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News. November 18, 2002.
Car trouble hindered Cuba escape
By Alex Veiga, Associated Press Writer.
MIAMI, 17 (AP) - Eight Cubans who flew to the United States aboard a crop
duster last week almost didn't make it because of car trouble, one of them said
Sunday.
Aldo Gutierrez Jimenez, 31, and his wife, Maryfleidis, 26, were among the
group that arrived in Key West aboard a Soviet-era crop-duster Nov. 11.
Gutierrez told The Associated Press that the group hatched the plan the
night before at a birthday party for Mairiliam Orama, one of the passengers.
"We've wanted to come (to the United States) for many years. The
opportunity had not presented itself," Gutierrez said.
That night, the pilot, Nemencio Carlos Alonso Guerra, told the group their
opportunity was at hand and they all agreed to make their move the next morning,
Gutierrez said.
"The pilot made the decision that we would go Monday," he said. "We
made the decision that we could not stay any longer."
The plan required Gutierrez and the others to meet by 8:45 a.m. at an
airfield just as Guerra was coming in for a landing. Then, all would dash into
the plane and take off for Key West.
Gutierrez, who was a member of the Communist Party and worked as a buyer,
said he was responsible for ferrying the others to the airfield in his
government-issued, Soviet-built car, a Lada.
But about half a mile from the airfield, "The car broke down,"
Gutierrez said. "We had to replace a hose. We thought things were going to
go wrong."
He said the car's exhaust pipe had melted part of the fuel line and the gas
wasn't flowing properly. Without the proper tools, they were forced to
improvise.
"We had nothing to cut the hose. We used a hammer to cut one end, then
the other," he said. "With another hose that was a little longer, we
cut out a piece and we put it in between the ends, and kept on."
The repair took about 10 minutes, during which, Gutierrez said, a state
security officer drove by and saw him and two of the other passengers trying to
repair the car on the side of the road.
"It was a very tense moment for us. Everyone was saying 'hurry, hurry.'
It was very desperate," Gutierrez said.
The group arrived just as Guerra came in for a landing. They had set up a
signal: He would circle around once before landing if the trip was still on. He
did, the plane coming to a stop a few yards short of the end of the landing
strip, Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said he drove through an opening in bushes lining the airfield,
about 150 yards from the nearest security officer, and in less than a minute
everyone made it onto the plane for takeoff.
He said the plane ride was tense until he saw the two U.S. jet fighters
shadowing them on their way into Key West International Airport.
"I felt a bit calmer then," Gutierrez said. "When we saw
them, we knew we would arrive without any problem."
All eight were released from U.S. immigration custody late Friday. Gutierrez
hopes to quickly find work and a place to live. For now, he and his wife are
staying with an uncle.
IOC President arrives in Cuba
By Anne-Marie Garcia, Associated Press Writer.
HAVANA, 16 (AP) - The president of the International Olympic arrived
Saturday for a five-day visit that will include listening to Cuba's concerns
about a proposal to drop baseball from the Olympics.
"I feel great respect for Cuban sports," Jacques Rogge said after
arriving at with his wife at the Jose Marti International Airport. "I've
come to Cuba to discuss various topics with local authorities".
Rogge said he would discuss with Cubans sports officials a recommendation
from the IOC programs commission that baseball be eliminated from the Olympics
starting with the 2008 Beijing games.
The IOC executive committee is to decide whether to accept the
recommendation at a meeting later this month in Mexico City. But Rogge has said
the vote could be postponed, and any decision might not apply until the 2012
Games rather than 2008.
Cuba, renowned for its world-class baseball players, opposes the idea.
Rogge's visit coincides with the Intercontinental Baseball Cup, which Cuba
is hosting. International Baseball Federation president Aldo Notari is attending
the tournament.
Notari in recent days said he will propose that baseball tournaments in the
games be reduced from 12 to five days in an effort to keep the sport on the
Olympic program.
Cuban sports authorities said they also planned to discuss their concerns
about the defection of their athletes to other countries. Cuba complains that
sports teams from richer countries "rob" the communist nation's
athletes by offering them lucrative contracts.
The IOC president also planned a visit to Cuba's new $2.7 million
anti-doping laboratory, which the Caribbean country hopes the IOC will accredit
in the coming months.
Anti-doping labs in Brazil and Colombia were the first the IOC approved in
Latin America. Rodriguez said he hopes Rogge's visit will accelerate the IOC's
accreditation of Cuba's lab.
One of Rogge's priorities is combatting drug use in the Olympics.
Cuba remains victorious in Intercontinental Cup, beats Japan 5-0
By Luis R. Varela, Associated Press Writer.
HAVANA, 16 - Cuba beat Japan 5-0 in the Intercontinental Cup quarterfinals
Friday as pitcher Jose Ibar used good control and curve balls to help his team
to its sixth straight win in the tournament.
During his eight innings on the mound, Ibar allowed six hits, struck out six
batters and conceded one base before being relieved by Orelvis Avila.
The Cubans defined the game with a rash of five runs in the last part of the
fifth inning, when they made four hits and took advantage of a costly error made
by shortstop Fumihiro Susuki during a double play.
Cuba also beat Japan in the elimination round, by 8-7.
On Saturday night, Cuba faces Panama, which opened the quarterfinals by
beating Italy 13-3. Japan next plays Italy.
In other Intercontinental Cup action on Friday night, Taiwan triumphed over
South Korea (news - web sites) 6-3 at the Victoria de Giron stadium in Matanzas,
about 90 kilometers east of here.
The Taiwanese determined their win with a rash of four runs in the final
part of the seventh inning, including a solitary homer by Chih-Kang Kao.
South Korea plays the Dominican Republic on Saturday while Taiwan goes up
against Venezuela.
In Matanzas on Friday afternoon, the Dominican Republic beat Venezuela 9-8.
It was a real nail-biter, as Venezuela scored seven runs after two outs in the
ninth inning before Dominican relief pitcher put out the fire with a strikeout.
Cuba celebrates Compay Segundo's 95th birthday
By Andrea Rodriguez, Associated Press Writer. Fri Nov 15,
8:10 PM ET
HAVANA - With his perennial hat, a cigar in his mouth and a guitar in his
hands, the mythical Francisco Repilado of "Buena Vista Social Club"
fame will be 95 in three days. His secret? Eliminating the routine from his
life.
"I feel content, successful ... you shouldn't succumb to boredom,"
Repilado, who is also known by his stage name Compay Segundo, said Friday at
Havana's Hotel Nacional, which is holding a three-day celebration in his honor.
A bit slow, slightly hard-of-hearing but remarkably lucid, Repilado planned
to give a concert Saturday night, along with Spanish band Los Bravos and French
singer Manu Chau. A gala dinner Sunday night will cap the homage. Repilado turns
95 on Monday.
Born on Nov. 18, 1907 in the tiny eastern Cuban beach town of Siboney,
Repilado won a Grammy in 1997 for "Buena Vista Social Club," the
record that catapulted him to world stardom after he was already retired.
"I'm a simple and profound musician," he said, not noticing the
contradiction.
Unlike previous appearances, when he looked worn-down, Repilado seemed
animated and reinvigorated Friday.
He sat in the front row for a showing of Cuban journalist Julio Acando's new
documentary on him. It was a fresh peek into Repilado's life, showing him at
breakfast with a newspaper, rehearsing, taking in the fresh air in the
countryside and savoring a cup of coffee.
"I have no regrets in life," Repilado tells the camera.
Repilado smiled slyly as he watched himself explain that he would like to
have another child because he hasn't tired of women.
The composer and singer is also the inventor of the "armonico," a
small guitar with eight strings.
As a teenager, Repilado worked as a tobacco-roller while playing with the
bands "El Cuarteto Cubanacan" (The Cubanacan Quartet) and the "Cuban
Stars." In 1942, he started the legendary Cuban duo "Los Compadres."
But during the 70s, his star faded.
He remained out of the public eye for 20 years, until Ry Cooder rediscovered
him during a visit to Havana.
Repilado is now known internationally for his "Chan Chan," "Macusa,"
and "Las Flores de la Vida" (The Flowers of Life).
He has given concerts around the world, received invitations to meet Pope
John Paul II and even auctioned off his hat for US $17,000 during the 2001
Habanos cigar festival.
"Compay didn't have to be discovered. He has always been here,"
said Cuban music critic Elio Orovio.
Repilado spoke to a part of the world weary of techno and other sounds made
in music laboratories, Orovio said.
Repilado was more simplistic in explaining his style, "I don't like
shrill stuff," he said. | 
