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Cryptonym: AMCRAB-1

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Definition:
Rolando Santana Reyes, Cuban defector to the United States from Montevideo, Uruguay.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
Al Burt (AMCARBON-1) wrote a series of articles on the defection of Rolando Santana Reyes in October of 1963. A dispatch in March of 1964 stated that "the AMCRAB-1 defection story originally surfaced in the Miami area on 13 October 1963 via the Diario de las Americas, which played up an API release from Montevideo. The API Montevideo story highlighted AMCRAB-1's information relative to (Government of Cuba) activities in Uruguay." The dispatch also noted that "AMCARBON-1 was briefed in detail on the AMCRAB-1 story, and he was given the opportunity to debrief AMCRAB-1 under controlled conditions in a JMWAVE safehouse. After completing his debriefing, AMCARBON-1 wrote a series of feature articles on AMCRAB-1. The first article in the series received front page headline play. The series of articles on AMCRAB-1 were well written, and they provided an excellent peg for JMWAVE to mount a replay operation via other propaganda assets."

A dispatch from JMWAVE in June of 1963 contained some of the results from a debriefing of Rolando Santana Reyes (201-282493).

Documents in 1963 and 1964 stated that Rolando Santana Reyes was a leading figure in the Cuban exile group, the Los Juramentados (LJ) - The Sworn (i.e., bound by oath). The LJ was an action group with a similar political orientation to JURE.

In a dispatch in September, 1964, AMNIP-1 (Miguel Roche Monroy) was disparaging about Rolando Santana Reyes.
Sources:

104-10072-10289: SPECIAL ACTIVITIES REPORT ON A JMWAVE RELATIONSHIP

"AMCARBON-1 has been used successfully, during the period covered in this report, as a propaganda outlet through which items of interest to (CIA) could be surfaced in the free world press. Examples...(a) AMCRAB-1. The AMCRAB-1 defection story originally surfaced in the Miami area on 13 October 1963 via the Diario de las Americas, which played up an API release from Montevideo. The API Montevideo story highlighted AMCRAB-1's information relative to (Government of Cuba) activities in Uruguay...it was decided to do a series of feature stories on AMCRAB-1, pointing up the fact that AMCRAB-1 was typical of the veterans of the Granma expedition, who felt that they had been betrayed by Castro and had been relegated to positions of obscurity once the revolution had put Castro in power. AMCARBON-1 was briefed in detail on the AMCRAB-1 story, and he was given the opportunity to debrief AMCRAB-1 under controlled conditions in a JMWAVE safehouse. After completing his debriefing, AMCARBON-1 wrote a series of feature articles on AMCRAB-1. The first article in the series received front page headline play. The series of articles on AMCRAB-1 were well written, and they provided an excellent peg for JMWAVE to mount a replay operation via other propaganda assets...The details of this surfacing can be found in WAVE 5826, dated 14 October 1963, WAVE 6092, dated 19 October 1963, and WAVE 6174, dated 21 October 1963." (03/19/64 dispatch).

1993.08.06.14:41:02:180028: SIX NEWSPAPER ARTICLE CONCERNING FIDEL CASTRO AND ACTIVITIES IN CUBA

Page 4: Al Burt/AMCARBON-1 writes first article on Rolando Santana Reyes in Miami Herald, date illegible but states "Sunday", which would almost certainly be 10/14/63; Page 3: Al Burt/AMCARBON-1 article on Rolando Santana Reyes ran with a Sunday 10/20/63 date (Sunday papers generally go out on Friday and/or Saturday); Page 6: Al Burt/AMCARBON-1 article on Rolando Santana Reyes ran on 10/21/63.

124-10300-10020: No Title

12/19/60: Report from Kansas City by SA Hubert K. Johnson: Titled: Urbano Rodriguez Martinez: Page 7: Rolando Santana Reyes born on September 24, 1931, in Santa Clara, Cuba, with Cuban passport 4-60/265 issued at Havana, Cuba on April 25, 1960. Santana Reyes was arrested in Mexico with Fidel Castro and 24 other Cuban exiles on June 21, 1956, for plotting against the Cuban government.

104-10276-10050: EXCERPTS: OPERATIONAL DEBRIEFING RESULTS-ROLANDO SANTANA REYES

06/20/63: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff (Info: Chief, WHD; COS, Mexico City; COS, Montevideo): SUBJECT: Operational/TYPIC Debriefing Results - Rolando Santana Reyes (201-282493): "1. Forwarded for your information is the attached curriculum vitae report on Subject, which represents one of a series of reports being prepared by this Station as a result of Subject's debriefing. ATTACHMENT: 7. Recruitment, Training and Assignment by CIS - October 1962 to 14 March 1963: c. During the early part of his training Subject was introduced...to a 'RUBEN'...The second meeting with 'RUBEN' took place in Subject's home soon after his assignment was changed from Brazil to Uruguay (in late February 1963). 'RUBEN' was accompanied by Isaac Orrantia, who was introduced to Subject as the former CIS chief in Montevideo, Uruguay. They discussed operating conditions in Uruguay and warned Subject that his activity must not at any time include the use of known Communists..."

124-10213-10476: No Title

10/28/63: Field Information Report from Cuba: SUBJECT: Los Juramentados, a New Cuban Exile Action Group. PLACE & DATE ACQ.: United States, Miami (9 October 1963): "SOURCE: Members of a group of Cuban emigres trained in the techniques of information collection. The group has provided useful reports for over two weeks. 1. Los Juramentados (Those Sworn In), a new Cuban exile action group, was organized during late August or early September 1963. As of about 9 October, the group had some 15 members, all former members of the Rebel Army, and was seeking additional members. The basic plan of the group appears to be the gathering of men and material for the purpose of engaging in guerrilla warfare in Cuba. 2. As of 9 October, the following members occupied the officer positions indicated...Rolando Santana (1) Reyes: Political Coordinator...1. Field Comment: According to a graduate of the Cuban Naval Academy who is now in exile and is engaged in debriefing refugees on maritime matters, Santana (fnu), the leader of Los Juramentados, is probably identical with Rolando Santana Reyes. The group will seek membership among former members of the 26 of July Movement, among members of the 'Granma Expedition,' and among veterans of the Moncada Barracks battle. As of mid-September 1963 the group was engaged in raising funds for its plan to restore peace and tranquillity to the Cuban people..."

1993.08.11.14:08:32:620006: CUBAN COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY HANDBOOK

09/15/64: Cuban Handbook entry for the Los Juramentados (LJ). The Sworn (i.e., bound by oath): ..."C. Affiliation with other Groups: No formal affiliation to date. A pact or merger with JURE was under consideration in March 1964, and with FNR and/or MIAC in July 1964. D. Political Alignment and Basic Principles: Action group with political orientation similar to JURE; gathering men and material for guerrilla activity inside Cuba. E. Leading Personalities...Officers...Rolando Santana Reyes..."

104-10072-10234: OPERATIONAL-INITIATION OF CONTACT.

09/30/64: Dispatch from COS, Mexico City to Chief, WH Division: Subject: PBRUMEN/Operational - Initiation of Contact with AMNIP-1: Page 8: ..."C/O: Santana? (Rolando Santana Reyes). A-1: Right. Santana never was anything. A real nullity."

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

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