Cuban Refugees Trying Suicide Ploys

MIAMI — More than two dozen Cuban refugees at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have made suicide gestures, apparently hoping to be sent to Miami for medical attention and allowed to stay, officials said.

One Cuban refugee, distraught because his wife left him and moved into another man’s tent, tried to hang himself at Guantanamo last year and was taken to the United States.

“It gave people the idea they could get a visa,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a Cuban psychologist interned at the camp.

Since November, there have been 12 attempted suicides in which refugees really wanted to die, the Miami Herald reported Monday. There were 29 suicide gestures in which rescue was likely, the military said.

None of the 41 incidents resulted in death.

Counselors are warning that suicide attempts will result in relocation to a camp for troublemakers.

“We’re making the point that attempting suicide is not going to improve their chances of getting into the United States,” said Col. Celso Bolet, a psychiatrist.