>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: "International"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >PLANS OF ACTION: > >1. A PRESS CONFERENCE/LOBBY DAY in D.C. next WEDNESDAY, >APRIL 12, at which Cuban -Americans, legal experts, child >psychiatrists and others will declare their support for Juan >Miguel. We will announce the boycott of Miami (more on that >following) and raise the pressure on Janet Reno/INS to act >immediately to reunite Juan and Elian. > >2. Take steps to commence a BOYCOTT of the City of Miami and >Dade County, Florida, in light of local officials' >declaration of their defiance of the INS and Federal Court >ruling and support for the tiny right-wing >minority in Miami. This was strongly supported by the >conference call participants from Miami, who described an >atmosphere of intense fear and intimidation of those who >support Elian's reunificaiton with his father. We will be >working to develop UNION support for the boycott. > >3. Send cards and letters of support (both individual and >group) to Juan Miguel c/o the Cuban Interests Section in >D.C. Will get address for you all later. > >4. WE will be a large presence at the anti-WTO/IMF >demonstration in D.C. on April 16, where we will pass out >flyers regarding the boycott, the latest in Elian's case and >how people there can help get involved. > >5. Simultnaeous local Vigils/pickets/demos. dates >t/b/a. (DC tonight and tomorrow night.) > >6. Continue sending letters to Janet Reno ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) >demanding that custody of Elian be transferred to Juan >immediately. > >7++++ Talk to the media! Letters to the ed., op-ed, tv, >radio, web pages, chat rooms, whatever. Make your voice >heard!! > > >IAC PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWS: > >INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER >39 West 14th St. Room 206 New York, NY 10011 >Tel: 212-633-6646 Fax: 212-633-2889 Email: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >MEDIA ADVISORY APRIL 6, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE >PRESS >CONTACT: TERESA GUTIERREZ 212-633-6646 > > >IAC STATEMENT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS >ON THE ELIAN GONZALEZ CASE > >The International Action Center welcomes Juan Miguel >Gonz�lez and his wife and child to the United States. The >IAC expresses its sympathy for the four-month nightmare he >and his family have had to endure throughout this long >ordeal. We feel confident however that right is on the side >of Juan Miguel, and that Eli�n will be home where he belongs >very soon. > >But it will not be soon enough. > >For the last several months, the IAC has been very >supportive of the work of the National Committee for the >Return of Eli�n Gonz�lez to His Father in Cuba. We have >worked hard with the National Committee to both pressure the >Justice Department to move quickly to send the child home, >as well as to galvanize the overwhelming sentiment that >exists in this country for the child's return. The >Committee has organized tremendously successful national >events in Miami and Washington, DC, as well as countless >actions in New York City, San Francisco and dozens of cities >around the country. > >A tiny group of exiled Cuban Americans in Miami, however, >have not only held Eli�n Gonz�lez hostage, but they have >also been able to paralyze the Justice Department. This tiny >elite has somehow managed to prevent the Justice Department >from implementing the decisions made earlier by the INS and >Judge William Moore. > >Without a doubt, the events of the last few months have >opened up a new chapter in U.S./Cuba relations. For the >first time, the public in this country, and indeed the world >has witnessed for itself the true character of the >Cuban-American right-wing community. > >Their exploitation of Eli�n has exposed the fact that >concern for this child's welfare is not what drives them, or >for that matter the concern for any Cuban child. What >drives them now, and what has always driven them, is their >fanatical and extreme hatred of Cuba's government and >leaders. > >The constant surrounding of the home where Eli�n has been >staying, the endless visitors, the countless camera shots >and so on prove their utter disregard for Eli�n's welfare. >Some of the statements made by the family, as well as others >surrounding the house, are too absurd to even put on paper. > >The IAC poses this question: If this group has so much >concern for this Cuban child as well as hundreds of >thousands of other Cuban children they claim to be concerned >about, then why not consider the position of Gov. George >Ryan of Illinois? Gov. Ryan has called for the U.S. >government to re-examine its 40-year old economic blockade >of Cuba. > >Gov. Ryan joins the dozens if not hundreds of health, legal >and human rights organizations here and abroad who call for >a lifting of the blockade. These organizations have well >documented the damage the blockade has brought to Cuban >children. > >And it is not just human rights or health organizations that >share this view. In February, dozens of pharmaceutical >companies held a trade show in Havana. They, too, want to >see a change in U.S. policy. > >It is a question therefore how a tiny group of exiles in >Miami have been able to dominate the debate on U.S./Cuba >relations. In the recent developments around the Eli�n >case, these groups have been allowed to dictate U.S. >immigration and foreign policy. No other immigrant >community has been accorded this kind of power. Indeed, no >other immigrant group has been accorded the rights and >privileges this Cuban community has gained. > >No other agreement such as the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act >exists with any other country. Isn't it also time to repeal >this law so no more tragedies occur in the waters between >Cuba and the U.S.? > >It is a travesty that the Justice Department has not been >able to muster the political will necessary to carry out the >mandate determined by the INS and the Federal Court to send >Eli�n home. The U.S. government carries out complicated >foreign policy all the time. Witness the horrible U.S. >bombing in Kosovo for example. > >Yet the government cannot carry out a simple policy in >Miami. It has appeared to cave-in to right-wing terror in >Miami. Furthermore, Vice-President Al Gore has not at all >helped the matter. In fact, Vice President Gore's statement >calling for permanent residency for Juan Miguel and others >aggravates the problem at a time when the matter could be >resolved. > >As of this writing, mobs have surrounded the home where >Eli�n is staying. The media often asks spokespeople for the >National Committee for Eli�n's Return how can this matter be >resolved without violence? > >The fundamental question is how did it get to this point? >The problem is that the Justice Department turned Eli�n over >to a thoroughly anti-Cuba grouping. The U.S. government >knows well the dealings of this grouping. The government >and other U.S. institutions have collaborated with these >forces since 1959. In fact, the U.S. government props these >forces up via funds such as through Radio and T.V. Marti. >The government indeed bolsters and encourages the Cuban >American exiles in every way. > >Yet this is a grouping that has carried out documented >terror against Cuba. They have violated Cuba's air space >over and over receiving only a mere slap on the wrist at >best from the U.S. government. > >To turn Eli�n over to such a force was an appalling decision >that will forever affect young Eli�n. Had the government >not turned Eli�n over to this Miami grouping, the issue of >violence, the problem of removing the child from these >questionable hands would not be on the table right now. > >Only the continued pressure by the Cuban people and those >here in the U.S. who want to see Eli�n sent home will >resolve this tragic incident. The Justice Department must >gather now the political will to resolve this tragedy. > >Eli�n has suffered enough. Let him go home with his father >and family immediately. > > >-30- > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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