DATE=3/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247032
TITLE=CUBA BOMBINGS / SENTENCE (S & L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: A CUBAN COURT HAS IMPOSED THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST A 
SALVADORAN MAN CONVICTED OF CONDUCTING A BOMBING CAMPAIGN ON THE 
ISLAND IN 1997.  V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS FROM MIAMI THAT 
THE DEFENDANT CONFESSED TO TARGETING CUBA'S GROWING TOURISM 
SECTOR, SETTING OFF SIX EXPLOSIONS. 

TEXT: FOLLOWING A HIGHLY-PUBLICIZED TRIAL, A PROVINCIAL COURT IN 
HAVANA SENTENCED RAUL ERNESTO CRUZ LEON TO DEATH EARLY TUESDAY.

CUBAN PROSECUTORS HAD ARGUED THE SALVADORAN NATIONAL UNDERTOOK 
THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN WITH THE BACKING OF A POWERFUL CUBAN EXILE 
GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES THAT STRONGLY OPPOSES THE GOVERNMENT 
OF PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO.

THE DEFENDANT ADMITTED TO THE BOMBINGS BUT INSISTED HE HAD NO 
KNOWLEDGE OF ANY INVOLVEMENT BY THE MIAMI-BASED CUBAN-AMERICAN 
NATIONAL FOUNDATION, WHICH HAS DENIED SPONSORING VIOLENCE AGAINST
CUBA.

THE 1997 EXPLOSIONS KILLED AN ITALIAN VISITOR AND INJURED 11 
PEOPLE, AND DAMAGED SEVERAL HAVANA-AREA HOTELS AND ONE 
RESTAURANT.

CRUZ LEON'S DEATH SENTENCE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE APPEALED TO 
CUBA'S SUPREME COURT.

// REST OPT FOR LONG //

DURING THE TRIAL, THE DEFENDANT SAID HE CARRIED OUT THE BOMBINGS 
FOR MONEY - NOT POLITICAL REASONS - AND THAT HE WAS RECRUITED BY 
A FELLOW-SALVADORAN WHO OFFERED HIM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO 
COMMIT THE CRIMES.

IN IMPOSING THE DEATH PENALTY, THE COURT IGNORED APPEALS FOR 
CLEMENCY FROM CRUZ LEON'S FAMILY, THE SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT AND 
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

CUBA'S TOURISM SECTOR HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS, 
PROVIDING THE GOVERNMENT WITH BADLY-NEEDED REVENUE AFTER THE FALL
OF ITS ONE-TIME ALLY AND PRIMARY AID DONOR, THE FORMER SOVIET 
UNION.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, CUBA SENTENCED FOUR DISSIDENTS CONVICTED OF 
SEDITION TO JAIL TERMS RANGING FROM THREE-AND-A-HALF TO FIVE 
YEARS.  UNLIKE THE DISSIDENTS' TRIAL, WHICH WAS CLOSED TO FOREIGN
DIPLOMATS AND THE MEDIA, THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT OPENED CRUZ LEON'S 
TRIAL TO INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/MCB/LTD/GE

23-Mar-99 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.