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Angry US makes life more difficult for Cuban diplomats in Washington

Mon Aug 25,10:16 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Angered by what it says has been years of discriminatory treatment of US diplomats in Havana, the United States retaliated by slapping new restrictions on Cuban diplomats here.

The move -- announced by the State Department in a notice published in the Federal Register -- makes it more difficult for Cuban diplomats to rent, buy or sell automobiles and other vehicles.

Under the new rules, diplomats based at the Cuban Interests Section at the Swiss embassy in Washington may only purchase imported cars and trucks or buy them from other diplomatic missions.

They may not lease vehicles for longer than 30 days at a time may only sell their vehicles to other accredited foreign diplomatic missions in the United States or through the State Department, according to the restrictions.

The department, which had been considering the step for months, acted as relations between the Cold War foes have deteriorated sharply in recent months amid new allegations of espionage and communist-run Cuba's crackdown on dissidents.

However, the new restrictions, which add a time-consuming layer of bureacratic red tape to what otherwise had been routine transactions, are intended only to retaliate for the treatment of US diplomats in Havana, the department said.

"For some time, the Cuban government has imposed a series of impediments, obstructions, denials of service, and unjustifiable costs upon the functioning of the US Interests Section and living conditions of the Interests Section's employees and dependents," it said in the Federal Register notice.

Among the objectionable Cuban restrictions have been those "which have the net effect of making it inordinately difficult, if not altogether impossible, to either purchase a new vehicle or resell a used one in Cuba," it said.

In response and to give Havana incentive to improve those conditions, the department said it was imposing reciprocal "terms and conditions" on the Cuban Interests Section.

"The primary effect ... is to restrict the ability of the Cuban Interests Section and its personnel to purchase, lease, or sell any vehicle in the United States," it said.

Cuba is authorized to employ 26 diplomats at its interests section in Washington while the United States is entitled to employ 51 diplomats at its Interests Section in Havana.

The new rules were approved by Francis Taylor, the assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, on August 8 but did not take affect until the Federal Register notice was published on Monday.

Washington had been looking at the imposition of new restrictions on Cuban diplomats since February when the State Department issued a report detailing what it said was a systematic campaign by Havana to harrass US diplomats.

According to that report, Cuban agents have repeatedly disturbed US diplomats with late-night nuisance telephone calls, have bugged their homes, have broken into residences and re-arranged belongings and left items, including human feces, on floors and walls.

Cuban agents have also tried to lure US diplomats into sexually compromising positions, taking advantage of the absence of a spouse, it said.

The harassment began to increase last year after the United States began a new initiative to court Cuban dissidents and appeared to target US diplomats who dealt directly with opponents of Fidel Castro, the report said.

Many of those dissidents were jailed in March as part of a sweeping crackdown on the opposition that drew widespread international criticism, particularly from Washington which labelled it "Stalinist."

In May, the United States expelled 14 Cuban diplomats -- seven from the Interests Section in Washington and seven accredited to the United Nations -- for espionage.

Yankees' Contreras Dominates in Return

By The Associated Press, 25 August.

Jose Contreras got a taste of what it's like to pitch in pinstripes with an early lead.

More importantly, the New York Yankees finally got to see just how dominating the Cuban defector can be.

Contreras limited Baltimore to just three hits over seven innings in his return from the disabled list, and the Yankees beat he Orioles 7-0 Sunday.

"I'm happy because I was able to help the team achieve victory and also demonstrate what kind of pitcher I am," Contreras said through a translator. "I was able to pitch comfortably with the great lead that my teammates gave me."

Out since June 7 with a strained right shoulder, Contreras won for the first time as a starter in Yankee Stadium. After struggling as a reliever early in the season, he's 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA as a starter — with 17 strikeouts in 21 innings — in three starts.

Contreras, who signed a $27 million, three-year contract after defecting from Cuba last year, most likely has locked up the No. 5 spot in the rotation, taking over for struggling Jeff Weaver.

"When you get around him he just has a feel and a lot more self confidence than he had before," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said.

"Certainly this game should give him a big, emotional lift as far as what he can do for us. You have to be excited about what this guy can do not just down the stretch in the regular season but maybe more than that. I don't think this is a guy that's going to melt under pressure."

In other AL games, it was: Boston 6, Seattle 1; Oakland 17, Toronto 2; Detroit 10, Anaheim 9; Cleveland 7, Tampa Bay 5; Minnesota 8, Kansas City 1; Texas 5, Chicago 0.

Contreras struck out four of his first seven batters and retired his last nine before Antonio Osuna and Chris Hammond finished the four-hitter and the Yankees' 10th shutout.

"He was locating his fastball and he had a pretty good split going," Jay Gibbons said of Contreras. "The first time around is kind of tough when you haven't seen a guy. But regardless, he had pretty good stuff."

Jorge Posada hit a three-run homer off rookie Eric DuBose (1-4) in the first and Derek Jeter added a two-run single in the second to make it 5-0.

Red Sox 6, Mariners 1

At Fenway Park, Derek Lowe pitched 7 1-3 strong innings and David Ortiz hit a three-run homer to lead Boston over Seattle, the fifth consecutive loss for the AL West-leading Mariners.

The Red Sox have won three in a row against Seattle and four straight overall. Boston is five games behind New York in the AL East and tied with Oakland in the wild-card race. Seattle's lead fell to one game over the Athletics in the AL West.

Lowe (13-6) allowed one run on five hits and five walks, and struck out four.

Athletics 17, Blue Jays 2

At Toronto, Ramon Hernandez and Miguel Tejada each hit grand slams — the first time the Athletics have connected for two in their 103-year history.

Hernandez hit his second career slam, giving Oakland a 4-0 lead off Kelvim Escobar (9-8) in the first. Tejada's sixth career slam made it 12-2 off Josh Towers in the sixth.

Billy McMillon and Jose Guillen hit back-to-back homers off Towers in the seventh.

Tim Hudson (13-4) allowed two unearned runs on six hits in six innings.

Rangers 5, White Sox 0

At Chicago, John Thomson (12-10) threw a four-hitter to win his fifth straight decision and Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer as Texas avoided a four-game sweep.

Jon Garland (9-10) had a career-high 10 strikeouts and gave up just three runs and five hits in seven-plus innings.

Twins 8, Royals 1

At Minneapolis, Johan Santana had 10 strikeouts for the second straight game, and Minnesota broke loose after Kevin Appier left in the second inning with an elbow injury to salvage a split of their four-game series with Kansas City.

Santana (8-3) gave up six hits and two walks in six innings, allowing only one run on Desi Relaford's second-inning homer.

Matthew LeCroy had three RBI singles for the Twins, each scoring Shannon Stewart.

Indians 7, Devil Rays 5

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Ryan Ludwick hit a pair of run-scoring singles as Cleveland handed Tampa Bay its fifth straight loss.

Jake Westbrook (6-7) gave up four runs and nine hits over five innings.

Tigers 10, Angels 9

At Detroit, Brandon Inge hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off Troy Percival (0-4) and the Tigers ended their 11-game losing streak.

Garret Anderson hit his 27th homer and drove in five runs for the Angels. His two-run single in the eighth put Anaheim ahead.

3rd Cuban Defects at World Championships

Sun Aug 24. By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ, Associated Press Writer

MONTEBELLO, Calif. - A third Cuban athlete defected at the World Gymnastics Championships, joining two male teammates who left the Cuban delegation earlier this month.

Janerky De La Pena, 20, left her team's hotel in Anaheim late Saturday night, attorney Luis Carrillo said on Sunday.

"She is seeking asylum because she is a dissident in her own country," Carrillo said.

De La Pena was picked up by the uncle of teammate Michel Brito Ferrer, who defected Aug. 17. Teammate Charles Leon Tamayo also defected Aug. 18. All three athletes are staying at the Los Angeles home of Ferrer's uncle, Ramon Ferrer.

The three are seeking asylum and plan to present themselves to U.S. immigration authorities later this week, Carrillo said.

At a news conference Sunday night, the three gymnasts said they individually decided to defect from Cuba. The athletes stressed that there was no advanced planning on the island and they received no help from any U.S.-based groups or other teammates and coaches.

They also said they were worried about their families being persecuted in Cuba because of their defections.

"We're here because we feel free. We're running away from the political oppression," Tamayo, 22, said at the news conference held at Carrillo's law office in Montebello.

Carrillo said all three athletes told their parents of their decisions after they defected. He said their parents supported them in their decisions.

Spokesman Dan Kane of the Dept. of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration, declined to commet on their cases.

Kane said Cubans who enter the United States planning to defect usually face fewer obstacles than other immigrants because of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1965, signed by President Johnson at the height of the Cold War.

The law made it easier for Cubans to defect to the United States, a process Kane said described as "pro forma" in most cases.

Most Cubans hoping to defect are detained briefly by federal authorities and then released with work permits. A year and one day after their release, they become eligible to apply for permanent resident status.

Carrillo asked the public for financial assistance for the athletes until they find work. He earlier said they have a strong case to win asylum.

"I think their chances of staying here are good because the U.S. is critical of Cuba's human rights record," Carrillo said. "It would be the height of hypocrisy if they don't grant these three dissidents asylum."

Cuba's team didn't compete in the women's team competition because it only sent two gymnasts. De La Pena, who declined comment, competed in only three events in the preliminaries, failing to qualify for the all-around or any event finals.

She was ranked 25th in the all-around the 2001 World Championships.

Castro: U.S. Exile TV Broadcast Will Fail

Sat Aug 23. By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer

HAVANA - President Fidel Castro predicted that a new U.S. government attempt to use a satellite to broadcast news and talk shows hosted by exile leaders will fail.

Cuba calls the broadcasts by TV Marti an attempt by the U.S. government and Cuban exiles to impose their political views.

Castro said earlier efforts to thwart the Cuban government's jamming of TV Marti's signal have failed.

"Up to now, experience has shown that it has gone badly," Castro said Friday.

He commented on the new attempt by saying: "I read something about that and I was laughing. They are always inventing something."

The Miami-based Office of Cuba Broadcasting says that within days it will use a satellite located over the east Atlantic Ocean off the African coast to strengthen TV and Radio Marti signals.

TV Marti, which went on the air in 1990, broadcasts its signal from a balloon tethered to Cudjoe Key in Florida, about 20 miles east of Key West, Fla.

But because of Cuba's jamming of the signal, very few people on the island have ever seen TV Marti.

Only satellite dishes will be able to pick up the signal.

Although Cuba prohibits most ordinary citizens from having satellite dishes, as many as 20,000 families on this island of 11.2 million are estimated to have satellite antenna and reception equipment purchased illegally on the black market.

The government here has cracked down on the illegal dishes in recent months, seizing antenna and reception boxes brought in from Mexico and Miami.

The new American efforts to use satellite technology to broadcast to the island likely will result in increased enforcement against Cuban satellite-dish owners. Foreigners are allowed to have satellite dishes, but must purchase the service through a government agency.

The announcement about stepped-up broadcasting efforts comes amid criticism from Cuban-Americans that President Bush has not kept his election campaign promises to be tough on Castro's communist government.

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