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Yahoo! News.,
June 26, 2003.
Lawyer Says Mass. Woman With Kids in Cuba
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer. June 26, 2003.
HAVANA - An American woman who sought Fidel Castro's help in getting her son
and daughter back from her ex-husband was reunited with the U.S.-born children
after authorities arrested their father, the mother's attorney said Thursday.
Cornelia Streeter was reunited with her children Wednesday night after a
separation of nearly two years, attorney Barry Pollack said from Boston.
Streeter "is extremely appreciative of the prompt, sensitive and
effective way that the Cuban authorities have handled this matter," Pollack
said.
The Massachusetts woman and her children were at an undisclosed location in
Havana on Thursday.
In a case that recalled the battle over young castaway Elian Gonzalez,
state-run television reported late Wednesday that authorities took action after
confirming that Streeter, had sole custody of Henry, 10, and Victoria, 8.
The report said the children were born during Streeter's marriage to Anwar
Wissa. It said Streeter was from Massachusetts, but did not give a hometown.
American authorities here said they knew about the case and were working to
determine the facts. They said they had not communicated with the mother.
Streeter made her appeal in a letter, which was delivered to the Cuban
president by a "friend of our commander in chief," said the government
statement read on the nightly news broadcast.
The children were located at a Havana marina, where Wissa was staying with
them on a yacht, the statement said. Wissa, also an American citizen, was
arrested.
The statement said Cubans remain mindful of the Elian Gonzalez case and the
support most Americans showed for the child's return to his father.
"For that, we owe the American people our gratitude and respect,"
the statement said.
Elian was 5 years old in November 1999 when he was rescued at sea off
Florida following a boating accident that killed his mother and other Cubans
trying to immigrate illegally to the United States.
Elian's great-uncle fought unsuccessfully to keep the child in Miami during
a dramatic custody battle.
The Cuban statement said an investigation showed that after Streeter and
Wissa divorced two years ago, they initially had joint custody. But Streeter was
later granted sole custody.
According to the statement, Wissa faces criminal charges in Massachusetts
and U.S. federal courts for kidnapping the children.
U.S. Children in Cuban Protective Custody
By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer. Wed Jun 25.
HAVANA - Two American children brought to Cuba by their father were taken
into protective custody Wednesday after their mother sought Fidel Castro (news -
web sites)'s help.
In a case that recalled the battle over young castaway Elian Gonzalez,
state-run television reported that authorities took action after confirming that
the mother, Cornelia Streeter, had sole custody of Henry, 10, and Victoria, 8.
The report said the children were born during Streeter's marriage to Anwar
Wissa. It said Streeter was from Massachusetts, but did not give a hometown.
Streeter made her appeal in a letter, which was was delivered to the Cuban
president by a "friend of our commander in chief," said the government
statement read on the nightly news broadcast.
The children were located at a Havana marina, where Wissa was staying with
them on a yacht, the statement said. Wissa, also an American citizen, was
arrested.
American authorities here said they knew about the case and were working to
determine the facts. They said they had not communicated with the mother.
The statement said that Cubans remained mindful of the Elian Gonzalez case
and the support most Americans showed for the child's return to his father.
"For that, we owe the American people our gratitude and respect,"
the statement said.
Elian was just 5 years old in November 1999 when he was rescued at sea off
Florida following a boating accident that killed his mother and other Cubans
trying to immigrate illegally to the United States.
Elian's great-uncle fought unsuccessfully to keep the child in Miami during
a dramatic custody battle.
The whereabouts of Streeter were not immediately clear, but the statement
said she had been asked to travel here immediately to get her children.
The Cuban statement said an investigation showed that after Streeter and
Wissa divorced two years ago, they initially had joint custody. But Streeter was
later granted sole custody.
According to the statement, Wissa faces criminal charges in Massachusetts
and U.S. federal courts for kidnapping the children. | 
