USA: CUBAN BOY CUSTODY BATTLE: GRANDMOTHERS (2)
(22 Jan 2000) Spanish/Nat Both grandmothers of the 6-year-old boy at the centre of a tug-of-war between the United States and Cuba, are campaigning in the U-S for the return of their grandson. Elian Gonzalez's grandmothers are scheduled to meet with Attorney General Janet Reno and I-N-S chief Doris Meissner in Washington on Saturday. The women arrived in New York on Friday. Elian was found floating at sea on the 25th of November, after the boat on which he was heading for Florida capsized, killing his mother and 10 other would-be refugees. His relatives in Miami argue he would have a better life in the United States and have raised legal action to keep him. They say the family has no plans to allow Elian to go to New York to meet his grandmothers, but said they were welcome to come to Miami. Elian's Miami based great-uncle, Lazaro Gonzalez, says he has been given some documents regarding the mistreatment of children in Cuba that may help their case. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) " He gave me some documents that can help the child regarding things in Cuba. They mistreat the children and other things that people should know that have been hidden. Some of them are coming out to the public so everyone can realise what is happening with human rights and things like that. Q. What things? A. The abuses against the children, when there's violence or political differences within the family, including the abuse of children, they take away their toys. And we want to take this opportunity that has come that everyone is, the whole world is waiting to hear the news, because they should realise about where they want to take Elian back and what may happen to him there. Q. In what way can they help Elian? A. Here anyone who is acting in good faith can help the child. I think that they efforts will have the desired effect. Thank you." SUPER CAPTION: Lazaro Gonzalez, Elian's great-uncle Gonzalez's grandmothers are continuing their effort to reclaim their grandson. The two grandmothers are meeting Attorney General Janet Reno and I-N-S chief Doris Meissner in Washington on Saturday. Elian's maternal grandmother says the boy's late mother will not "rest in peace" until he's back in his homeland. Raquel Rodriguez maintained that her daughter was forced to go on the journey to the U-S by her boyfriend, who she said was violent and threatening. Both died along with nine other people when the boat capsized. Elian was found clinging to an inner tube off the Florida coast. The I-N-S has ruled the boy should go back to Cuba. But Reno has extended the I-N-S deadline to allow his Miami relatives to sue. The dispute has trapped the boy in a political battle between Cuban President Fidel Castro's government and Cuban exiles in the United States. Some anti-Castro activists claim the appeal for the boy's return is made under pressure from the Cuban government. 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...
