Cuba by raft. The four crewmen were killed. Cuban spokesman claimed that the plains were shot down within Cuban airspace, and the pilots were repeatedly warned. The United States was told that the incident occurred over international waters.The United States claimed that this act was a blatant violation of international law. They called upon the United Nations Security Council to impose the proper sanctions. The U.S. also called upon the International Civil Aviation Organization to investigate the incident. The ICAO concluded that the two planes were shot down over international waters. The President, in turn, suspended all charter flights to Cuba indefinitely. He imposed additional travel restrictions on Cuban diplomats in the U.S., and limited visits by Cuban officials to the United States. Cuba's downing of the American planes resulted in the efforts of Congress to secure passage of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act. On March 12, 1996 President Clinton signed into law the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, otherwise known as the Libertad Act, or Helmes Burton Act. The Libertad Act has four main points. Title one of the Libertad Act tightens enforcement of the U.S. embargo, no presidential waiver is provided for any of these codified embargo provisions. Title two deals solely with the U.S. policy towards a democratic government in Cuba. Title three creates a cause of Action and authorizes U.S. nationals with claims to confiscated properties in Cuba to file suit in U.S. courts against people trafficking in such property. Title four denies admission to the United States to aliens involved in the confiscation of U.S. property in Cuba, or in the trafficking of confiscated U.S. property in Cuba. This provision is mandatory, and is waivable in the case of travel to the United States for humanitarian medical reasons. Although United States policy makers generally agree on the overall objective of the U.S. policy towar...
