SUPPORT FOR HUMANITARIAN PAROLE FOR THREE CUBAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 009305

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR WHA, WHA/CCA AND PRM/A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF CU CO
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR HUMANITARIAN PAROLE FOR THREE CUBAN
NATIONALS

REF: HOEY-WHA/CCA EMAILS


1. (U) This is an action message. Please see paragraph 7.


2. (SBU) Embassy was contacted by Ms. Liduine Zumpolle, a
Dutch national who works with the pro-democracy NGO "Cuba
Futuro" about the case of three Cuban nationals who worked in
harsh conditions in a shipyard in Curacao. Zumpolle said the
men (Fernando ALONSO HERNANDEZ, Luis Alberto CASANOVA TOLEDO
and Alberto RODRIGUEZ LICEA) denounced the Castro regime in
the Dutch and French press because of the way they were
treated in Curacao and fled to Colombia. Colombian labor
activist Jose Leon Ramirez (Colombian Workers Federation -
CTC) is also interested in the case and has been assisting
the men who are living temporarily in Cartagena. All three
want to resettle to the U.S. There are no refugee cases
pending for any of the men with the U.S. Interests Section in
Havana.


3. (SBU) Alonso, Casanova and Rodriguez were sent to Curacao
in 2004 to work in the dry dock to repay a debt the Cuban
Government owed to Curacao. All of the men had been employed
by the national shipyard company (Empresa Nacional de
Astillero de Cuba) in Cuba. They reported that while working
in Curacao, they were not given proper food, worked extremely
long hours in unsafe conditions, and did not receive the
compensation they were promised. The men stated that they
were forced to work 14-15 hours a day, 10-15 days in a row
without any time off. Because of the intolerable conditions,
they left their jobs in Curacao and denounced Castro and the
Cuban Government because of the way they were treated by the
Cuban Government. Their passports were retained by a member
of the Cuban security agency, Rosana Grau. The men claim
that Ms. Grau hired a private Venezuelan security company
(Panamericana) to find them "dead or alive." After leaving
Curacao, the men made their way to western Venezuela and then
to Cartagena, Colombia.


4. (SBU) Prospects for Local Integration: Embassy
understands the Colombian Government has approved the request
for refugee status in Colombia but has not yet officially
notified the three men. The men have changed apartments
several times because of the concern that Cuban Government
teachers, who are on an official mission in Sucre Department,
may be looking for them. The men claim that a strange man
came to their apartment in early July asking for "the three
Cubans." The men moved to another building shortly
afterwards. Representatives of the Catholic Church,s social
outreach agency visited the Cubans on July 19, 2005 and
reported to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for
Refugees that they did not complain of any problems. When
asked about this, the Cubans said they were afraid to tell
the representative from the Church.


5. (SBU) Prospects for Employment/Financial Support in the
U.S.: The men stated that they made friends with Americans
in Curacao who will offer them work in Miami. They note that
&World Shipping Management Corporation8 has offered them
employment. They added that their families would help them
when they got to the U.S., and would also assist Mr.
Rodriguez Licea who does not have family in the U.S.


6. (SBU) Current Address and Biographic Information:
Diagonal 32, 71-49, Barrio Los Cerezos, Cerca de la bomba El
Gallo, Cartagena, Colombia. Cellular Telephone: 315 650-9505

ALONSO HERNANDEZ, Fernando
DPOB 09NOV65 Maria Navo, Cuba
Profession: Technician in ship construction
20 years experience.
Left Dry dock in Curacao on January 7, 2005

Relatives in U.S.
Father: ALONSO, Eduardo Luis
411 SW 6th Street, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Cell phone 786 263-3734

Brother: ALONSO HERNANDEZ, Eduardo
185 NW 13th Avenue, #830, Miami Florida
Telephone: 305 244-7981

CASANOVA TOLEDO, Luis Alberto
DPOB: 12Dec78, Havana, Cuba
Profession: Technician in Naval ship construction
20 years experience as a solderer.
Left Dry dock in Curacao January 7, 2005

Relatives in U.S.
Sister: CASANOVA TOLEDO, Liliana de los Angeles
4539 West Henry Avenue, Tampa Florida, 33614
Telephone: 813 391-7498 813 391-5491

RODRIGUEZ LICEA, Alberto Justo
DPOB 25Jun65, Havana, Cuba
Profession: Technician in naval ship construction. 15 years
experience.
Left Dry dock in Curacao October 9, 2004

Relatives in U.S.
None. Relatives of Mr. Casanova and Mr. Alonso have sent an
affidavit of support for Mr. Rodriguez Licea to Senator Mel
Martinez' office.


7. (SBU) Given that the three men have publicly denounced the
Castro regime, have no ties in Colombia, and that two of them
have immediate relatives in the U.S., Embassy Bogota
recommends humanitarian parole for this group.

WOOD