Hello LeftLinkers Below is an action alert on Elian Gonlzales Brotons, forwarded to Melbourne Radical Women from our comrades in the United States. Elian's case is now at a very critical point. Radical Women thanks all who supported our petition campaign to free Elian. We have just faxed the petition to key U.S. Government players below. Comradely Debbie Brennan Melbourne Radical Women Organiser --------- Forwarded message ---------- From: ifco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 17:15:38 -0500 Subject: Elian action alert ACTION ALERT FOR ELIAN: January 12, 2000 RENO CLARIFIES THE INS' POSITION; DEMONSTRATIONS IN NEW YORK AND SAN DIEGO GET BROAD MEDIA COVERAGE; LET'S KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) staff members let us know yesterday that the 1/11 AP report stating that the INS would not contest the Florida court ruling on Eli=E1n's temporary custody was INCORRECT. Their actual position is reflected in today's letter from Janet Reno to the Miami attorneys Eig and Bernstein, who represent the distant relatives detaining Elian. The essence of this four-page letter, which was just released to the press, is as follows: a) Attorney General Reno sees no reason to reverse the INS Commissioner's decision that Elian's custody remains with his surviving parent, who has sole authority to speak for his son on immigration matters. b) Nothing in the local court's action or the temporary protective order overrides the father's authority. "In the Department [of Justice's] judgment, the Florida court's order has no force or effect insofar as INS' administration of the immigration laws is concerned." c) While state courts, and not the INS, have authority to rule on custody matters, the INS has already made clear that there is no question whatsoever of Elian's custody. d) Reno affirms that "the first responsibility of the INS when confronted with an unaccompanied minor is to attempt to remedy the situation by finding the child's parent or legal guardian, even if that person is outside the United States." e) Reno affirms the father's close relationship with Elian, and the absence of coercion in the father's appeal for his child. She also indicates that there is "no credible information indicating that the child would be at risk of torture or persecution if returned to his father," and thus sees "no objective basis for a valid asylum claim." f) The INS' ruling can only be challenged in federal court. "Accordingly, Commissioner Meissner has determined that the January 14 date should be extended to accommodate any federal court proceedings. This little boy has been through so much, and it is therefore imperative that all of us do what we can to resolve his case as soon as possible." WE NEED TO KEEP MAKING A BIG NOISE IN THE DIRECTION OF WASHINGTON. We want to let them know that they do have the political space in which they can enforce the Reno/INS decision and send Elian home. We need to insist that there be no more delaying tactics, that the federal review should be immediate, and that the boy must go home as soon as possible. PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO JANET RENO AND THE WHITE HOUSE. Ask Reno not to back down; ask Clinton to do the right thing; tell Gore to get out of the way! URGE THEM TO ENFORCE THE INS RULING, RESOLVE THIS MATTER RIGHT AWAY, AND SEND ELIAN HOME NOW! PLEASE CONTACT: PHONE: FAX: Attorney General Janet Reno 202/514-2001 202/307-6777 Pres. Clinton and VP Gore 202/456-1111 202/456-2461 We also need to keep reaching out to members of Congress. Contact your senators and rep in Washington (202/225-3121) or at their home district offices until 1/27 (meet with them personally if you can!). Ask them to show the Administration that they support the INS ruling to SEND ELIAN HOME NOW! **************************** The New York Committee to Return Elian to His Father In Cuba held a tremendously successful demonstration in front of the INS office at Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan on 1/11. Speakers at the rally included Ramsey Clark, Rev. Lucius Walker, and activist Minnie Bruce Pratt. Eleven people were arrested for blocking the entrance to the building. Every TV station in the metro-NY area gave positive coverage to the demonstration, and CNN and Spanish-language stations 41 and 47 gave national coverage which was viewed in Miami. Another successful demonstration was held on 1/11 at San Diego's Federal Plaza; San Francisco and other cities will have demonstrations today. Continued acts of civil disobedience are planned -- until Elian is home in his father's arms. As public outrage over the detention of Elian continues to grow, we are confident that this movement will grow! **************************** According to a local ABC news reporter in Miami: While Elian was playing in the fenced-in front yard of his distant relatives yesterday, an airplane flew overhead -- and Elian reached up his arms and said, "PLEASE TAKE ME BACK TO CUBA." The distant relatives tried to hush him up...but not before the reporter heard him... **************************** We grow more and more concerned about Elian's psychological well-being as time passes. Let's keep working to send him home NOW! Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) Pastors for Peace 402 W 145th St, NYC 10031 212.926-5757; 212.926-5842 <http://www.ifconews.org> -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
