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CUBA
NEWS
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US further tightens restrictions on
business, travel in Cuba
WASHINGTON, 5 (AFP) - The United States
announced tighter inspections of US citizens
traveling to Cuba and a crackdown on illegal
business with the communist island.
"In particular, we're having 100 percent
inspection of flights to Cuba," Assistant
Secretary for the Western Hemisphere Roger
Noriega told a telephone news conference.
"We're looking at agencies that do
business that benefit the regime that we
want to identify and cut off."
President George W. Bush announced the
stricter measures on October 10 as well
as the creation of a Commission for Assistance
to a Free Cuba, headed by US Secretary of
State Colin Powell (news - web sites) and
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Mel Martinez, who was born in Cuba, to shepherd
a democratic transition in Cuba.
"Our efforts to enforce restrictions
of financial transactions that benefit the
regime has been stepped up in a dramatic
fashion since the president's October 10
announcement," Noriega said.
The commission met for the first time Friday
at the White House with Bush's national
security advisor Condoleezza Rice (news
- web sites) and others.
The group is charged with drafting a report
for delivery to Bush by May 1 on what each
US government agency could contribute to
accelerating and preparing for a transition
in Cuba.
Noriega said the commission would make
the United States "better prepared
to respond to transition."
He said the United States also wanted to
make sure "that there will be no succession
to the Castro regime but that there will
be a profound and deep political and economic
change that will benefit the Cuban people
after a 45-year nightmare."
Ten Cubans feared dead in bid to flee
homeland: US
MIAMI, 5 (AFP) - Ten Cubans who tried to
leave their country for the United States
are feared to have died while crossing the
perilous Florida Straits, the US Coast Guard
said citing a witness.
A 24-year-old survivor, strapped to two
inner tubes, was located Monday floating
at sea 15 kilometers off the coast near
Miami. He said he left the Cuban province
of Matanzas November 27 with another 10
people in a four-meter boat.
The boat was destroyed in rough seas and
the man told the Coast Guard he believed
he was the only one to survive.
As the body of one person was found at
sea Wednesday, the Coast Guard said a tragedy
appeared likely.
"We are saddened by the thought that
10 people may have lost their lives in this
manner," said Rear Admiral Harvey E.
Johnson, Jr., commander of the Seventh Coast
Guard District.
"We see these tragedies all too often.
We cannot stress enough the perils of the
sea, especially to someone who sets out
on a vessel not designed or equipped to
face rough seas, high winds and cooler weather
conditions like we had this weekend. While
the outcome is unfortunate, it is not unexpected
for what is an inherently dangerous voyage."
In addition, the Coast Guard Cutter Monhegan
repatriated 17 Cubans who illegally left
their country, to Bahia de Cabanas, Cuba,
on Friday, the guard added.
"They are from four groups that attempted
to illegally enter the US since November
26. Another 10 people from one of these
voyages are believed to have drowned while
attempting their dangerous crossing,"
a statement said.
Every year hundreds of Cubans, as well
as Dominicans and Haitians, set out trying
to reach the US shore illegally, some in
boats and some with people smugglers charging
thousands of dollars for the trip across
shark-infested waters.
Cubans, however, are the only illegal immigrants
who, once they set foot in the United States,
are allowed to stay and seek US residency.
Cuba, with the Americas' only communist
government, says the policy encourages risky
-- not to mention embarrassing -- illegal
emigration efforts.
More than 200 Cubans are known to have
died at sea since January 2000 trying to
make the crossing, according to the US Coast
Guard.
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