The 13th of March
With the ascension of Raul Castro to power in Cuba, a lot of folks are talking about the possibility of a change in the relationship between that country and the United States. Before the Castro revolution, the port of Jacksonville was the largest trader with Cuba. March 13th, however, reminds us of an event that shows why any change would have to begin with a change in the human rights recognized by the Cuban government.
In 1994, there were food riots in Havana. Mules and horses had returned to the fields - the old Soviet tractors were idled by lack of parts and lack of fuel. People wanted to leave in order to live under better conditions, but the Cuban government refused, and still refuses. to allow foreign travel by it’s citizens.
On July 13, 1994, an old tugboat “13 de Marzo” carried 72 people as they tried to escape Cuba. As later found by The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, four Cuban patrol boats attacked the tug seven miles off the coast. The Cuban boats first fired water cannon, then rammed the boat and sank it. 41-people died - many of them children 31-people survived to write their stories of that awful day.
The three Polargo tug boats surrounded our ship and began using the high pressure water hoses once again forcing “13 de Marzo” to get away from the coast. They crashed “13 de Marzo” intentionally again and over again, trying to overturn us. But “13 de Marzo”’s structure was really strong. Then they decided to stand one in front and one behind us. The Polargo behind us hit “13 de Marzo” several times until our tug boat began to sink. When they saw our ship was sinking, the Polargo behind us rode 13 de Marzo’s stern. Fifty percent of “13 de Marzo” was already under water at that time.
About 30 people remained trapped into “13 de Marzo”’s holds. Those of us who could reach the water surface saw how the Polargos were making whirlpools around us at a high speed. They remained doing this for over 40 minutes. Obviously, they were trying not to leave survivors who could become dangerous witnesses. A group of 15 to 18, including my son Sergio and I, grabbed a floating ice box. So we could survive. We knew nothing about other members of our family also on “13 de Marzo”.
Raul Castro has an opportunity. Recognize the civil rights of your people and join the community of free nations. Otherwise, nothing will change.
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