Radio Havana Cuba, December 17, 1999 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Friday, December 17, 1999. Today's stories: 1.- CHILD PSYCHOLOGISTS IN CUBA DISCUSS EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE CAUSED TO ELIAN GONZALEZ, HELD IN MIAMI AGAINST HIS FATHER4S WISHES 2.- CUBAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CONDEMNS DETENTION OF SIX-YEAR-OLD ELIAN GONZALEZ 3.- PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONS CONTINUE IN HAVANA 4.- BALTIMORE ORIOLES WANT A REMATCH WITH CUBA4S NATIONAL BASEBALL TEAM NEXT YEAR 5.- CUBAN BELIEVERS COMMEMORATE THE DAY OF SAN LAZARO CHILD PSYCHOLOGISTS IN CUBA DISCUSS EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE CAUSED TO ELIAN GONZALEZ, HELD IN MIAMI AGAINST HIS FATHER4S WISHES Havana, December 17(RHC)-- A special, televised roundtable discussion was broadcast Thursday evening in Havana -- with psychologists, physicians and chichild-care specialists -- to discuss the case of Elian Gonzalez, who is being held in Miami against his father's wishes. The discussion, which was broadcast live on both national TV stations, Radio Rebelde and the international frequencies of Radio Havana Cuba, centered on the psychological and emotional effects on children of separation from family and friends -- particularly the events surrounding the forced separation of Elain Gonzalez from his father and home environment in Cuba. On November 20th, the six-year-old boy was placed on a boat by his mother, who attempted to immigrate illegally to the United States. Elain Gonzalez was one of only three survivors of the attempt, which ended when the boat capsized off the coasts of Florida. The young child witnessed the drowning deaths of his mother and nine others, and was found on November 25th, clinging to an inner tube. Elain had apparently spent more than 24 hours in the ocean before being rescued. Despite appeals by his father in Cuba, U.S. authorities turned the boy over to distant relatives in Miami, who joined a campaign mounted by the ultra right-wing Cuban-American National Foundation to keep Elian Gonzalez in the United States. The young boy was taken by his mother without his father's knowledge or permission which, under Cuban, U.S. and international law, is considered kidnapping. Thursday evening's roundtable discussion focussed on the needs of a child Elain's age -- that of a secure and harmonious family relationship. The emotional stability of a six-year-old child was also analyzed by the panel of psychologists and child-care experts appearing on Cuban television. One of the panelists, Ana Luisa Sagarte, a psychologist who has worked for many years with young children, stressed the importance of a child's development following pre-school. She pointed out that pre-school children have dreams and fantasies that change once the young boy or girl enters primary school. The Havana psychologist emphasized that a child's formative years are crucial and that family and societal influences play a key role in the young person's development. Also participating in the roundtable discussion Thursday evening on Cuban television was Elain's grade school teacher from Cardenas, his hometown, located some two hours east of Havana in the province of Matanzas. Yamilin Morales Delgado addressed the issue of the young boy's attitude in the classroom and his relationship with his classmates, which she characterized as excellent. Elain's teacher said that although he is one of the smallest in his class and can be rather shy, he is intelligent, friendly and playful. The moderator of the special, televised roundtable discussion showed photos of the six-year-old boy, taken both before and after he was taken from Cuba, his father, grandparents and friends. The photos taken in Cardenas show a happy, well-adapted young boy, fully enjoying life. The photos taken in Miami shortly after he was kidnapped without his father's permission show a frightened and reserved Elian, who has obviously experienced and continues to experience very traumatic and confusing influences. Television viewers could also see, for the first time, videos taken by Elain's father and mother in Cardenas -- showing the young boy surrounded by family and friends at his fifth birthday party, just a little over one year ago. The roundtable discussion demonstrated that a young child Elain's age can be easily influenced by outside forces and may or may not be able to distinguish between what is best for his or her future development. The experts agreed that time is of the essence; that the longer Elain is separated from his family in Cuba, the harder it will be for him to re-adapt to life in his native land when he returns. The panel of child-care experts emphasized that only a family's love and societal protection, providing security and basic needs, can insure one's complete human development. That love and security and those basic needs can only be found in Cuba with his father and immediate family -- and not in Miami. CUBAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CONDEMNS DETENTION IN MIAMI OF SIX-YEAR-OLD ELIAN GONZALEZ Havana, December 17(RHC)-- The Cuban Olympic Committee has condemned the detention in Miami of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez. Issued in Havana on Thursday, the statement demands that the boy be immediately released and returned to the custody of his father and grandparents on the island. The Cuban Olympic Committee document will be sent to the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, as well as the presidents of the International Olympic Federations. PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONS CONTINUE IN HAVANA Havana, December 17(RHC)-- Legislative commissions of the Cuban Parliament continue discussions on Friday at Havana's International Convention Center as part of the 4th Ordinary Period of Parliamentary Sessions. The President of the Economic Commission of the Cuban Parliament said that the island's Gross Domestic Product increased 6.2 percent this year in all of the island4s economic sectors. He predicted a growth of over four percent for the year 2000 as well as an increase in the country's budget for education and public health. BALTIMORE ORIOLES WANT A REMATCH WITH CUBA4S NATIONAL BASEBALL TEAM NEXT YEAR Havana, December 17(RHC)-- An assistant to Baltimore4s mayor, Lee Tawny, told reporters in Havana on Thursday said that the city4s major league baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, want a rematch next year with the Cuban National Baseball team. Tawny said that there are many professional baseball teams that want to play against Cuba, including the Baltimore Orioles who want another chance. The Baltimore official said that the games played earlier this year between both baseball teams opened the doors to a permanent sports relationship, although there are still other doors to be opened. The assistant to Baltimore4s mayor is currently visiting the island with former tennis stars Pam Shriver and Zina Garrison, who have both offered conferences to Cuban tennis players and trainers. CUBAN BELIEVERS COMMEMORATE THE DAY OF SAN LAZARO Havana, December 17(RHC)-- Every year on December 17th, thousands of Cuban religious believers converge on the Sanctuary of San Lazaro, located in the town of El Rincon outside Havana -- seeking cures for their illnesses. Many crawl on their knees with bricks tied to their feet, while others offer flowers and other gifts to the Saint San Lazaro. They believe that the offerings will make their requests and prayers come true. San Lazaro represents a noble, elderly man on crutches. Referring to this important date, Notimex News Agency has compared this celebration in Cuba with Mexico4s anniversary of the Virgin of Guadalupe, held every December 12th. [c] 1999, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org rhc-eng-8583 1999-Dec-17 18:19:37