Cubans eye $2M reward for ratting out cop-killer

Cubans eye $2M reward for ratting out cop-killer
By Tara PalmeriDecember 27, 2014 | 4:37am
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HAVANA, Cuba — Cop-killer Joanne Chesimard may hold a special place in
Fidel Castro's heart — but ordinary Cubans eyeing a $2 million reward
would rat her out in a heartbeat, several told The Post.
"A Cuban would sell out his mother for that kind of money. Money is what
talks," declared Carlos, a Havana merchant.
"A Cuban will sell you out for 5 pesos. Imagine $2 million," added Juan,
a hotel worker in the capital.
Few Cubans interviewed even knew Chesimard was in the country — and
those who did were clueless about the $2 million reward posted by the
New Jersey State Police and the FBI.
Chesimard, 67, a Black Panther and member of the Black Liberation Army,
was convicted in the 1973 murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner
Foerster during a shootout on the Jersey Turnpike.
She was sent to prison but busted out in 1979 with help from other black
militants, and has lived in Cuba since 1984.
Frank, a cabdriver, told The Post that plenty of his countrymen would
turn in Chesimard — who is also known as Assata Shakur, and is the aunt
of the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
"There are a lot of dissidents that live here that would. I'm not
surprised that's she being hidden," he said.
One local named Nelson was so interested when told about Chesimard and
the bounty on her head he started his own search.
A day later he told The Post: "I spoke to many people. No one knows
where she is. Only people high up in government know."
None of those who spoke wanted their last names used.
"You have to understand the Cubans — they have to be very careful of
what they say. Because the agents, they're everywhere and they are very
good at what they do," Frank, the cab driver, said.
New Jersey cops were hopeful Chesimard would be brought to justice
following President Obama's announcement earlier this month that he
intends to normalize relations with the country.
"We view any changes in relations with Cuba as an opportunity to bring
her back to the United States to finish her sentence for the murder of a
New Jersey state trooper," State Police Superintendent Colonel Rick
Fuentes said.
Additional US reporting by Bob Fredericks and Geoff Earle

Source: Cubans eye $2M reward for ratting out cop-killer | New York Post
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http://nypost.com/2014/12/27/cubans-eye-2m-reward-for-ratting-out-cop-killer/