HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-08-0039City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution: R-08-0039
City Hall
3500 Pan American
Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 08-00032 Final Action Date: 1/10/2008
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO CONVENE A GRAND JURY TO
INVESTIGATE, AS STATED HEREIN, THE MURDERS OF ARMANDO
ALEJANDRE JR., MARIO DE LA PENA, CARLOS COSTAAND PABLO
MORALES, ALL OF WHOM WERE SHOT DOWN BY TWO CUBAN AIR FORCE
WAR PLANES IN TWO UNARMED UNITED STATES LICENSED CIVILIAN
AIRCRAFT WHILE FLYING A HUMANITARIAN SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION
IN THE FLORIDA STRAITS ON FEBRUARY 24,1996; FURTHER URGING
CONGRESS TO CONDEMN THESE ACTIONS; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS DESIGNATED
HEREIN.
WHEREAS, on February 24,1996, two unarmed United States ("U.S.") licensed civilian aircraft
were shot down while flying a humanitarian search and rescue mission in the Florida Straits by two
Cuban Air Force war planes; and
WHEREAS, this action resulted in the deaths of 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; and
WHEREAS, the planes were shot down with no prior warning and without adherence to the
protocol established by international law with regard to unarmed civilian planes; and
WHEREAS, subsequent investigations and statements by eyewitnesses demonstrated that the
unarmed planes were shot down in international airspace; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Committee on Human
Rights, the European Union, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International
American Commission on Human Rights of the American States condemned these acts by the
Cuban regime; and
WHEREAS, in spite of the overwhelming evidence against the Cuban regime, including public
admissions by both Fidel and Raul Castro admitting responsibility for these premeditated criminal
acts, no action has been initiated by the previous or current U.S. administration;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted
City of Miami
Page 1 of 2 File Id: 08-00032 (Version: 1) Printed On: 4/24/2017
File Number: 08-00032 Enactment Number: R-08-0039
by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission urges the U.S. Department of Justice to convene a
grand jury to investigate the murders of Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Pena, Carlos Costa
and Pablo Morales, who were shot down by two Cuban Air Force war planes in two unarmed U.S.
licensed civilian aircraft while flying a humanitarian search and rescue mission in the Florida Straits
on February 24,1996.
Section 3. The U.S. Department of Justice is urged to focus its investigation on identifying the
particular persons who actually committed the acts of murder by shooting down unarmed civilians
in a U.S. licensed aircraft, as well as identifying the persons who issued the orders to shoot down
these planes.
Section 4. The City Commission further urges Congress to condemn the actions of the Cuban
regime as set forth above.
Section 5. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the members of the
Florida Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Attorney General.
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature
of the Mayor.{1}
Footnotes:
{1} If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File Id: 08-00032 (Version: 1) Printed On: 4/24/2017