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RESOLUTION URGING 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, ALL OF WHOM 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 24TH, 1996; URGING CONGRESS TO CONDEMN THESE ACTIONS

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WHEREAS, on February 24th, 1996, two unarmed 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 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization 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 Castro and Raul Castro admitting responsibility for these premeditated criminal acts, no action has been initiated by the previous or current U.S. administration against either Fidel Castro or Raul Castro,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the U.S. Department of Justice to convene a grand jury to investigate the role of Fidel Castro and Raul Castro in 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 24th, 1996.
Section 2. Urges Congress to condemn the actions of the Cuban regime as set forth above.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Attorney General.
Section 4. Directs the County's federal lobbyists to advocate for the action set forth in Sections 1 and 2, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2008 Federal Legislative Package.