> > WW News Service Digest #104 > > 1) From the National Committee to Return Elian Home to Cuba > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >National Committee to Return Elian Home to Cuba >2489 Mission St., No. 24, San Francisco, CA 94110 >415-821-7575/fax: 415-821-5782 > >PRESS STATEMENT > >1. National Committee to Return Elian Home to Cuba Applauds 11th Circuit >Court's Decision on Eli�n Gonz�lez; > >2. Calls for Immediate Resolution by Allowing the Family to Return Home >Immediately > >Bay Area activists applauded today's decision of the11th Circuit Court >upholding District Court Judge Michael Moore's original declaration that >Elian Gonzalez's case does not call for asylum in the U.S., and affirming >that the father has the sole representation of his six-year-old. However, >they remain cautious in their optimism about the decision. > >"We are encouraged that the court decision brings Elian's return one step >closer. However as the 14-day window for appeals shows, Elian's family's >struggle to return home to Cuba is by no means over," said Gloria La Riva of >the National Committee to Return Elian Home with his Family in Cuba. "The >case has now lasted over 6 months, which is 6 months too long. Obviously the >whole family wants to return home and there is no justifiable reason to hold >them in the U.S." > >Alicia Jrapko, also of the National Committee, said, "While we are happy to >see the 11th Circuit Court make a rightful decision today, it must be >emphasized that the U.S. courts should have never considered this case. It >was a simple matter that should have been resolved on January 5, when the >INS determined that Juan Miguel is the sole representative for his son." > >The National Committee is composed of many Bay Area and national >organizations that came together in December, 1999 to mobilize support in >the U.S. for Elian's return home. Groups include: International Peace for >Cuba Appeal, Pastors for Peace, U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment, Global Exchange, >Venceremos Brigade, and others. > >Actions that the group has organized include a protest of 300 people in >Miami on Jan. 29 demanding Elian's release from his kidnappers, a sit-in at >the Justice Department in S.F. on Jan. 22, and various marches and press >conferences. > >A major demand of the National Committee is for repeal of the 1966 Cuban >Adjustment Act, a unique U.S. law that gives economic and residency >privileges to Cuban immigrants that are accorded to no other immigrant >population in the U.S. The Act has served to encourage illegal immigration >to the U.S., thus creating crises such the boatwreck in which Elian's mother >and 10 others drowned in November. > >Spokespersons are available for interviews with the press. > >-30- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
