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Press Release

LULAC National Board Passes Resolution Demanding a Grand Jury Investigation into the Alleged Murders of Four Hispanics While Conducting a Humanitarian Mission.

Venerable Hispanic Civil Rights Organization joins the Cuban American Veterans Association in petition drive .

November 11, 2007

For more information, contact:
Lizette Jenness Olmos,
202-833-6130 ext.16

Washington, DC – Today the League of United Latin American Citizens National Board approved unanimously passes a resolution to support a petition by the Cuban American Veterans Association calling for the Department of Justice to convene an investigation into the murder of Vietnam Veteran Armando Alejandre, Jr. Corporal, United States Marine Corps and three other civilians by officers of the Cuban Armed Forces. Official investigations and statements by eyewitnesses have confirmed that the unarmed planes were shot down in international airspace.

“LULAC urges the Department of Justice to open a grand jury investigation into what appears to be an injustice on the part of the Castro regime,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales.

“LULAC has fought for the rights, freedom and liberties of our nation’s veterans. We encourage the government to move forward on this investigation for those who gave their lives fighting for our country,” said LULAC former VP for the Northeast Regla Gonzalez.

The petition drive will be open till December 31st. The Cuban American Veterans Association along with the support of LULAC hopes to present the signed petitions to the Justice Department with the support of Cuban Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL), Senator Bob Menendez (D-FL), and Members of Congress Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).

“We thank LULAC for supporting the petition addressed to the Attorney General of the United States. We have been able to collect thousands of petitions thus far,” said Rafael G. Crespo, President of the Cuban American Veterans Association. Some of the petitions were handed out at the 2nd Annual LULAC Veterans Summit in Orlando, Florida on November 8-10, 2007.

The League of United Latin American Citizens is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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Resolution

WHERAS, On February 24th, 1996 two unarmed U.S. licensed civilian aircraft while flying in a humanitarian search and rescue mission in the Florida Straits, were shot down by two Cuban Air Force war planes, causing the death of two tour Vietnam Veteran Armando Alejandre jr., Corporal United States Marine Corps; U.S. Citizens Mario de la Pena and Carlos Costa, and legal U.S. resident Pablo Morales.

WHEREAS, The planes were shot down with no prior warning or adherence to the protocol established by international laws with regards to civilian unarmed planes.

WHEREAS, The United States National Security Council, The United Nations Committee on Human Rights, the European Union, The International Civil Aviation Organization and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States condemned this act of terrorism by the Cuban regime.

WHEREAS, In spite of the overwhelming amount of evidence against the Cuban regime, including the public admission made by both Fidel and Raul Castro admitting direct responsibility for the premeditated criminal act, no action whatsoever has been initiated by the previous or current U.S. Administration.

WHEREAS, The League of United Latin American Citizens supports the petition sponsored by the Cuban American Veterans Association, Inc., to the United States Justice., in as much that the grand jury be convened to investigate this case and take all legal steps necessary for due process.