Mr. Liebeler.

Executive Order No. 11130, dated November 29, 1963, and joint resolution of Congress No. 137.
You are entitled under the rules of the Commission to have an attorney present during your questioning. You are not required to answer questions that you think might be harmful to yourself to answer. You may state the reasons why you don't want to answer them if you wish to do that. You are entitled to 3-days' notice under the rules. I assume you are prepared to proceed with the testimony at this time since you are here, and I assume that since you do not have an attorney, you are prepared to go ahead without one.

Mr. Rodriguez.

I am ready to answer all the questions. I. have been advised of my rights as you have stated them to me, and I am ready to answer any questions that I can help you with.

Mr. Liebeler.

Where were you born, Evaristo?

Mr. Rodriguez.

[writing]. Gibara, Oriente, Cuba. That's the province, Oriente, and the city is Gibara.

Mr. Liebeler.

When were you born?

Mr. Rodriguez.

July 26, 1941.

Mr. Liebeler.

Where do you live now?

Mr. Rodriguez.

1239 Chartres Street.

Mr. Liebeler.

Are you still a citizen of Cuba?

Mr. Rodriguez.

Yes.

Mr. Liebeler.

How long have you lived in the United States?

Mr. Rodriguez.

I came here in 1962 on a boat. I was first here in 1962. I was on a boat. And I went to Costa Rica and a few other countries. I came back here in January of 1963. I have been here since January of 1963.

Mr. Liebeler.

When did you leave Cuba?

Mr. Rodriguez.

December of 1961.

Mr. Liebeler.

How did you come to leave Cuba?

Mr. Rodriguez.

I left Cuba because they were about to put me in the Armed Forces. I didn't care to. I wasn't in agreement with the present government, so I took off.

Mr. Liebeler.

How did you get out?

Mr. Rodriguez.

On a boat. I came out on a small boat, a small merchant ship.

Mr. Liebeler.

Did you work on that boat then or where did you go?

Mr. Rodriguez.

I had been working on this boat for about 3 years and 2 months.

Mr. Liebeler.

Is that the boat that sunk?

Mr. Rodriguez.

It's not the same boat that sunk, but it was a boat of the same company, Barcelona Co., that sunk.

Mr. Liebeler.

Eventually, one of your boats did sink and you came then here to New Orleans, is that correct, and that's when you stayed in the United States?
(Discussion between witness and interpreter.)

Mr. Logan.

I am going to have to ask him a couple of things on this because as I get it in my mind, it seems that he was on a boat. (Discussion between witness and interpreter.)

Mr. Rodriguez.

First of all, I was on this boat called the Barcelona in the Pacific, and this boat sunk, and we were transferred to another boat, the Jose, that first traveled to some other countries, and then when I got to New Orleans, this is where I asked for my political asylum.

Mr. Liebeler.

Off the record.
(Discussion off the record.)

Mr. Liebeler.

Where do you work?

Mr. Rodriguez.

I am a bartender at nights at the Habana Bar at 117 Decatur Street.

Mr. Liebeler.

How long have you worked there?

Mr. Rodriguez.

About 1 year and 3 months. I have worked there about 1 year and 3 months.

Mr. Liebeler.

Do you know Orest Pena?

Mr. Rodriguez.

Yes.

Mr. Liebeler.

Ruperto Pena?

Mr. Rodriguez.

[answering directly]. Yes.

Mr. Liebeler.

Carlos Bringuier?