Marooned in Bahamas detention

Posted on Wed, Mar. 01, 2006

Marooned in Bahamas detention
OUR OPINION: RELEASE CUBAN DENTISTS TO JOIN FAMILY IN THE UNITED STATES

The Bahamian government should immediately release Marialys Darias Mesa
and David González Mesa to U.S. authorities. The two Cuban dentists have
been wrongfully locked up in Nassau for 10 months. The Bahamian
government apparently fears retribution from Cuba more than it values
its relationship with the United States. But that isn't an acceptable
excuse for an unjust detention. The longer the Bahamian government
delays, the worse it will jeopardize U.S. diplomatic and commercial ties.

Years of waiting for visa

In 2002, Ms. Darias and Mr. González separately were awarded visas to
come to the United States. However, Cuba forbids natives from leaving
the island without its authorization, a human-rights abuse that exists
in no free nation. The regime further subjects medical professionals to
years of waiting for an exit visa. Both dentists sent their families to
the United States, figuring they would soon follow. But in 2003, Ms.
Darias was told that she might have to wait for as long as 10 years.

By 2005, the two were fed up. According to State Department figures,
Cuba denied exits that year to more than 550 Cubans with U.S. visas,
more than 170 medical professionals among them. The dentists took to the
seas. In April, the U.S. Coast Guard picked them up on a Bahamian cay
and turned them over to the Bahamians, who locked them up in a notorious
immigrant facility.

Had the Coast Guard called for U.S. immigration to screen the Cubans, as
is routine when it interdicts Cubans in U.S. or international waters,
Ms. Darias and Mr. González likely would have ended up coming to the
United States. They had U.S. visas and good cases for asylum. Turning
them over to the Bahamas was a mistake, and U.S. policy should be
changed to prevent such incidents.

By June, U.S. diplomats had confirmed Ms. Darias' and Mr. Gonzalez's
visas and asked the Bahamian government for their release. Now, Florida
Congress members are demanding the dentists' release. Rep. Connie Mack,
R-Naples, and others are threatening to sanction the Bahamas.

Bad press will hurt

The Bahamian government apparently thinks that its obligation to return
Cubans to the island prison trumps giving asylum to legitimate political
prisoners or freeing them to the United States. That is a big mistake,
even if the Bahamians fear a mass exodus from Cuba. The Bahamians may
think their position represents neutrality between committed foes, but
in fact, it is an affront to a long-time friend. The Bahamian government
risks bad press that hurts tourism or, worse, U.S. sanctions. It is
morally right to free the Cuban dentists and is in the Bahamas' best
interest to do so.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/13986105.htm