CUBAN DOCTOR PREVENTED FROM DEPARTING BOLIVIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001661

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PRM/ECA FOR NIRIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2017
TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL BL CU
SUBJECT: CUBAN DOCTOR PREVENTED FROM DEPARTING BOLIVIA

REF: LA PAZ 591

Classified By: Ecopol Chief Andrew Erickson
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (SBU) On June 14, Cuban doctor Ruber Rodriguez Cruz was
detained by Bolivian immigration authorities in Santa Cruz
after boarding an American Airlines flight bound for Miami.
Dr. Rodriguez Cruz eventually managed to leave the airport
and found a "safe place" to avoid Bolivian authorities. We
are actively following this case and the GOB is aware of the
USG's interest. We will intervene tactfully with the GOB
should it move to bring Dr. Rodriguez Cruz under the control
or physical custody of Cuban officials. This is the first
incident, that we are aware of, in which a Cuban doctor has
been prevented from traveling to the United States. However,
following the December 2006 Dr. Amauris Samartino case
(reftel),it appears that Cubans with ties to Samartino such
as Rodriguez Cruz have perhaps been put on Bolivia's
"red-list" (do not fly list). End Summary.

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The Facts as We Know Them
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2. (SBU) The Embassy La Paz consular section first learned of
the doctor's detention from a phone call received at
approximately 10:00 AM local time from Santa Cruz immigration
supervisor Esther Crespo. Dr. Rodriguez Cruz was traveling
to the United States on a transportation letter issued by the
Embassy La Paz Consular Section. He was initially stopped
and sent to secondary for not having a valid passport, which
has not happened in any previous cases of Cuban doctors
departing Bolivia seeking refuge in the United States.
(Note: The Cuban Embassy takes the passports of all doctors
working in Bolivia. End Note). Once in secondary,
immigration authorities required Dr. Rodriguez Cruz to pay a
fine of USD $1.25 for every day he was in country beyond his
initial 30 days, since he could not demonstrate he had an
extension of stay. He claims he paid USD $622 to the
immigration shift supervisor and was not given a receipt. He
states he was afraid to ask for a receipt.


3. (C) Following payment of the "fine", Dr. Rodriguez Cruz
was permitted to board the American Airlines plane. Shortly
thereafter, he was called by a crew member to report to
immigration again. He was escorted from the plane by an
American Airlines security agent. Crespo told the American
Airlines security agent that the doctor would not be
permitted to fly, because immigration could not make contact
with the person who signed the doctor's transportation
letter. According to the American Airlines security agent,
the doctor was left unguarded in the pre-embarkation lounge
while the immigration authorities attempted to contact the
consular section. Meanwhile Dr. Rodriguez Cruz's luggage was
removed from the plane and the American Airlines security
agent returned it to him. The doctor then simply walked out
of the airport and went to a "safe place." According to Dr.
Rodriguez Cruz he has no valid identification with him, but
plans to escape to a neighboring country, Brazil, Peru or
Paraguay.

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Embassy La Paz Response
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4. (SBU) As noted above, the acting consular chief has been
following the case closely and has been in contact with Dr.
Rodriguez Cruz, immigration authorities, various staff
members of American Airlines and Interior Vice Minister Ruben
Gamara. The GOB is aware of the USG's interest. We will
intervene tactfully with the GOB should it move to bring Dr.
Rodriguez Cruz under the control or physical custody of Cuban
officials. Embassy La Paz has quietly reminded the GOB that
returning Dr. Rodriguez Cruz to Cuba (refoulement) would be
considered unacceptable and a violation of the Geneva
Convention. UNHCR has been apprised of the situation, but we
have asked that they hold off on acting until it is clear
what the GOB's intentions are regarding Dr. Rodriguez Cruz.

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Comment
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5. (SBU) This is the first case of a Cuban doctor being
detained upon departure. At least ten have successfully
traveled to the United States under the Significant Public
Benefit Protocol (SPBP). It is not clear at this time if the
GOB has adopted a policy of blocking Cuban doctors from
traveling to the United States. However, following the
December 2006 Dr. Amauris Samartino case (reftel),it appears
that Cubans with ties to Samartino such as Rodriguez Cruz
have perhaps been put on Bolivia's "red-list" (do not fly
list). (Note: In the Samartino case, the doctor was detained
while in Bolivia for participating in anti-GOB activities,
but Samartino had not tried to leave the country. End Note).
Embassy La Paz will continue to watch this case and the GOB's
general disposition toward Cuban doctors closely. End
Comment.
URS