MIAMI, 8 (AP) - Cuban-American leaders, encouraged by a lawmaker's bid to keep 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez in the United States while a judge considers his case, said Saturday they would temporarily halt protests against plans to return the child to Cuba.
``We have called for a cautious, temporary hold of the civil disobedience campaign,'' said Ramon Saul Sanchez, head of Democracy Movement. About 100 protesters have been arrested since Thursday, and another protest had been planned Monday to block access to Miami International Airport.
Saturday evening about 20 supporters gathered outside of the boy's family's home and chanted ``We want to see Elian!'' and the boy was briefly brought out. He was expected to attend a Three Kings Day parade Sunday with his Miami relatives.
In the decision to stop the protests, the organizers cited a ``more positive course'' in the ongoing custody battle over Elian. That included a subpoena issued Friday by Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., to have the boy testify before a House committee Feb. 10.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service said last week the boy should be sent back to Cuba by Jan. 14. President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno have both indicated support for the ruling.
``This is a matter that should be decided on the facts and the law and not in the political arena,'' White House spokesman Jim Kennedy said Saturday.
Former President Gerald Ford said Saturday he agrees with President Clinton's refusal to overturn the order to send Elian back.
``I think the best answer is the one that President Clinton has given,'' Ford said.
Burton, chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, said he subpoenaed Elian to block ``precipitous action'' until Florida courts can address the case. Committee sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said it is unlikely Elian will actually be asked to appear.
In Cuba, Elian's father was outraged.
``I am the father of Elian and Immigration has said that I am the only one who can speak for him,'' Juan Miguel Gonzalez said. ``Why should it be delayed? Who is he? He is no one. I am the father.''
On Saturday, thousands of Cubans packed the grounds at Ciudad Libertad, a pre-revolutionary military base transformed into a school complex, waving flags and chanting, ``We will save Elian!''
Communist officials have called for residents to keep protesting until the child is reunited with his father on the island.
Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has INS oversight, met with the boy's relatives in Miami.
Smith said Elian told him in Spanish: ``Help me. I don't want to go back to Cuba.''
``This is a good family,'' Smith said. ``I saw enough and heard enough to know he wants to stay in America.''
He said Elian's relatives gave him information that his father may have known Elian's mother was bringing him to the United States and supported that decision - something Gonzalez has denied.
Elian was found Thanksgiving Day clinging to an inner tube after his mother, stepfather and others drowned attempting to reach the United States. Two other adults survived.
Adding to the controversy was a petition filed by lawyers Friday asking that Elian's great-uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, be named his guardian, a position that would allow him to seek asylum for the boy. Elian's father is now his guardian.
Neither the lawyers nor Elian's relatives would comment before the judge's ruling, which is expected early next week.
Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and Miami Mayor Joe Carollo, accompanied by one of the family's lawyers, met with Attorney General Janet Reno on Friday evening to plead the case that the boy should remain in America at least long enough to have a fair hearing.
Penelas said Reno told them she would respond ``very, very shortly.''
Despite calling off the protests, a pre-planned parade of about 40 tractor-trailer cabs with a police escort coursed through the city Saturday. Sanchez, who said the caravan was to thank supporters, warned that organizers would resume the protests if the U.S. government attempted to return the
Elian to Cuba.
AP-NY-01-08-00 2047EST
Copyright 2000 The Associated Press |