DATE=3/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228491
TITLE=NICARAGUA/C-I-A (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SUE MULLIN
DATELINE=OSKIWAS, NICARAGUA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CUBAN-BORN AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO NICARAGUA FRIDAY 
LED AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP THAT GATHERED ON A REMOTE MOUNTAIN TO 
BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR THE REMAINS OF CUBAN EXILE PILOTS WHO DIED 
DURING THE BAY OF PIGS OPERATION.  SUE MULLIN HAS MORE FROM 
OSKIWAS, NICARAGUA.



TEXT:  AFTER A MOMENT OF SILENCE REQUESTED BY AMBASSADOR LINO 
GUTIERREZ, WORK BEGAN TO DIG FOR THE REMAINS OF CRISPIN GARCIA 
AND JUAN DE MATA, CUBAN EXILES WHOSE B-26 PLANE CRASHED INTO A 
NICARAGUAN HILLSIDE 37 YEARS AGO.

THE MEN WERE FLYING MISSIONS FOR THE U-S CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE 
AGENCY OVER CUBA FROM A CLANDESTINE AIRSTRIP IN NICARAGUA.  THEY 
OVER SHOT THE AIRSTRIP, NEAR THE BOCAY RIVER, AND CRASHED IN 
1961.

LOCAL FARMERS BURIED THE VICTIMS IN UNMARKED GRAVES, NOT KNOWING 
WHO THEY WERE.   NICARAGUAN AND U-S OFFICIALS LEARNED ABOUT THE 
BURIALS, BUT DECIDED NOT TO EXHUME THE BODIES. THAT DECISION 
BECAME SHROUDED IN SECRECY UNTIL JANET RAY WEININGER BEGAN 
INVESTIGATING THE DEATHS.  

MS. WEININGER'S PILOT FATHER HAD DIED IN A SEPARATE C-I-A MISSION
DURING THE BAY OF PIGS INVASION OF CUBA.  MS. WEININGER HAS SPENT
20 THOUSAND DOLLARS OF HER OWN MONEY TO FIND THE BODIES OF MR. 
GARCIA AND MR. MATA, AND SHE WAS AT THE SITE FRIDAY.  

SHE SAID U-S AND NICARAGUAN OFFICIALS HAD KEPT THE INCIDENT 
SECRET FOR POLITICAL REASONS, BUT LAST YEAR THE C-I-A 
DECLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS WHICH DISCLOSED DETAILS OF THE CASE.  AT 
THE TIME OF CRASH, ANASTASIO SOMOZA WAS THE NICARAGUAN DICTATOR. 
IN 1979, HE WAS TOPPLED BY LEFTIST SANDINISTA GUERRILLAS WHO A 
FEW YEARS LATER FOUND THEMSELVES CONFRONTED BY U-S-BACKED 
ANTI-COMMUNIST REBELS,CALLED CONTRAS.

AT FRIDAY'S CEREMONY, THE NICARAGUAN DEFENSE MINISTER JAIME 
CUADRA, COMMENTED ON THE IRONIES, SAYING, NEARBY, A FORMER CONTRA
GUERRILLA WHO STILL USES HIS NON-DE-GUERE, SIETEMARES, ECHOED 
THAT SENTIMENT:  AS HE PUT IT:  "NOW THERE IS NO RESENTMENT. 
NICARAGUA IS TRYING TO BUILD A DEMOCRACY."

U-S ARMY FORENSIC EXPERTS SAY THE PAINSTAKING TASK OF SIFTING FOR
BONES AND TEETH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE AT LEAST THREE WEEKS.  IT 
WILL BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE D-N-A TESTING CAN POSITIVELY 
IDENTIFY THE REMAINS. (SIGNED).



NEB/SM/MWD/PT

20-Mar-98 7:32 PM EST (0032 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.