Cuban Group’s Armed Attempt to Reach Cuba Ends in Deadly Confrontation

Las Autodefensas del Pueblo and the Cuba Infiltration Attempt

Ten Cubans traveling by boat from Florida towards Cuba were intercepted in a deadly confrontation with the Cuban coast guard last week. The individuals belonged to a relatively unknown organization called Autodefensas del Pueblo (ADP), which promotes clandestine armed action against the Havana regime, according to its leaders. While Cuban authorities are characterizing the incident as a “terrorist infiltration” orchestrated from Miami, the organization maintains it was a “patriotic mission.”

Michel Naranjo Riverón, alias Kiki Naranjo, the 47-year-classic founder and leader of ADP, stated, “This is the only organization that is in place to overthrow the regime. These patriots are the only ones who have tried to liberate Cuba after Playa Girón,” referencing the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. The incident has brought renewed attention to groups within the Cuban exile community advocating for insurgency, a historically significant but currently marginal strategy within the broader opposition movement.

What Happened? A Timeline of Events

According to Cuban authorities, the men departed from Marathon Key on February 25th, heading towards Villa Clara in central Cuba, in a roughly seven-meter fishing boat. They were intercepted by the coast guard. The men reportedly opened fire, wounding a coast guard commander and were subsequently killed in a crossfire, resulting in four deaths and injuries to the remaining individuals. Cuban state television broadcast images of the weaponry seized from the boat, including rifles, pistols, ammunition, and ADP and Movimiento 30 de noviembre insignia.

Who are Las Autodefensas del Pueblo?

Autodefensas del Pueblo (ADP) is a relatively recent organization, founded in 2022 by Naranjo and Amijail Sánchez González. Naranjo previously founded a movement called Nueva Nación Cubana while still in Cuba, engaging in acts of graffiti, sugarcane field fires, and calls for civil disobedience. He sought political asylum in Florida after arriving by raft in 2021. The organization actively promotes its activities on social media, including graffiti appearing within Cuba and videos of alleged intentional fires. They also solicit contributions for their cause, stating, “If you want freedom and support the clandestines, we are ready to give our lives for our homeland. Long live free Cuba.”

Naranjo asserts that the group’s actions within Cuba are focused on internal struggle, while those in the U.S. Provide support. He expressed displeasure with criticism of the operation circulating on social media, stating his honor and pride in the actions of those involved. Naranjo and Sánchez González are both listed on a Cuban Ministry of Justice list of individuals and organizations linked to “terrorism,” alongside other exiled leaders and opposition figures.

A History of Armed Opposition

Attempts at covert operations to overthrow the Castro regime by groups within the Cuban exile community date back to the 1959 revolution. Organizations like Alpha 66 and Omega 7 were prominent during the Cold War, with some receiving CIA support. Omega 7 carried out attacks within the U.S. Before being dismantled in the 1980s; its leader, Eduardo Arocena, was sentenced to life in prison and died in Miami last year.

Over time, the opposition both within and outside of Cuba shifted towards civic struggle, and groups advocating for armed initiatives became marginalized. According to Eduardo Gamarra, a professor of political science at Florida International University (FIU), the perception was that these groups no longer existed, with the exile community dominated by individuals linked to the Republican Party.

What Each Side Wants

The Cuban government views the incident as a direct act of terrorism and seeks to maintain control and stability. They have presented evidence of the weaponry and alleged intent of the group to destabilize the country. The ADP, aims to overthrow the Cuban regime through armed resistance, viewing themselves as patriots fighting for the liberation of their homeland. They claim their actions are a response to decades of oppression and a lack of viable alternatives for change.

The U.S. Response and Potential Legal Ramifications

The U.S. Response has centered on demanding explanations from the Cuban government. Republican lawmakers, including Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Giménez, have called for investigations and accountability. The Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, is also examining the case. Organizing an armed incursion against another country from U.S. Territory could have legal consequences under federal law, though the Department of Justice has not commented on whether an investigation is underway. More on the U.S. Response can be found here.

Former strategist Ramón Saúl Sánchez, founder of the Democracy Movement, suggests Cuba may be increasing its military readiness due to fears of invasion. He also questioned the decision-making of the group, given the risks involved and the potential for repercussions.

The situation remains fluid, and the long-term implications of this incident are yet to be seen. The incident highlights the continued tensions between Cuba and the United States, as well as the complex dynamics within the Cuban exile community.