(Testimony of Orest Pena)
Mr. Pena.
Not with him, but with something else here in New Orleans, an organization, about 4 years ago, more or less.
Mr. Liebeler.
What organization was that?
Mr. Pena.
I don't know. The FBI know very well because a person from the FBI was there all the time. .I don't remember exactly the name of the organization right now, but the organization was in the Balter Building, I think, in the second floor.
Mr. Liebeler.
Whatever the organization's name was, was it an anti-Castro Cuban organization?
Mr. Pena.
It was in the Balter Building, the only one there.
Mr. Liebeler.
Is that the organization sometimes known as Jure, J-u-r-e?
Mr. Pena.
I don't know.
Mr. Liebeler.
Junta Revolutionaria Cubana?
Mr. Pena.
The chief or the boss of that organization, who was in Miami, Barrona. He was the boss of that organization.
Mr. Liebeler.
Barrona?
Mr. Pena.
Yes. He was the boss of that organization.
Mr. Liebeler.
When did you leave Cuba?
Mr. Pena.
I left Cuba in September 1946.
Mr. Liebeler.
Have you been back to Cuba since that time?
Mr. Pena.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Would you tell us when?
Mr. Pena.
Oh, many times I went to Cuba. My last time I went to Cuba was about 8 months, I believe, after Castro took over, but before, I used to go very often because all my family is in Cuba, my mother, my father-- before my father died, I used to go to Cuba many times. I was a seaman, too. I used to ship out with the United Fruit Co. and the Lykes Brothers Co. That's before Castro took over.
Mr. Liebeler.
When did you stop working as a seaman?
Mr. Pena.
Just before I went in business, in--I went in business 1958. I stop in 1957.
Mr. Liebeler.
You stopped working as a seaman in 1957?
Mr. Pena.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Were you in Cuba in April or May of 1959?
Mr. Pena.
I think that's the last time I was in Cuba.
Mr. Liebeler.
What was the purpose of your trip to Cuba at that time?
Mr. Pena.
I went to Cuba--I don't know. I went to have an operation. Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
While you were in Cuba, did you have any contact with any officials in the Castro government?
Mr. Pena.
No; not any.
Mr. Liebeler.
Have you ever expressed a favorable attitude toward the Castro regime?
Mr. Pena.
No; I never was for--I was against Batista, but I never was even--I didn't even know Castro.
Mr. Liebeler.
You had nothing to do with Castro?
Mr. Pena.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
Now after you came back to the United States from Cuba in 1959.
Mr. Pena.
Yes.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you go directly back to the United States?
Mr. Pena.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Liebeler.
Did you go anywhere else
Mr. Pena.
No.
Mr. Liebeler.
Except to Cuba on that trip?
Mr. Pena.
No; I came back to--I went from here to--directly from here to Havana and from Havana to New Orleans.
Mr. Liebeler.
After your trip to Cuba in 1959, when was the next time that you were out of the United States?
Mr. Pena.
It was last summer. I went on vacation to Mexico.
Mr. Liebeler.
How long were you there?
Mr. Pena.
Nine days. I plan 2 weeks, but I got sick to my stomach, so I came back.
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