Protests Over Boy’s Return to Cuba Temporarily Halted

MIAMI — Cuban American leaders, encouraged by a lawmaker’s bid to keep 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez in the United States while a judge considers his case, said Saturday that they would temporarily halt protests against plans to return the child to Cuba.

“We have called for a cautious, temporary hold of the civil disobedience campaign,” said Ramon Saul Sanchez, head of Democracy Movement. About 100 protesters have been arrested since Thursday, and another protest had been planned Monday to block access to Miami International Airport.

The organizers cited a “more positive course” in the ongoing custody battle over Elian. That included a subpoena issued Friday by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) to have the boy testify before a House committee Feb. 10.

The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service last week said the boy should be sent back to Cuba by Jan. 14. President Clinton and Atty. Gen. Janet Reno have both indicated support for the ruling.

Burton, chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, said he subpoenaed Elian to block “precipitous action” until Florida courts can address the case. Committee sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said it is unlikely Elian will actually be asked to appear.

In Cuba, Elian’s father was outraged.

“I am the father of Elian and Immigration has said that I am the only one who can speak for him,” Juan Miguel Gonzalez said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Smith (R-N.H.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has INS oversight, met with the boy’s relatives in Miami.

Smith said Elian told him in Spanish: “Help me. I don’t want to go back to Cuba.”