[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 19955]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          REPATRIATION OF CUBANS INTERDICTED ON THE HIGH SEAS

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I call to the attention of the 
Senate, and specifically to the Foreign Relations Committee, the 
question of whether or not longstanding policy has been changed by the 
administration with regard to the repatriation of Cubans interdicted on 
the high seas.
  As we know, since 1995 we have had an understanding with the Castro 
Cuban Government that when Cubans are interdicted on the high seas, 
they will be returned to Cuba and they will not be imprisoned.
  Clearly, we saw a change with the hijacking of a ferry boat a couple 
months ago. They were returned to Cuba, and without a trial they were 
summarily executed.
  Naturally, this has made us much more sensitive to the question about 
these very brave citizens of Cuba who are trying to flee the Castro 
regime. So it brings up the instance of 2 weeks ago.
  Three dock security guards were overpowered. A boat was stolen by 
some dozen Cuban citizens. On their way across the Straits of Florida, 
they were interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard. In returning them, it 
appears there was a negotiation by our Government with the Castro 
government that they would receive prison sentences of up to 10 years 
at the discretion of the Cuban Government.
  This appears to be a subtle change in policy. Was it a hijacking? It 
was the stealing of a boat. But the long and the short of it is, the 
U.S. Government was negotiating directly to send these Cubans going 
back to Cuba into a prison sentence that could be as much as 10 years. 
I do not think this is right.
  Under these circumstances, it seems to me that at least the U.S. 
Government, this administration, should have considered the alternative 
of a third country for these people. Having been sent back, to go back 
into Castro's prisons, you know their fate.
  I am asking Senator Lugar and Senator Biden of the Foreign Relations 
Committee to investigate this matter. Let us determine if this is 
really in the best interest of what we are trying to achieve when 
people are leaving a repressive dictatorship, seeking freedom, and then 
it appears that the U.S. Government is negotiating their own prison 
sentence. I do not think that should be the policy of the U.S. 
Government.

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