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Students view Cuban perspective in Cuba
David Anderson - Staff Reporter
When Keli Lerdal and a number of University students attended a neighborhood gathering in Havana, Cuba, last month, they were surprised to see the people of Cuba had no axe to grind against them about the Elilez issue.
One of the speakers strongly criticized U.S. policy toward Cuba, but told the crowd the students were not related to the U.S. government and were not responsible for the kidnapping of Elilez.
"Their attitude toward people of the U.S. is very welcoming," Lerdal said.
She and about 20 University students were able to see the little-known Cuban perspective on the Elian debate when they visited Cuba during spring break. The trip was part of a Cuban and Puerto Rican history class.
Fishermen found Elilez floating off the Florida coast last November. The boy's mother was lost at sea, and the authorities turned Elian over to his great-uncle in Miami.
Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzlez, was on his way to the United States that day. He also said the U.S. government did not award visas to some of the boy's classmates who were supposed to accompany him.
"It's really a political issue as it's become in the last few days if not before," said August Nimtz, who coordinated the trip. "Everyone knows that if this child were from another country they would have been returned immediately."
Nimtz and the students said the Cuban population finds the issue absurd.
"There was a general feeling around the country that (Elian) should be returned to Cuba with his dad," Lerdal said.
Nimtz said that, as opposed to the images the American press has been conveying, Cuba is a great place for Elian to grow up.
Nimtz said Cubans acknowledge their country is poor, but they are proud of their heritage and culture.
In January, immigration authorities decided to send the boy back to Cuba.
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno is currently pushing authorities to accelerate the process of reuniting Elian with his father, something that students who made the trip to Cuba agree with.
"There's no reason for him to be here," Lerdal said.
David Anderson covers international perspectives and professional schools and can be reached at danderson@daily.umn.edu.
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