Cuban exiles say flotilla plan not a provocation
By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ and GISELA SOLOMON
Associated Press
MIAMI -- A coalition of Cuban exile groups said Wednesday their plans to
anchor a small flotilla off the coast of Havana and launch fireworks to
highlight the island's human rights abuses is not meant to provoke the
Cuban government.
The protesters said they would follow U.S. Department of State warnings
not to enter Cuban territory, which begins 12 miles offshore. The
demonstration is in honor of Saturday's United Nation's International
Human Rights Day.
"We aren't provoking anybody. We are exercising our rights (of freedom
of expression)," said Ramon Saul Sanchez, head of the independent
Democracy Movement, who is organizing Friday's demonstration to show
solidarity with activists on the island.
Last month, the groups met with State Department officials and announced
the department would not try to stop them. The department has also met
with Cuban officials at their request.
"We urge the Democracy Movement and the Cuban government to exercise
caution and restraint in the upcoming fireworks show," a State
Department spokesman said Wednesday. "We didn't encourage the activity,
but we also don't have the authority to prevent it."
The official requested anonymity because the issue was still under
federal interagency review.
The groups are planning to have at least six boats but it could be fewer
depending on the weather. They plan to fly a white flag and an image of
Laura Pollan, the recently deceased leader of the Cuban group Ladies in
White. The group was founded by the wives of political prisoners and
demonstrated for years to free them. After their relatives were
released, they vowed to continue their activity.
The coalition plans leave from Key West Friday morning and begin the
fireworks around 8 p.m., returning for the U.S. two hours later.
Neither the Cuban written press nor TV news broadcasts have mentioned
the protest. But the Cuban government's website Cubadebate on Tuesday
called it a provocation and accused the Obama administration of backing
the effort.
"This new provocation scheduled for the 9th of December has been
approved by the administration of Barack Obama, who says he is working
to ease relations between the U.S. and Cuba," according to the article
by Jose Luis Mendez. He said the protests aimed to cause internal
disorder in Cuba and violates international law.
Coast Guard spokeswoman Marilyn Fajardo said her agency would have
cutters and aircraft patrolling the area but that the agency would not
bring in added resources. She declined to give specifics on the number
of vessels or aircraft.
Coast Guard officials will likely create a safe zone, requiring the
protesters to remain more than 12 miles offshore. Fajardo said the
agency would document any detected incursion by the U.S. vessels into
Cuban waters - illegal without Coast Guard permission - and would take
appropriate measures. She did not rule out immediate enforcement action.
"Our being there provides us the ability to ensure safe and legal
development of the protest in addition to being able to provide search
and rescue if it's needed," Fajardo said, adding officials had discussed
U.S. regulations at length with Sanchez and others involved.
But she added, "The coast guard will not interfere with legitimate law
enforcement action of the Cuban government. In other words, if a vessel
gets by the Coast Guard and gets into Cuban waters, they are placing
themselves in great risk. The U.S. cannot speculate as to the response
of another government in this or any other situation."
The flotilla is part of a history of Cuban exile protests and
activities, many of which have included clandestine missions on or near
the island. In 1996, the Cuban military shot down two planes carrying
activists from the exile group Brothers to the Rescue, killing four
members. Cuba maintains the group flew into Cuban territory. The
activists deny the charges.
Cuba expert Phil Peters of the Lexington Institute think-tank called the
flotilla "a perfectly legitimate, peaceful protest," but he questioned
whether Cubans on the island would actually be able to see the fireworks
12 miles away from the coast.
Peters said it was unusual for the government to support people who are
conducting a protest outside of U.S. territory but he noted if the Coast
Guard is present, "It certainly reduces the risk that they will pass the
12-mile limit and would seem to minimize the risk of an incident."
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/07/2536022/cuban-exiles-say-flotilla-plan.html
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