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WORLD NEWSSaturday 21 November 2015

Cuba blames U.S. for instigating surge of migrants from island

JAVIER CORDOBA A Cuban migrant holds a sign that reads in Spanish “Help us Obama” during a protest at the Costa Rican border with Nicaragua,
CHRISTINE ARMARIO Monday, Nov. 16, 2015.
Associated Press
HAVANA (AP) — Cuban Associated Press
officials blamed the Unit-
ed States late Tuesday for “They want to continue. Cuba. The U.S. and Cuba of human beings trying to group of about a dozen
instigating a surge in the
number of Cuban migrants Even though a government have held regular meetings achieve their dream: arrive young adults gathered on
attempting to reach the sends the army after a on migration accords since in the United States.” a busy Havana intersection
U.S. through Central Amer- peaceful migrant popula- the 1990s. Costa Rica announced to demand the govern-
ica amid ongoing efforts tion, they are going to find Cuban officials have re- Friday that it was issuing ment address the situation
to normalize relations be- a way to go.” peatedly asked that Wash- special seven-day transit early Tuesday evening.
tween the former Cold War More than 45,000 Cubans ington rescind the “wet- visas for Cuban migrants. “Many people don’t have
foes. arrived at U.S. checkpoints foot, dry foot” policy, say- The proposed humanitar- any idea what is going
In a statement aired on along the border between ing it encourages Cubans ian corridor would seek to on,” said Taylor Torres, 30,
the government’s nightly Texas and Mexico in the to attempt perilous trips protect their rights as they a blogger who said he
broadcast, Cuba’s Ministry fiscal year that ended that have claimed an un- travel north through Cen- found out about the swell
of Foreign Relations said in September. Many mi- told number of lives. tral America. of Cubans pushed away
U.S. policy allowing nearly grants from the island fear Dagoberto Fernandez, a Ecuador does not require from the Nicaraguan bor-
all Cuban migrants who that the reestablishment of Cuban mechanic traveling Cubans to obtain visas, so der only after reading a
reach U.S. soil to stay con- diplomatic ties between with his pregnant wife, said many begin their journey story on the Internet, which
tradicts ongoing efforts to Washington and Havana they began their journey there. many Cubans do not have
renew relations between may bring an end to the from Ecuador and had no Immigration authorities in access to.
the countries. “wet-foot, dry foot” policy problems until now. Costa Rica say another Taylor and others con-
“This policy encourages ille- permitting most Cuban mi- “Everyone that we have group of 1,500 Cubans who vened after word spread
gal emigration from Cuba grants to stay. encountered since leaving crossed into the country online calling for “flashmob
to the United States and Those who flee Cuba on Ecuador is behaving well. Saturday from Panama are without borders” via social
constitutes a violation of raft and are caught by the The problem began upon making their way north. media. Such spontaneous
the letter and spirit of the U.S. Coast Guard at sea arriving at the border with About 300 Cubans are ex- gatherings are highly un-
migration accords,” the are usually returned. Nicaragua,” Fernandez pected to arrive at Costa usual in Cuba.
statement read. U.S. officials have stated said. Rica’s southern border The demonstration quickly
The statement marked Cu- they do not have any in- “We don’t want to stay. each day. dispersed after it began to
ba’s first official response to tention of changing current We don’t want problems,” Before Cuban officials re- rain.q
the swell of migrants fleeing immigration policy toward he said. “We’re a group leased their statement, a
the island since Presidents
Barack Obama and Raul
Castro announced plans
to restore diplomatic ties
nearly one year ago.
The situation intensified
Sunday when Nicaraguan
troops forcefully pushed
Cuban migrants trying to
cross the border en route to
the United States back into
neighboring Costa Rica.
Costa Rican Foreign Minis-
ter Manuel Gonzalez said in
a radio interview Tuesday
that there are nearly 2,000
people currently at the
border being blocked by
Nicaraguan soldiers from
entering the country. He
proposed the creation of a
“humanitarian corridor” for
Cubans transiting Central
America.
“We have to do something
with them, give them a
solution,” Gonzalez said.