Radio Havana Cuba-21 April 2000 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Radio Havana Cuba - News Update - 21 April 2000 -RENO IS "READY" TO FORCIBLY REMOVE ELIAN FROM HIS KIDNAPPERS -CONTINUING SURPRISE AND DISMAY OVER RULING BY 11th CIRCUIT COURT -SIX-YEAR-OLD ELIAN GONZALEZ IS UNDER CONSTANT PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE -FIRST OFFICIAL US GOVT INVESTIGATION INTO IMPACT OF BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA -NIGERIAN PARLIMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS CUBA -FIRST MEETING OF CUBA-PANAMA INTER-GOVERNMENTAL JOINT COMMISSION -EQUATORIAL GUINEA'S MINISTER PRAISES CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM -Viewpoint: CUBA'S RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IS UNDENIABLE RENO IS "READY" TO FORCIBLY REMOVE ELIAN FROM HIS KIDNAPPERS Washington, April 21 (RHC)-- The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Attorney General Janet Reno is now ready to order Federal Marshals to forcibly remove Elian Gonzalez from the home of his kidnappers in Miami. Justice Department spokesperson Carole Florman told reporters that until now there have been three trains moving simultaneously - "the train of negotiations, the train of legal actions and the train of force." She said U.S. authorities "are no longer running the train of negotiations" -- that they are merely passengers. Florman added that Reno is currently evaluating several scenarios and the time factor on the "train of force." The announcement followed publication today of an article in The Washington Post -- based on anonymous sources -- asserting that Reno has decided to remove the boy from his kidnappers in Miami, using force if necessary. According to numerous observers and media outlets, the pressure on Reno to act has stepped up considerably following President Bill Clinton's statement that Elian should be reunited with his father and following Thursday's emotional plea by the child's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez -- calling on the American people to help him by sending letters to the president and the attorney general. CONTINUING SURPRISE AND DISMAY OVER RULING BY 11th CIRCUIT COURT Los Angeles, April 21 (RHC)-- Legal experts in the United States have continued expressing surprise and dismay over the ruling by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on the Elian Gonzalez case. An article published today by The Los Angeles Times recalled that under the Refugee Act of 1980, those who flee their homelands and arrive in the United States can seek asylum if they can show that they have a well-founded fear of persecution if sent home. The Los Angeles Times pointed out that the courts have been stingy about granting such claims, even when they have come from former guerrilla fighters from Central America who have said they fear harsh reprisals and possibly death if sent back. The newspaper asserted that the courts have also stressed that immigration matters ought to be decided by the attorney general, not by judges. As an example, the Los Angeles daily pointed to last year's Supreme Court intervention when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in California granted asylum to a Guatemalan political activist over the objections of Attorney General Janet Reno. In a unanimous decision, the high court ordered the Guatemalan, Jean Aguirre-Aguirre, sent home -- ruling that Reno's decision with respect to all questions of law shall be controlling. The article quoted Georgetown law professor David Cole, who called the Atlanta court's ruling "a doubly frivolous claim." Cole said first, a young child cannot make a legal claim against the wishes of his parents, and second - "how in the world could Elian show he has a well-founded fear of persecution in Cuba, where he is seen as a national hero?". The Los Angeles Times article quoted the Executive Director of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, Mark Krikorian, who asserted that the ruling came out of left field and is "an outrageous decision. SIX-YEAR-OLD ELIAN GONZALEZ IS UNDER CONSTANT PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE Mexico City, April 21 (RHC)-- A U.S pediatrician and psychoanalysis expert from George Washington University in Washington, Jerry W. Wiener, affirmed that six-year-old Elian Gonzalez has been subjected to constant psychological pressure by his kidnappers in Miami since he was rescued at sea last November. Wiener, who is one of a three-member medical team chosen by the U.S. Justice Department to deal with the transfer of Elian to his father, said in an interview with the Mexican magazine "Proceso" that the boy "is acting like a robot". The expert said that the whole issue is "shameful" -- particularly following the release of a home video of Elian, broadcast by the Univision television network, where the child says into the camera: "I don't want to return to Cuba." According to Dr. Wiener, Elian points at the video camera with his right index finger, but he also constantly looks to the side, as if he was trying to win someone's approval. The child care specialist asserted that Elian's behavior was more spontaneous upon his arrival in Miami, "but now he looks like a robot, repeating a statement previously rehearsed". In Wiener's opinion, the boy has suffered from a shameful trauma, calling it "virtual brainwashing." He emphasized that Elian lost his mother in the most dramatic way at sea and needs the support of his father now more than ever, adding that because of the child's present condition, he is likely to remain emotionally damaged for the rest of his life. The expert also said that whatever happens to Elian is the responsibility of his kidnappers in Miami. He noted they have rejected the possibility of turning the boy over to his father and continue harming the child. FIRST OFFICIAL US GOVT INVESTIGATION INTO IMPACT OF BLOCKADE AGAINST CUBA Havana, April 21 (RHC)-- The United States government has begun the first official investigation into the impact of Washington's blockade against Cuba. At the request of the House Ways and Means Committee, the study will be carried out by the International Trade Commission, the ITC -- an independent Federal agency that monitors the effects of international trade on U.S. industry. The ITC study will be submitted to Congress no later than February 15th of next year. According to critics of the blockade, the study will further help to convince U.S. public opinion that it's time to do away with Cold War-era sanctions against Cuba. Over the past several years, American farmers have been pressuring for a lifting of the blockade, which they say is responsible for annual losses of 700 million dollars to the U.S. food industry. The pharmaceuticals sector has also been exerting similar pressure. Last January, a group of American producers of medical equipment and medicines participated for the first time in a Cuban trade fair. Shortly before that, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- Thomas Donahue -- visited Cuba, after which he joined his voice to the call for lifting the blockade. Last year, the U.S. Senate voted to end restrictions on the sale of food and medicines to Cuba, but the measure was blocked by the ultra-right wing in the House of Representatives. NIGERIAN PARLIMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS CUBA Havana, April 21 (RHC)-- The president of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Gali Umar Na Abra, is in Havana at the invitation of the Cuban Parliament. The Nigerian leader met today with the president of the Cuban Parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, to examine relations between both legislative bodies. The parliamentary officials also analyzed ways to strengthen links between Cuba and Nigeria. Both countries are active members of the Group of 77, the first Summit of which was recently held here in Havana. The Nigerian delegation also met with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade, Ricardo Cabrisas, and visited the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). FIRST MEETING OF CUBA-PANAMA INTER-GOVERNMENTAL JOINT COMMISSION Havana, April 21 (RHC)-- The first meeting of the Cuba-Panama Inter-governmental Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and Technical Assistance will be held in Havana next week to widen and strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Talks will focus on health, science and technology, trade and tourism. The Panamanian delegation is headed by the Secretary General of Panama's Ministry of Economy and Planning, Eusebio Vergara. Members of the delegation will enjoy a wide program of activities, including visits to sites of economic, historical and social interest. EQUATORIAL GUINEA'S MINISTER PRAISES CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Havana, April 21 (RHC)-- The Minister of Public Sanitation and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea, Bibag Enchuchuma, told reporters in Havana that he was profoundly impressed with the achievements of Cuba's health care system. The Guinean minister is on an official visit to Havana with the purpose of signing agreements to train Guinean technicians on cleaning the environment and acquiring specialized medicine in Cuba. Bibag also expressed his admiration for the Cuban people, who face extreme difficulties imposed by a U.S. economic blockade against the island and are constantly searching for practical solutions to resolve those problems. The Guinean minister valued the high technological level as well as the high level of qualification of Cuban professionals. He has visited several social centers and scientific institutions, including the Frank Pais Orthopedic Hospital in the Cuban capital. Over one hundred Cuban doctors are currently working in Equatorial Guinea as part of the solidarity medical project Cuba has extended to many Latin American nations. Viewpoint: CUBA'S RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IS UNDENIABLE It is sad that Argentina and Chile -- now so-called democratic governments -- voted to support a resolution condemning Cuba in the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva earlier this week. The South American countries were forced, under a great deal of pressure, to vote in favor of a resolution introduced by the Czech Republic, which was also following Washington's instructions. This situation reminds us that not so long ago, it was precisely these two countries -- Argentina and Chile -- that were host to some of the most terrifying scenarios of the worst violations of human rights in history. The de-facto military regimes that took power in both countries were responsible in the 1970s and the 80s for the arbitrary arrest, incarceration, torture, murder or disappearance of thousands of innocent people. When these nightmares were taking place, neither Washington nor any of the European capitals presented a resolution in the UN Human Rights Commission to condemn those well-documented crimes, which have now been publicly acknowledged by some of their perpetrators. Since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, torture and disappearances are unheard of. Cuba's social system is based on the wellbeing of its population and its solidarity with the Third World. This is the reason why new generations in Cuba so proudly defend their nation from those who wield power behind the scenes, while committing horrendous human rights violations of their own. (c) 2000 Radio Habana Cuba. 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