Cuban Nationalist Association Explained

Cuban Nationalist Association
Other Name:	Cuban Nationalist Movement
Founding Leader:	Felipe Rivero Diaz
Spokesperson:	Ignacio Novo Sampol
Dates:	1962 – 1989
Battles:	Cold War

The Cuban Nationalist Association (or Cuban Nationalist Organization) was a terrorist organization of Cuban exiles who were responsible for a series of bombings against the Castro regime and the Cuban government. The association was a violent offshoot of the Cuban dissident movement. Eventually, the Cuban Nationalist Association changed its name to the "Cuban Nationalist Movement" (MNC).

Bombing of the Maria Teresa

On August 9, 1963, the association bombed the Cuban Cargo boat Maria Teresa in Montreal, Canada.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Attack on the United Nations

The association was responsible for the firing of a bazooka at the Headquarters of the United Nations building in 1964.^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

The United Nations was hosting Che Guevara, who was giving a speech at the time. Guevara did not pause his speech as the bazooka arced across the East River, falling short of its target and splashing down into the water, rattling the windows of the building as it exploded. Later, when Guevara was asked for comment, he said that the explosion "has given the whole thing more flavor," while smoking a Cuban cigar.

The director of the organization at the time was Felipe Rivero. Three men implicated in the attack were Julio Carlos Perez, Ignacio Novo, and Gullermo Novo. Another member, Molly Gonzalesattempted to break through UN Security brandishing a knife, who said that she was trying to assassinate Guevara.^[10]

After the explosion, the window shades at the chambers of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) were closed, in order to protect UNSC delegates from shards of glass. These curtains remained closed until 2019, when they were opened again for the first time since the attack.

Bombing of the Cuban Embassy

In 1966, the group was responsible for the bombing of the Embassy of Cuba in Ottawa, Canada.^[11]

References

1. Web site: International Terrorism in Canada 1960 - 1989 . Canadian Public Safety . 171.
2. Web site: August 10, 1964 . Cuban Exiles Claim Ship Blast in Canada . New York Times.
3. Web site: December 24, 1964 . Group That Fired Bazooka At U.N. Formed 5 Years Ago . Tampa Tribune.
4. Web site: KIHSS . PETER . December 23, 1964 . New York Times: Three Held in Bazooka Firing at the U.N. . 2024-10-28 . www.latinamericanstudies.org.
5. Web site: Cuban Nationalist Movement: Bazooka Shot at the United Nations . 2024-10-28 . www.latinamericanstudies.org.
6. Web site: December 12, 1964 . Bazooka Fired at U.N. as Cuban Speaks . New York Times.
7. Web site: Maeder . Jay . 2017-08-14 . The story of an attempted bazooka attack on the United Nations . 2024-10-28 . New York Daily News . en-US.
8. Web site: 2023-09-05 . When the UN Came Under Attack from a Mis-Guided Rocket Launcher . 2024-10-28 . www.globalissues.org . en-gb.
9. Web site: ACQUITTED SUSPECT: I WAS A SPY OF CIA AND UN BAZOOKA CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov) . 2024-10-28 . www.cia.gov.
10. News: Borger . Julian . 2019-04-05 . Curtains opened on UN security council for first time since attack on Che Guevara . 2024-12-04 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
11. Web site: March 16, 1998 . FBI memos, plot to bomb ship . National Archives.