Ten Cuban nationals who departed Florida by boat last week were members of a little-known organization called Autodefensas del Pueblo (ADP), according to reports. The group promotes clandestine armed action against the Havana regime, and those aboard the vessel intended to meet with other members inside Cuba, according to its leaders. While Cuban authorities characterize the incident as a “terrorist infiltration” orchestrated from Miami, the organization maintains it was a “patriotic mission.”
“What we have is the only organization that is dedicated to overthrowing the regime. These patriots are the only ones who have tried to liberate Cuba after Playa Girón,” stated Michel Naranjo Riverón, alias Kiki Naranjo, the 47-year-old founder and leader of ADP, in a video call. The incident has brought renewed attention to groups within the Cuban exile community advocating for insurgency, a strategy historically present within the diaspora but currently considered marginal to the broader opposition.
According to Cuban authorities, the men departed Cayo Maratón on February 25th in a seven-meter fishing boat, heading towards Villa Clara. They were intercepted by the coast guard, and after opening fire and wounding a commander, four men were killed and the rest injured in the ensuing exchange. Cuban television displayed weaponry recovered from the boat, including rifles, pistols, ammunition, and supplies, as well as insignia from ADP and the Movimiento 30 de noviembre, an unrecognized political party.
Cuba identified the deceased as Pavel Alling Peña, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledián Padrón Guevara, and Héctor Duani Cruz Correa. Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Álvarez Ávila were reported as injured, along with Amijail Sánchez González, identified as one of the organizers.
Naranjo asserts the men are “heroes who were willing to give their lives for the freedom of their homeland.” He added that the mission had a political objective, stating, “This, though it may seem like madness, is not madness. It is a thought and an ideal.”
Naranjo founded a movement called Nueva Nación Cubana while living in Cuba, engaging in graffiti, sugarcane fires, and calls for civil disobedience. He arrived in Florida in 2021 seeking political asylum and later met Sánchez González at Versailles restaurant, a frequent gathering place for Cuban exiles. Both men are listed on a Cuban Ministry of Justice list of individuals linked to “terrorism,” including exile leaders and influencers. Naranjo stated, “I am number 44 on the list.”
ADP was founded by Naranjo and Sánchez González in 2022. The organization shares actions of clandestine operatives on social media, including graffiti reading “Patria ADP” in Cienfuegos and footage of a sugarcane field fire. Videos also feature masked individuals with distorted voices. The group uses social media to promote its political ideology and solicit contributions, with one Facebook video stating, “If you desire freedom and support the clandestines, we are ready to give our lives for our homeland. Long live free Cuba.”
Naranjo claims the group’s actions, such as graffiti, are focused on internal struggle within Cuba. He stated he was unaware of the boat operation but expressed displeasure with criticism of it on social media, saying, “They are denigrating them on social networks, saying they left in a tub. For me, it is an honor and a pride what they did.”
The expartner of Sánchez González, Niurka Préstamo, edits and posts the organization’s videos online, explaining that “the ADP are the clandestines within Cuba,” and those in the U.S. “are a support” to those on the island. She stated she had no prior knowledge of the boat operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Autodefensas del Pueblo?
Autodefensas del Pueblo (ADP) is a little-known organization that promotes clandestine armed action against the Cuban government, according to reports. Its leaders say those involved in the recent incident intended to meet with other members within Cuba.
How did Cuban authorities respond to the incident?
Cuban authorities have described the incident as a “terrorist infiltration” organized from Miami. They reported four deaths and several injuries during a confrontation with the coast guard.
What is the historical context of groups attempting to overthrow the Cuban government?
Groups within the Cuban exile community have attempted covert operations to overthrow the Castro regime since the 1959 revolution, with some receiving support from the CIA during the Cold War. Groups like Alpha 66 and Omega 7 were prominent in the past.
Given the history of such groups and the current political climate, what steps might be taken next by either the Cuban government or the United States?
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