USA: CUBAN BOY CUSTODY BATTLE: GRANDMOTHERS ARRIVE
(22 Jan 2000) Spanish/Eng/Nat Elian Gonzalez's grandmothers have arrived in New York where they are calling for the six-year-old boy's return to Cuba. Since he was found floating at sea on November 25 after the boat he was in capsized, killing his mother and 10 other people, Elian has been living with relatives in Miami. They say he would have a better life in the United States and have taken legal action to challenge a U-S government ruling that he must go back. Elian Gonzalez's paternal grandmother, Mariela Quintana, and his maternal grandmother, Raquel Rodriguez, arrived in the United States on Friday. Before boarding the plane, the women kissed and hugged Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, who remained in Cuba. He has said he doesn't want to have to visit the United States to get his son back. Cuban officials say they fear enemies of Cuba's communist government will hinder Elian's return to Cuba with a subpoena to appear before Congress. The grandmothers spoke to reporters in an aircraft hangar at the airport. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Many ask themselves and say that it's the will of Elian's mother that the child stays here. I speak for her. I knew her well because I was her mother and knew how she thought, behaved. And if she took that step it was because she had a very violent husband who threatened her, which led her to this tragedy." SUPER CAPTION: Raquel Rodriguez, Elian Gonzalez's maternal grandmother They are calling for the 6-year-old boy's return to Cuba. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "And I ask and beg you all who are interested in helping us to do all that is possible to have the child returned to the grandmothers so my daughter can rest in peace." SUPER CAPTION: Raquel Rodriguez, Elian Gonzalez's maternal grandmother Elian's other grandmother said a U-S government ruling that he must be returned to Cuba should be upheld. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "I think Elian cannot become an American citizen. He is Cuban, was born, grew up, and that's where he has to be and he must be returned. Because if immigration and the President of the United States gave the order for the child to be returned, why are there other people who are changing things and have not returned the child." SUPER CAPTION: Mariela Quintana, Elian Gonzalez's paternal grandmother Elian, seen here going to school in Miami on Friday, was found floating at sea on November 25 after the boat he was in capsized, killing his mother and 10 other people. Since then, he has been living with relatives in Miami who say he would have a better life in the United States. They have taken legal action to challenge a U-S government ruling that Elian must return to Cuba. His great-uncle says the family has no plans to take Elian to New York to meet his grandmothers, although he says they're welcome to visit him in Miami. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "They can come because they have the chance to come to Miami, where the child lives and where the Gonzalez family lives. They may come, see the child, be with him. We are even going to prepare a dinner so they can eat with the child and the family. We have nothing against them." SUPER CAPTION: Lazaro Gonzalez, Elian Gonzalez's great uncle Elian's cousin described the boy's reaction when he saw his grandmothers on television. SOUNDBITE: (English) SUPER CAPTION: Marisleysis Gonzalez, Elian Gonzalez's cousin Florida Republicans say they intend to introduce legislation on Monday to grant U-S citizenship to 6-year-old Elian. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
