Jorge Giró Puyans

"In the beginning, we were determined and convinced of our victory. But as chance would have it, our planes got into immense difficulties. The United States, headed by President Kennedy, has betrayed us. They promised to help us in the invasion. They promised to cover the airspace so we could fight. But they bailed on us instead. During the operation, Kennedy abolished the cover of the airspace, leaving us fighting in the invasion alone. It was crystal clear we will not make it. We hoped all along they would eventually show up and help us.“

"We set out to raid the Cuban embassy in Peru. We did not go there to only break things up and make a mess but we mainly intended to steal certain documents. Those were crucial pieces of evidence that damned the Cuban government of bribing some Peruvian senators to spread Cuban propaganda in Peru. I then travelled to the United States with these documents and handed them over to the person at the airport, who then delivered them to government officials. The United States subsequently cut off diplomatic relations with Peru. I was content with the whole process and elated by the outcome. It was a properly executed operation of our entire group.“

"For two months, I've been hiding in different places all over Havana. Unfortunately, one day, they somehow discovered me hiding in an abandoned house. I guess I made the mistake of turning on the lights in that house. Neighbours who knew the house was to be abandoned must have noticed. They had no idea I was the one hiding there. I overheard a noise from the street, and when I looked out the window, I saw a group of men getting out of police cars. I've turned the other way and run towards the backside of the house, then leapt over a high wall. It still blows my mind how could I overcome such a high obstacle. Coincidentally, I found myself standing in the garden of one of the then ministers of the Cuban government. I observed he had security all around him, so there was no chance for me to escape. The only alternative was to enter the house. I opened the door leading to the backyard and went inside. Not only that the minister was there, but his family as well. His son recognized me. He asked me, 'Jorge, what are you doing here?' So I've exposed myself, that I'm running away, that the police is looking for me next door, that I have nowhere to hide, and I surrender to the mercy of theirs. The minister responded: 'Don't worry. I'll get you out of here. ' Then we got in the car and he drove me to the address I gave him. It was truly unbelievable, and I am still very much indebted to the man.“

That day I had planned to go to court to defend two people facing the death penalty. So I was going through some documents in our law firm when an assistant from reception called me. He told me two people were looking for me. I asked if they had made an appointment in advance. When the assistant told me they did not, I knew for sure what was going on. I immediately pulled from a drawer some classified documents, found my passport and hid it in my pocket. I could not leave the building any other way than through the waiting room where they were expecting me. But I set off nevertheless. I walked towards the front door and realized these people didn't even know what I looked like. Apparently, they didn't have any photos of me, so I slipped through. I've been on the run ever since. Those people were Fidel Castro's secret police.“

"Until the day of my escape, when the secret police came to the law firm, looking for me, we had organized sabotage and events to undermine the regime in Havana. It was mainly about getting weapons and later sending them to the locals of the Escambray Mountains because they had risen up. We always gathered the guns at night and passed them the next morning to the Escambray people. Thus our group got involved in anti-regime movements."