By Jody A. Benjamin. Sun-Sentinel. Web-posted: 12:53 a.m. May 31, 2000
MIAMI -- Soaking wet, miles from their destination and apparently not willing to give up without a fight, 12 Cuban refugees lashed out at Coast Guard officers who tried to stop their vessel during a confrontation on the open seas south of Key West last week.
Some members of the group had been caught by the U.S. Coast Guard before -- and sent back to Cuba. This time, during a six-hour standoff, the men flailed machetes and hurled rusty tools, bolts and even a can of condensed milk at Coast Guard officers. All were returned to Cuba on Tuesday.
Also on Tuesday, the agency released a 24-minute videotape of the May 24 incident, saying it is the latest in an increasing trend toward violence during the past year. The violence makes the Coast Guard's job more difficult, said spokesman Lt. Comdr. Ron LaBrec.
"This is becoming a frequent and frightening occurrence. Migrants apparently believe this behavior will increase their chances of reaching shore. That belief is unfounded and dangerous."
The confrontation began about 12:30 p.m., when a Coast Guard C-130 airplane saw the 12 male refugees aboard a yellow makeshift rubber craft powered by a 4-cylinder automobile engine.
Two Coast Guard cutters, including the Matagorda, which was carrying Cuban migrants it had picked up earlier in the day, tried to convince the refugees to stop. They were ignored.
Later, officers tried and failed to give the refugees life jackets. Finally, when officers tried to force the vessel to stop, one man flailed at them with a machete while others cut away rope and nets intended to snare the boat's engines.
Wearing helmets and flack jackets, several officers suffered bruises, cuts and scrapes. None were seriously injured, LaBrec said.
The dozen refugees eventually gave in to the Coast Guard. Surrounded and still about 20 miles from land, they shut off their engine at 7:40 p.m. Immigration and Naturalization Service agents later interviewed them aboard the Coast Guard ship and concluded none had a claim to enter the United
States, LaBrec said.
LaBrec declined to speculate on what might be causing the apparent spike in violence.
But Jose Basulto, president of the exile group Brothers to the Rescue, said, "They are becoming more desperate."
The Coast Guard released a list of 10 incidents in the past 11 months, including one in Surfside, in which refugees have lashed out at officials trying to block them from reaching Florida shores. None resulted in serious injuries.
On May 24, after the refugees surrendered, they apologized to the Coast Guard for their behavior -- even exchanging handshakes with officers, according to LaBrec. One man said he had tried eight times to leave Cuba.
"Once they were aboard our cutters, they were peaceful."
Jody A. Benjamin can be reached at jbenjamin@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4530.
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