an error f

11

SECRET

DocId:32340877

Page 8

---