Cuban Government Executes Three Individuals Involved in Passenger Boat Hijacking in Hopes of Reaching the U.S.

The Cuban government executed three individuals accused of hijacking a passenger boat in hopes of reaching the United States on April 12, 2003. A statement indicated that the three individuals were sentenced to death for terrorism following a trial. The statement also noted that eight other defendants received sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment. On April 2, the hijackers diverted a passenger boat from its course and forced it to head towards the shores of Florida, but the boat could not continue due to running out of fuel and was returned to the port of Mariel in western Havana by a tugboat. It was reported that Cuban commandos managed to storm the boat, rescue its passengers, and capture the hijackers. The execution of these three individuals occurs at a time when the Cuban government has recently conducted a crackdown, prosecuting 80 democracy supporters for treason and subversion, and imprisoning them. Cuba has also recently detained those who met with James Cason, a senior American diplomat in Cuba, last month.