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Cryptonym: AMBANG-3

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Definition:
Jose Antonio Duarte Oropesa, was a leader of the MRP in the early 1960's. In 1968, Duarte may have got into a suspicious fight with RFK's alleged assassin Sirhan Sirhan weeks before the assassination.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
A Jose Duarte Oropesa wrote Historiologia Logica, a series on Cuban history, where he refers to José El Turquito Fayat as a hitman: See http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/book/Historiologia-Cubana-III.pdf
Sources:

104-10243-10117: CABLE: IDENS DESIGNATED AMBANG-2, 3 AND 4 RESPECTIVELY

12/9/60, Havana to Director: "IDENS designated AMBANG-2, 3 AND 4 respectively."

104-10243-10116: CABLE: IDENS: 1 IGNACIO MENDOZA Y DE LA TORRE

12/9/60, Havana to Director: "IDENS: Ignacio Mendoza y de la Torre; Jose Antonio Duarte Oropesa; Rogelio Cisneros." See http://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=20191&relPageId=2

124-10350-10018: No Title

3/7/69, FBI letterhead memo, under heading "Jose Antonio Duarte-Oropesa" states that "Jose Duarte, interviewed June 8, 1968, in connection with the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, identified himself as the leader of UNARE (Unidad Nacional Revolucionaria), an anti-Castro Cuban group organized by himself...he and about 12 of his followers went to a meeting...on May 14, 1968, announcements of which indicated that there would be a lecturer who had recently returned from a tour of Cuba with a group of students. At the meeting, Duarte, having demanded equal opportunity to present his own views on Cuba, became involved in a scuffle with a young man, who he later recognized from a newspaper photograph as Sirhan Bishara Sirhan...Duarte was reportedly currently As staying with one Jose M. Estevez, former leader of the anti-Castro JURE." Ray's assistant at JURE was Jeronimo Esteves. (See entry for AMBANG-1). Here is one memo (among others) about this encounter: http://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=99850&relPageId=305&search=%22jose_duarte%22 This CIA memo claims that this was not Jose Antonio Duarte, but Jose Zacarias TALLET Duarte: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=103889&relPageId=23&search=%22jose_antonio%20duarte%22

Joan Mellen, Farewell to Justice, p. 280

Loran Hall identified "Garrison's thick-necked Cuban" as "Jose Duarte, who, in fact, was a long-time and current asset of JMWAVE".

104-10225-10067: REVOLUTIONARY GUERILLA TRAINING IN MEXICO

10/29/68, a confidential source advised: "(The source learned from) Gerry Hemming that Roy Hargraves, another American adventurer presently living in Los Angeles, California, was formerly active in Cuban revolutionary matters in Miami. As of October 29, 1968, Hargraves was in jail in Los Angeles charged with dynamiting right wing organizations and also the headquarters of the Black Panthers in the Los Angeles area. Hemming reportedly learned from Hargraves that he works for Jose Antonio Duarte Cropeza, a Cuban exile living in Los Angeles who is associated with black militant organizations and extreme right wing groups. Duarte apparently wants racial warfare between these two groups and is promoting unrest...The source described Hemming and Hargraves as extremists, activists, mercenaries, opportunists, and immoral...Hemming, while in a position to furnish information, frequently alters, distorts, and changes the information to suit his fancy."

104-10271-10266: CABLE: ON 19 AUG AMCALL-1 REVEALED FOLL DETAILS RE ANTI-CASTRO

On 8/19/60, AMCALL-1 revealed makeup of new group Accion Democratica Revolucionaria (ADR): "A. National Directorate: Humberto Perez, Sammy Diaz, Amalio Fiallo, Hector Ravelo, Antonio Fernandez Nueva and AMCALL-1. B. National Coordinator: AMCALL-1 and others hope to persuade Manolo Ray assume this position. Action arms: Roberto Jiminez, FEU pres at Univ of Las Villas who claims to have 1000 men ready to take the hills and fight at proper time. Sammy Diaz and Sergio Gutierrez at Univ of Havana. Mary Habach at Univ of Villanueva. D. Sabotage team: Palomares FNU, former assistance to Odon de la Campa when latter was with Civic Resistance Movement. Carlos Matos who has twenty men in Agrupacion Catolico Universitar who now spotting targets. 2. AMCALL-1 provided Biniaris with letter to AMWAIL in which he argues with FRD concept of sending able bodied men out of Cuba for invasion preparations without first having established a solid internal resistance organization here...The ADR was going to meet with David Salvador...(but they) rejected Salvador..(ODACID/State Dept) crazy and shortsighted (if working with him)...Station of opinion AMCALL-1 and ADR should be given serious consideration in total JMARC program. Have requested he provide radio operator candidate to be trained by AMPHODARCH-11...(Chief of Station) comment: HAVA reported AMCALL-1 developing clandestine action arm of AMCALL." Also see 104-10271-10144, ADR file, 9/16/60, handwritten memo describing above and a little more - Amalio Fiallo - AMWAIL...Elena Mederos (mother of AMCOAX-1), Jorge Beruff, (Octavio?) Barroso and Chibas described as "Ray men"...Jose Duarte linked to AMPAN; Diaz Masvidal linked to AMULAR... 104-10192-10238: 9/7/60, AMCALL-1, trying to have ADR admitted into AMCIGAR/FRD, stating that ADR will change its name to MRP, changed at insistence of Manolo Ray: "Substance this message hand carried MASH (Havana CIA station) by station courier Nelson L. Raynock (Henry Hecksher)."

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

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