Tony Cuesta

Tony Cuesta (13 June 1926 — 2 December 1992) was an anti-Castro Cuban activist.

Life and background

Cuesta was educated at the University of Havana. The anti-Batista political movements had a strong influence in his college life but he later turned his head against the direction taken by the new government towards stricter Soviet-like models that led him to make his decision to flee Cuba.[1] Initially a member of the 26th of July Movement and a close supporter of Fidel Castro, Cuesta in 1960 defected to the United States, and in 1961 was one of the founders of the anti-Communist paramilitary organization Alpha 66. He later set up the guerrilla group "Comandos L" (the L standing for Libertad) which operated out of Anguilla and, under his command, in 1963 sank the Soviet freighter Baku in Caibarién Harbour.

Exile leadership and paramilitary activity

Cuesta became one of the most prolific leaders in the anti-Castro movement of exiles, leading Comandos L once in exile and taking part in various paramilitary actions against the Cuban government.[1][2] In 1966, Cuesta was captured in Cuba. He had been attempting to smuggle men into Cuba, one of whom was Herminio Díaz García, for assassinating Castro. During the mission he was fired upon by a Soviet ship. However, rather than surrender, he attempted to blow his ship up with a hand grenade, as a result of which he lost an eye and an arm.[3] He remained in prison until 1978.

Later life and exile involvement

After his release, he returned to Miami and refounded Comandos L. Tony Cuesta continued to be a leading figure in the politics of exile, giving public statements regarding the activities at the start of the 90s, and scrutinizing the personal losses and unsatisfied struggles of the anti-Castro movement. [4] The unsuccessful mission had caused him to be permanently disabled and the injuries had caused him permanent pain in his eyesight and arm leading to extreme complications in his life after the incident[2] In a declaration of popular opinion in 1992, Cuesta described the exile struggle as a cause carried with both pride and sorrow, confessing the emotional cost of decades of warfare but retaining his faith in a post-Castro future.[4]

Death and personal life

He died in Miami on 2 December 1992 from a heart attack.[5] He was married four times. His death was immensely popular among the Cuban exile community, where his long history of militancy and self-sacrifice turned him into a household name across older generations of anti-Castro activists.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Kaiser, David (2009-06-30). The Road to Dallas. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-03928-5.
  2. ^ a b c Associated Press (6 December 1992). "Tony Cuesta; led exiles in raids on Cuba". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Ill.
  3. ^ Getlin, Josh (22 March 1922). "The Return of an Old Cold..." Los Angelos Times.
  4. ^ a b Harding, Erika (1992-02-12). "Reactions To Execution Of Diaz Betancourt Ordered By Cuban Government". NotiSur.
  5. ^ "Tony Cuesta, leader of Cuban exile group". Tampa Bay Times. 3 December 1992.

Sources


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