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Cuba: Brothers to the Rescue Trial in USA, a First Step

HAVANA TIMES – The trial of Luis Gonzalez Pardo, one of those implicated in the downing of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft in February 1996, has been scheduled for August 24, in what is considered the first step toward bringing justice to bear on a thorny issue that has festered for decades within the Cuban exile community.

The aircraft, belonging to the Miami-based organization dedicated to rescuing Cuban rafters who had taken to the sea, were shot down by Cuban military jets over international waters with four persons killed, in an act that unleashed a diplomatic and media storm. But in the courtrooms, nothing had happened until now.

The US justice system will have an opportunity to make history if it successfully navigates this complex process, which is like entering a labyrinth where justice and politics play cat and mouse behind masks and knowing winks.

To begin with, the case against Luiz Gonzalez Pardo is not a simple administrative proceeding or a conventional criminal case: it involves navigating the murky waters of extraterritorial jurisdiction, a Cold War that never really ended, and the eternal game of diplomatic chess between the United States and Cuba.

Adding spice to the stew in this case is the fact that among those accused is none other than former Cuban ruler Raul Castro, the biggest fish of all, and someone who will hardly be brought to justice willingly. But a trial like this could influence the progress of behind-the-scenes negotiations aimed at guaranteeing him peace of mind during the few years he has left, as well as security for his large family, in exchange for truly profound........

© Havana Times