CUBAN EXILE INTERVIEWED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000600300011-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 26, 1999
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: July 23, 1961
• Content Type: TRANS

WNBC & NaM - Approved For2Aee1-9IA-RDP7
New York
FOIAb
Program: "Monitor" - 5:30 PM
CUBAN EXILE INTERVIEWED
CPYRGHT
MARCH: HAL "Monitor News Editor, Jim Holton, is across the studio right
now with another gentleman; and he's signaling for the mike. Before I switch to
Jim, let me set the scene. His guest is a Cuban refugee with a military back-
ground. I had the pleasure of speaking a few moments before he went on. Now,
with Monitor News Special, here's Jim Holton, who will introduce his guest.
"Jim."
HOLTON: "Hal, I've got with me Captain Santiago Perez. Is that correct?
PEREZ: "Correct."
HOLTON: "Now Captain, you tell me what the situation is in Cuba?"
PEREZ: "Well, the situation, Mr. Holton, is very serious right now, beca se
there's lots of organizations here; and none of these people want to get togethe --
everybody wants to be a general. That's the situation right now.
1 t now I'm organizing agreat group of pilots. But the only thing is his:
cNr--. ta~Y ,na5.?,~xlpYa?, .y,r*!>' Lya ~?-. T
I'm not trying to separate nobody. r:~c
~"6A!n6wsiow to fly an airplane is el-
come, no matte whether that person or that pilot in particular was flying for t e
last regime of Batista. The question is: get Castro out of power Dmneately.
HOLTON: "Let me ask you this, Captain. There is so much confusion about the
various groups -- the various anti-Castro groups -- what is the name of your gro p?
I understand that you are appointed as of today."
PEREZ: "The OLAC (?) The OLAC is a big organization which gave me the ho or
of organizing this group of pilots. And my mission is going to be to keep Cuba n
communication (?)."
HOLTON: "Well, what about the other various anti-Castro groups?"
PEREZ: "Wel ,;,>_ he_;,25th, of this, month_,we're goi to Washington, and we h e
that everybody will get together. But even so, ifsom people c~ori t get togethe ,
my group of pilots is going to give support to these people, as long as they want
to go to Cuba and fight -- well-organized."
HOLTON: "How many pilots have you got?"
PEREZ: "Well, so far, I've only got around 18 pilots."
HOLTON: "What are your pilots going to contact there -- should ask this q stior?"
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 Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600300011-4
CPYRGHT - 2 -
PEREZ: "You mean, to direct these pilots?"
HOLTON: "Well, yes -- for this movement, or whatever..."
PEREZ: "Well,. Vtor Manuel Pomeey. He was indiarge of three provinces
in Cuba, and he's over here in the'tnited States right now. So I'm planning to get
all the cooperation from all these organizations. And my idea is this: we have to
have -- we have to get -- the Cuban -- the former Cuban army -- reorganized in the
United States. Because..."
HOLTON: "The Batista -- Batista's army?"
PEREZ: "Well, they weren't exactly Batista's army. They were the army for
the Republic of Cuba. And they have good training. And these people were not supposed
to think whether they were working for Batista or not. We are all Cubans; and we have
to get together no matter what."
PEREZ: "Well -- (LAUGHS) -- there's a lot of mistake-en made. As a matter
of fact, the exiles -- the people in exile -- now call the0Ijthe Cuban Information
HOLTON (LAUGHING): "Well, what's going to happen this Wednesday?"
PEREZ: "This Wednesday? Well, we'll see what happens."
HOLTON: "What's Castro going to say?"
PEREZ: "He can say a lot of things."
HOLTON: "We have some information that he's going to -- for one thing-- he's
going to announce that all the prisoners are released: they can go back to the United
States, go wherever they want."
PEREZ: "I don't think so. I don't think so."
HOLTON: "Also he -- well we've been told --that he also is going to call for
a free election."
PEREZ: "Well, I don't think so either, because, you see Cuba is under the
worst dictatorship we ever fia '?--'the Com2iunists -- they destroyed our society."
HOLTON: "Who do you think is really the boss in Cuba?"
PEREZ: "In Cuba?"
HOLTON: "Yes."
PEREZ: "It's only three names: Raul, Fidel, and Che."
HOLTON: "Who's the big boss?"
PEREZ: "Raul and Che. Fidel is a puppet."
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CPYRGHT
HOLTON: "You knew Fidel, for a long time?"
PEREZ: "Yes, as a matter of fact, I was first fighting with him." (?)
HOLTON: "What's your opinion about how long thepresent regime in Cuba will
PEREZ: "If these all people get together here, the present regime will last
months -- definitely. For that you can take my word."
HOLTON: "Thank you, Captain Santiago Perez."
PEREZ: "Thank you, sir."
HOLTON: "And Hal, that's a very interesting story."
MARCHK: "Indeed it is, Jim, and many, many thanks."
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