PANAMA.— Carlos Zamora, the Cuban ambassador to Panama believes that Judge Enrique Paniza’s indictment of terrorists Luis Posada Carriles, Guillermo Novo, Gaspar Jiménez and Pedro Remón is very positive.

These individuals, together with others implicated, introduced military-use C-4 plastic explosives into Panama with the intention of planting an explosive device in the University of Panama’s auditorium, where Cuban leader Fidel Castro was due to meet with around 2,000 people on November 18, 2000, during his presence in that country for the Ibero-American Summit.

In an interview with Prensa Latina, the diplomat explained that the result of the preliminary hearing – in which the judge determined those charged with the assassination attempt on Fidel should stand trial – constitutes a step in the right direction as it paves the way, in whatever form, for them to be tried and sentenced.

As well as this, said Zamora, it will allow the general public – who are being manipulated and lied to – to understand the seriousness of the crime they were going to commit, how many victims there would have been, the violation of Panamanian sovereignty and how this would have affected the honor and dignity of this country.

He added that it will also help to clarify the truth, which Cuba has maintained all along and to show that those mercenaries of the press – who are aligned with the Miami mafia or fueled by anti-Cuban prejudice – have tried to conceal the facts and in one way or another, have contributed to defending or justifying the actions of these terrorist elements.

In terms of Panamanian public opinion, right now it is clearer than ever before that that these men are guilty of criminal acts; they intended to execute a massacre in Panama and deserve an exemplary punishment, stated the ambassador.