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Report onr&uban Military potential andInternaT_Con4itiona ,in_Cuba .byHovemont
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APPROVED FOR
. CASTRO'e army now baa about 2CO,(MV^tfe-grr^HUtiamon botweenf age who are indoctrinated and trained under inhuman conditions so thatwill be mentally and physically conditioned to face tbe greatestneeds. For exanpla, suk oiyouths have to stand guard duty
hour periods, eating and liringxhole. Some undergo forcedand daily manual-of-arcs ^it-lj^BSB
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3. Thereotalight and ntavy vtst,tth' 'JOtCfttjifi militia have Czech-automatio weapons, such as burp guns, FALs, and nine-am. pistols
for all officers, plus sufficient ammunition.A
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
APPROVED FOR RELEASE DATE;1
4.
arcr/ now hasoung arced militiamen betweenndears of ego who are indoctrinated and trained under inhuman conditions eo that they will be mentally and physically conditioned to faoe tha greatest sacrifices and needs. For example,i this* youths have to stand guard dutyhour periods, eating and liringoxhole. Some undergo forced carehas and daily nanus1-of-arms
Tha militia amycript HiCs, of two types. Twelve of these have been painted with tho American Armynsignia on tbo tall and wings. Six of thesere at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and are said to be ready to be used fee an act of self-aggress ion to bomb liabana City and other canters in case of any invasion.^
Thereotalight and heavy tanks. All tha militia have Csech- or Soviet-made automatic veapecs, aucb as burp guns, FALs, and nine-cm. pistols vl for all officers, plus sufficient ammunition.A
Ten boats, equipped with torpedoes, light artillery, and radar, and capable of doingnots, were receivedctober. Theso boats are to patrol the Cuban coasts, end tbeld will bo reinforced by the MiGs and helicopters. Their orders are to shoot to kill, even li" the targetmail defenseless boat.'
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notorized equipment of tbe CASTRO army In extracrdinarilynumbers.
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A conservative ostlmate places tne number of small Jeeps, largesemi-trailers used to transport cannons and heavy equipment
and baavy artillery and f arre3 antiaircraftare gun emplacements atop every high place or building lnln tbe highest part of the mountains, as well as atopIn both Babana and the provincial capitals.
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total number of militia. Including women, fluctuatesbut many of these are elderly persons, while others do nottbe Communist doctrine but are forced to join in order to keep their jobs.
committees have been reinforced and have extended their vigil lnhoods, standing night watches and chocking and searching everyoneorouseackage. Tbe entry and exit of unknowna wighhcrhood are also checked. Host of these vigilantes, includingare armed for this duty. At night all embassies, factories,and clubs are carefully guardedermanent basis. This moans
'there are thousands of militia who perform guard duty fromo as much
ours at ono time.
new currency change is being prepared which will include fractional coins. nickels and pennies in circulation, but tbe shortage of otber coinsig handicap, especially for small businesses.
10. Persecutions and detentions have been Intensified, and another martial law,prohibit citizens from being on tbe streets after. istats of permanent emergency will be decreed. The closing ofremaining gambling establishments and tho absence ofrench,motion pictures makes ha bonaead city at sight) onlyare exhibited.
^ An estimate places tho men workingn the city of Ha bans aloneof then work In labor centers. Therepecial corpshoso
is the surveillance's work. In addition, thereecret
organisation in charge of checking the movements and actions of such prominent members of tbe government as ministers and field-grade military officers.
1 The CASTRO regime haB confidence only in tried and proven Communists. Others In government positions are subjected to the same terror they produce, thustate of collective insecurity.
front of grocery, fruit, meat, and poultry stores. edical certificate is needed to buy oranges. Leading Communists and government members do not suffi any aborts gee; foreign embassies' shelves are also well stocked.
Vev remaining gambling establishments and the absence ofrench, ox Italian motion pictures makes Hsbanaead city at nightt, only Soviet pictures are exhibited.
An ostimnte places .'men workingn the city oviflbana alone^ Some of them work in labor centers. Thsrepecial corpshose function is the surveillance's work. In addition, thereecret organization in charge of checking tbe movements and actions of such prominent members of the government as ministers and flsld-grad* military officers.
Tbe CASTRO regime has confidence only in tried and proven Ccocunists. Others in government positions are subjected to tbe same- terror they prcducs, thustate of collective insecurity.
The few private industries and businesses still remaining, such as rsstaurants. Jewelry, drug, hard ware, and grocery stores, are being eliminated by the lack of materials with which to operate.
. Hunger is felt among the poorer classes and workers. There are long lines ln
front of grocery, fruit, meat, and poultry stores. edical certificateto buy oranges. Leading Cocoon late and government members do not suffer
any shortages; foreign embassies' shelves are also well stocked.
o obtain an exit permit from Cobs one isurn at the local police station. When one's turn isuestionnaire must be submitted, which lists one's possessions such as automobile, refrigerator, and furniture.
This information la then investigated, which then forwards the documents to tbe Technical Investigations Department. This organization fixes tha date of departure ofequester. It is estimated that there are now0 passports, with all the necessary documentation, and0 Cubans who are gotting their documents in order in preparation for leaving the country.
16. To prevent the hi-Jacking of Cubanaiae ion planes, tha Cubansealed off the pilots cabin doors on the Viscounts and EC-3sthe Isle of Pines, Habann-Cameguey, and Habana-Santlago routes. Ofofilots, co-pilots and atowards wltb Cubana de Avlacion,are opposed to Communism, and many work in The pilots want to hi-Jack tba planes, but many stillin Cuba whoa they are trying to take out little by little. plane, with the exception of the Britanniaa flying to Mexico,Prague, there are two militiamen armed with automatic weapons. in the cockpit, and another in the passenger compartment,gun at the
17* The Isle of Pines prisonirtual inferno,opulation of merchants, professionals, technicians, businessmen, workers, farmers, and ordinary workmen. Illnesses such as tuberculosis, infectious asthma, bronchitis, and ouch infections as typhus and malaria abound. The food la torriblo, and rata and roaches are found in tho cooking pota. Visits arc frequently prohibited, and Boaetimes two and three months pass without the prisoners being able to see their relatives. Prisoners sleep on the floor pressed against each other because there are four times the number of prisoners that can be accommodated adequately. There areen in the Cabana Fortress, which is large enough. The majority have been there for alx or aeven months without knowing what the charges against them are. In the Cabana, beysndears of age are hold for counterrevolutionary trials. Living conditions at the Cabana are slightly better than at the Isle of Pines. Both the Cabana Fortress and the Isle of Pines prison are completely minod with dynamite. It was placed in underground excavations to be set off whenever necessary by means of special detonator:;.
18* It is rumored that other large industrial buildings such aa the Cuban Electric Company, tho Telephone Company, theuto Naclocal de la Raforma Agrarla building, and important factories are also mined with dynamite.
19. Throughout theas houses in which many people have been detained;erson will have to go hungry and sleep on the floor for two or three months without being able to see any relatives. Then, if there is stoething againat tbe person, or if he la merely under eusplclon, he is aent to
20. Feminine brigades have been created to dedicate themselves to teaching reading and writing, and they include young women of fromoears of age. They wear special militia-type uniforms butifferent color. They go to farm acn*-'to teach reading and wfH^e* Vi*to indoctrinate
by means of special
It ie rumored that other largo industrial buildings each aa ibel>tx Company, the Teleo" "J6ny, the Institutoa Refomabuilding,ant factories are also mined uithv-ynamlte.
Throughout theas houses in vhich many people have been detained;arson will have to go hungry and sleep on the floor for two or three months without being able to aee any relatives* Then, If there Is something against the person, or if he Is merely under suspicion, he is sent to the Cabana Fortress; othorwiso be goes free. There are more0 people in Cuba in this situation. There are now new maaa detentions based on simple declarations or information from tha neighborhood defense committees. orps is made up in large part of auch persons as drug peddlers, petty crooks, blackmailers, pickpockets, and homosexuals.
Feminine brigades have been created to dedicato themselves to toacbing reading and writing, and they include young women of fromoears of age. They wear special militia-type uniforms butifferent color. They go to farm zones, announcedly to teach reading and writing, but actually to indoctrinate the farmers. Many of these young girls have returned home pregnant, and government hospitals and other facilities have been used for abortions, although the government has declared abortions illegal and has prosecuted violators, lt has justified its actions in these cases by maintaining that the women must be
In condition for their tasks as teachers. Thla moral deteriorationbecause girls from good families have come In contact withlesbians; parents have been unable to control their daughters because ofbeing denounced by them.
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There are no anesthetics, no antlblotles, no gauze, no cotton, and no bandages, and the supplies of patent medicines have diminished considerably. The shelves of pharmacies, drug stores, and laboratories are almost empty. The exodus of tbe medical class from Cuba bas been great. Thisreat problem, particularly for cbildrsn, sines elementary medical supplies are not available. Anti-tophus and anti-tstanus vaccines are also unavailable.
'.The so-called revolutionary trials are conspicuous by the absence of the most elementary norms of guarantee. Tribunals are made uprally low and incompetent persons, who know littleudicial trial. Sentences are passed, and the lawyers who defend persons in tbe Cabana Fortress trials expose themselves to poealblo imprisonment and suffer all sorts erf Insults and criticism from the prosecuting attorney, witnesses, and members of the tribunals. In addition to those executed after such trials, others are executed without trials or publicity. Raul CASTRO, now active in Santiago de Cuba, is one of the leaders in these activities. One prisonerawyer who was sentenced toears ln the Isle of Pines. Inays of torture be agedears. Among otner tortures be was forced to listen foronsecutive bearsecord that played over and over again. ay what you know." After that, infra-red lamps were concentratea on his eyes for two or threee he was interrogated incessantly, without food or' water. Ue was taken out more than ten tines, being told that be was to be executed, and ho was then fired at with blanks.
It la estimated that there are currently in0 members of tbe Coaaunlst International Brigade. These include pilots, technicians, investigstors, and military officer instructors, and they are sponsored with state funds.
^ Tbe professional sector ofh of November Movement la tbe bestthe following six organisations are integrated within it: the Movimlooto
del Pueblo, Movimlento DomocraticoCristlano, the Movlmlento
Democraticoaction of the Moviaiento de Recuperaclon
art of tho Catholic movement.7 Tbe leader of this sector
isnd one of his assistants is "Juan."8
h of November Movement malnUina armed rebel fronts in the Escambray, and
3. The number of MiCs reported hero is too high. Cuban MiG aircraft are estimated at an aggregatef whichore believed to be in
ln Orients and Pinar del Rio Provinces. Some aid is given the counterrevolutionaries by local farmers. Tbe recent few actions and acts cf sabotage in Cuba have been done byh of November Movement. Other such actions are planned, but such items as contact nines, explosives, and arms and ammunition are needed.
oex rueojo, Kovlaieivto UemccratlcoUrlaLlano, 'too Movimientoaction of the Mpvimiento de Recuperecion Revolocionaria,art of tbe Catholic movement.' The leader of thla eector land one, of hla assistants is "Juan.*8 ^
h of November'Movement maintains armed rebel fronts in the Escambray, and in Oriente and Pinar del Rio Provinces. Some aid is given tbe coanterrevolutionarle by local farmers. The recent few actions and acts of aabotage in Cuba have been done byh of November Movement. Other such actions are planned, but such items as contact mines, explosives, and arms and ammunition are needed.
1. This report is being disseminated In its entirety aa an example of tba
of intelligence being forwardedh of November Movement
Many of the figures are exaggora statements very general in nature.
2. Tho totalilitiaman of this ago group is extremely high.
- The number of MiGs reported here is too high. ircraft are estimated at an aggregatef whichore believed to bo in flying condition. Reports of FAR aircraft painted with US insignia haves, and now MiG's. Although there is little doubt that Cuban planes have been painted with US Insignia, the type of plane and quantity is questionable. There has been no confirmationircraft are based at Ciudad Libert ad, to which the source is assumed to be referring in tbo mention of the six MiG's at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
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oubtful that the total number of light and heavy tanks in Cuba would equal half this number.
One of Cuba's fastest naval vessels,orld War II PT boat, ls capable of reachingknots. The speed ofnots is too high. Cubans refer to "light artillery" in speaking ofmnm anti-eircraftmost Cubanpatroloast guardnd sons service vesselss well as the larger frigates and cruisers, are equipped with radar, although nalntenance of thisis difficult because of the shortage of parts. There may be some validity to the report that Cuba has received additional patrol craft, since Cuba has been attempting to acquire ^hese vessels in etveral countries since According to
r-type coastal patrol boats were reported to have arrived in rrom Chechoslovakia innd pursuit-speedboats were reported to have been received in Cuba ln early1 fron Italy, although there has been no confirmation of either report.
This figure- appears to be exaggerated,
Although the report said that six organizations had been intefnatod, the KID was mentioned twice. It is not clear what error may have been made here.
S. I BMBfcL^lii. ropaganda activities cfh of Severer ^OTsmcEt la the publication and distribution within Cuba of El Dancario Libre. the official publication of the Movement for bank employees.
Original document.
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