Stephan Archer. NewsMax.com . April 18, 2000
Fidel Castro's daughter does not favor Elian Gonzalez's return to Cuba, and warns that the boy will likely suffer harm and be taken from his father.
In an exclusive interview with NewsMax.com, Alina Fernandez said the boy is not being returned to the custody of his father, but to the regime of her father, Fidel Castro.
She is sure the boy will be sent to a state institution, without his father's consent, to be deprogrammed of his "capitalism experience."
Fernandez has been estranged from Castro since she defected from Cuba in 1993 disguised as a Spanish tourist. She now lives in Spain.
Fernandez suggests upon his return Elian may be hailed as a hero, but more likely will "disappear somewhere."
Fernandez quoted one of her father's recent speeches in which he said that the Cuban government "will have to take care of [Elian's] mental condition once back."
She explained that the Cuban government will fear that the child will spread criticism of the Cuban government or relate to other children his experiences in the United States.
"I don’t know how they will deal with a little boy that already traveled and has been to Disneyworld. No children have done that in Cuba," she said.
Fernandez believes even if the boy is allowed to lead a "normal" life, conditions will be harsh, as they are for all Cuban youngsters.
According to Fernandez, Cuban children Elian’s age are taught out of a Cuban history book.
As they approach the junior high and high school years -- which starts at age 11 in Cuba -- they are removed from thier families and sent to a boarding school in the countryside.
At "boarding school" the young children study half a day and then are sent to work in Castro’s sugar fields for at least a half day.
"That’s the way I spent my high school too," said Fernandez, recalling the years she worked in the sugar fields. "It’s not a good place to be. I can tell you that," she added, comparing Castro's regime to China.
Elian would also be forced to join the "pioneers," which Fernandez described as a "small communist militant."
"It’s a political organization for children," she said.
She stressed that Elian will once again endure the horrific living conditions most Cubans live in.
Cubans, according to Fernandez, have been living off food stamps for more than 30 years. The government gives basic food rations and other necessities – sugar, rice, soap – but anything else has to be purchased on the black market.
For example, when Elian turns seven, he will have to turn to the black market for milk, a necessity that will no longer be provided him by the state.
However, most Cubans can only afford to purchase items on the black market by stealing something else for resale. According to Fernandez, the average family salary in Cuba is only $3 to $5 a month.
"The Cubans are surviving because of the money we’re sending to our family there," Fernandez said, referring to the money sent by Cuban exiles to their relatives back home.
While Fernandez understands that America is "just a law-abiding country," she is perplexed by the rapidity by which Clinton and Reno want to return the boy to Cuba.
She described President Clinton as "suspicious."
"In Cuba, I always said [Clinton] is like a Tower of Pisa," Fernandez stated.
"He climbs but he never falls. He smokes but he never inhales. You really don’t know what he’s doing about it. He doesn’t want to say anything straight."
Fernandez speculates the Clinton administration may fear that Castro will allow a tidal wave of dissidents to leave Cuba, as he did twenty years ago. She feels this may be one reason the U.S. government wants to appease Castro.
Fernandez said Elian's father, Juan Gonzalez, suffers like many Cuban exiles who can't see loved ones back in Cuba.
"This little boy’s just a symbol of the tragedy of hundreds of Cuban families in both countries with children," Fernandez said. "There’s a lot of people in Miami that want to get their children, but also, there is a lot of – let’s say – grandparents in
Cuba, and they would like to see their grandchildren. So both countries should at least regulate the fact that children will be able to travel to a place and then come back."
Although she believes father and son have a right to be together, Fernandez noted that after Elian was rescued from the sea, Juan Gonzalez didn’t show up.
It wasn’t until Castro took advantage of the situation and began his Elian campaign - using the American legal system to his advantage - did the boy’s father show up, Fernandez said.
"No one wants a six-year-old boy to go back to a senseless system," she said. "The state is supposed to take care of everyone, but no one has any protection from the state."
Castro may win some propaganda points with the the Cuban people, but Fernandez said her father’s propaganda still has difficulty hiding the fact that people prefer throwing themselves in shark-infested waters rather than stay in Cuba.
She reminded Americans that four years ago Castro's government killed 11 children attempting an escape.
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