Top News

Coast Guard seeks help from Cuban exiles

Published: Dec. 29, 2007 at 12:18 AM

MIAMI, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Coast Guard commander in Miami urged the Cuban community Friday to help stem the exodus of Cubans being brought to the United States by traffickers.

Rear Adm. David Kunkel said there is "a link missing" in the effort to keep people from traveling from Cuba to South Florida in dangerous boats. That link, he said, is the exiles in the Miami area.

"They are not working with us," he said. "I know that's rather blunt, but the fact remains that these smugglers are being financed by desperate families. The only safe way is if we all work together."

Kunkel's comments came as the Cuban government blamed the United States for the deaths of people leaving the country.

There is also a dispute about the number of people killed on a boat pursued by Cuban authorities, with the government saying only two people died. News accounts in the United States had given a significantly higher total.


© United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2 ... iles/3094/