Cryptonym: AMBANTY

Myriam Marquez, Miami Herald, December 2008, "In Defiance: Cuba's Women Prisoners": http://elcubanocafe.blogspot.com/2008/12/in-defiance-cubas-women-prisoners.html

"...(Aracelis Rodriguez San Roman) came from a big family of 11 siblings, country folks who grew rice, tobacco, malanga and corn in Pinar del Río. With only a sixth-grade education, Rodríguez is scrappy smart. She kept the books for the Frente Union Occidental, the Eastern Union Front (sic: should state "Western Union Front"), an anti-Castro group her uncle ran to disrupt commerce by bombing bridges. That uncle, Esteban Marquez Novo, escaped to the United States, trained with the CIA, and returned to Cuba to run missions and bring out some of his nephews between 1961 and 1964."

104-10308-10016: KATHLEEN B.: FILE OPENED OCT 62, PM OPERATION. ORIGINAL AMCOBRA OP CONSISTED

Notes for March 1962: "PM (paramilitary) operation. Original AMCOBRA op consisted of a two-man PM team (AMBANTY-1 and -2) recruited and trained in US and subsequently infiltrated clandestinely into Cuba March 1962. They recruited inside Cuba - there were over 400 assets in the intel/resistance complex as of May 1964 when the operation was rolled up by Cuban authorities."

104-10068-10169: CABLE FROM JMWAVE: AGENT MESSAGE

8/7/63 cable from JMWAVE to Director: A message to Tito from Otto (Charles Gneiting), asking him to retrieve a tin can "send us data on Mongo who works with El Mayor" - "WAVE comment: Mongo is war name of new reception leader at Libertad Reception site...(want to see if) this system can be used to advise AMBANTY reception committees whether options are go or no go for particular date." "Mongo" may be a reference to AMCOG-1 (Ramón Grau Alsina). Ted Shackley wrote in Spymaster that the home of AMCOG-1 and 2 (Maria Leopoldina Grau Alsina de Agüero) "had become a magnet for disaffected Cubans, and Mongo himself had become involved with one of our other nets." https://books.google.com/books?id=hgf-1AGqIa4C&pg=PT89&lpg=PT89&dq=%22leopoldina+grau%22+alsina&source=bl&ots=twn5ip8yzu&sig=-3T0xEeXpDFtsBAKDfHOseipxLM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi41P3QntfaAhXrg1QKHSgRB3cQ6AEIaDAQ#v=onepage&q=%22leopoldina%20grau%22%20alsina&f=false See Notes for 11/15/63, WAVE 7523, next page: "Friend Otto: The compulsory military service law causes us to reduce intelligence information. I will have to decide between insurrection and leaving Cuba. I have decided in favor of the insurrection. I hope that you will help me with the arms which I need. Your reply is urgently needed. Colonel Abad."

104-10308-10011: CABLE: FOLLOWING RECEIVED AT 08/1532Z

11/12/63 cable from JMWAVE to Director: "Otto. The president of Oriente's Court of Justice (DIOS), David Diaz Arroche, took asylum in the Brazilian Embassy. Agent ADA informs us on 8 October. The sewage chief of Havana was executed. He was having given the sewage plans to the Central Intelligence Agency in order to install the bombs that exploded during Fidel's speech to the defense committees. Ada obtained this information from the former chief of sewage. Irene reported on 2 Nov. Aquiles."

104-10308-10013: CABLE: FOLL WILL BE PASSED. BEGIN AGENT MSG: "OCHO TRES X PARA

11/16/63 - Otto's response to the 11/15/63 message begins here: "83 x For Abad only rpt Abad only x We appreciate the possible threat that the compulsory military service law holds for your networks x we also realize the hardships which your men are suffering x Regardless of what your personal situation may appear to be in Pinar I can tell you that the situation in the rest of Cuba is worse x As you agreed when you were here there can be no insurrection until it can take place simultaneously throughout Cuba s Such a total uprising is not possible rpt not possible at this time x continues."

104-10308-10014: CABLE: FOLL WILL BE PASSED. BEGIN AGENT MSG "OCHO CUATRO X CONTINUACION

11/16/63 - Otto's response to the 11/15/63 message continues here: "Eight four x continuation x if you insist on this action before the total plan is ready you will attract all the enemy forces on you and the pine forest village which will result in the complete destruction of everything that you and your men have worked so hard for. strong to create the failure of their insurrection will only delay even the liberation of Cuba yankee at the same time increase the power of fidel yankee the communists x for the fool no rpt we can not support an insurrection now we will continue to support yankee as a group in the same agreed way when you were here x your network is progressing very well yankee you have a lot to be proud of x we suggest you wait yankee see what effect the new military service law tends on your men x urgently warn x otto x"

104-10308-10236: CABLE: FOLL WILL BE PASSED. BEGIN ABENT MSG

Otto's response is at 11/17/63, at 104-10308-10236: "Placido only: Must repeat we unable to support insurrection now. Your knowledge tactics and supplies plus experience in conspiratorial activities must make is self evident that without outside assistance any insurrection will fail. We cannot give this assistance at this time as insurrection in Pinar would be premature. Island wide plan for liberation (of) Cuba not finished. Additional time needed for completion (of) this plan. You cannot jeopardize plan by precipitous action. Cuba and her children deserve liberty. This cannot be risked by attacking too soon. We have respect for your judgment. Need your analysis (of the) compulsory military service law. Has law affected your men? How? From here it appears law may enable you (to infiltrate) armed forces. Infiltration in this manner would facilitate sabotage and intel mission. Do not despair. Victory will be ours but it requires patience and ability (to) exploit enemies' weakness at right time. That time is not now. Otto."

104-10077-10107: DIRECTOR CABLE RE MESSAGE NACIN ELIAS ASKED NAVY IN GUANTANAMO BASE TO PASS

11/22/63, cable DIR 84804 from Director to JMWAVE, slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMWORLD: "Nasin (sp? Nacin) Elias has asked Navy in Guantanamo Base to pass following message to AMYUM-19 (Cesar Baro Esteva): General uprising scheduled for December 1 . Participating groups FMD, MRR and MID. On 14 Nov Nasin's source met with unidentified coordinator-general of FMD who indicated FMD, MRR, MID and sub organizations plan general uprising before 1 Dec. Uprising planned as result of Military Service Act which in opinion of group leaders would tremendously reduce clandestine involvement in Cuba. Since many anti-regime personnel have remained inactive (and) waiting for chance (to) take effective action, source felt probably they will join fight, even without weapons. It decided groups would maintain passive status until 23 Nov in order (to) enable overall coordinator Artime Buesa to provide instructions and supplies. If uprising were supported, immediate supply of equipment would be unable to back down once committed. Elias will forward Miami instructions to 'El Hermano Diablo'.

104-10075-10089: JMWAVE CABLE RE MSG FROM NACIN ELIAS

11/26/63, cable WAVE 8177 from JMWAVE to Director, slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMWORLD: "AMJAVA-4 (Rafael Quintero) informed of ref msg from Nacin Elias 23 Nov. A-4 had no info on groups allegedly to participate in uprising and will inform AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa) for his decision in how answer Nacin. Guertler (probably Karl Rohrer) told A-4 that in absence further details he unable evaluate info and that he had no further info on plans. A-4 views any action this time unwise. Station views report of planned uprising possible GOC (Government of Cuba) effort (to) surface anti-regime elements prior to implementing Military Service Act."

104-10075-10357: JMWAVE CABLE RE ANGEL GARCI LUGO

12/1//63, cable WAVE 8352 from JMWAVE to Director, slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE: "KUJUMP (the Domestic Contact Division) INTEL: Miami 0346 reports Angel Garci Lugo who arrived US 27 Nov reported plans for uprising against GOC starting 1 Dec or shortly thereafter. Revolt will start in Pinar del Rio province, probably in Cordilleros de Los Organos MTS, and would be aimed at preventing implementation (of) new Cuban draft law. Source heard of planned revolt from two sources, one of whom apparently member 'Ejercito de Liberacion'."

1993.08.04.17:01:53:840028: DIRECTOR CABLES, DIR 86487 - 87114.

12/4/63 cable DIR 86699 from Director to JMWAVE, slugline RYBAT TYPIC YOBITE AMBANTY: "In view of...recent reports such as...'Insurgency and Civil Unrest'...HQ concerned possibility AMBANTY people may be involved. Suggest WAVE instruct AMBANTY again not repeat not become involved any uprising Pinar del Rio, but report any info he have re such uprisings. END OF MESSAGE. SAS comment: Concerns AMBANTY threat to 'go to war' with his people against Castro because of new military draft laws."

104-10076-10207: JMWAVE CABLE RE AGENT MESSAGE

A memo from Otto on 12/9/63: "El Liberal, El Grande and Chan send felicitations to Don Quijote on his saints day. Otto." WAVE adds a note saying Don Quijote is their "father". http://bayofpigs2506.com/The%20night%20of%20the%20white%20horse.pdf Their names are blacked out in one version, but here they are revealed as AMBANTY-4, 5, and 7. Don Quijote was an alias for Harold Feeney. Is "Don Quijote" referring to Feeney here?