Twelve Cubans in wooden boat land in Honduras

Twelve Cubans in wooden boat land in Honduras
Posted on Tue, Mar. 25, 2008

TEGUCIGALPA --
(AP) -- Twelve Cubans landed on a remote Honduran island after spending
almost two weeks adrift in the Caribbean aboard a makeshift wooden boat,
Honduran officials said Tuesday.

The Cubans set out March 12 from the Cuban city of Manzanillo, heading
for the United States aboard a boat equipped with two tiny outboard
motors, armed forces spokesman Ramiro Archaga said. They landed Sunday
on the Cisne Islands, 600 miles north of the Honduran capital.

Soldiers stationed on the island are providing the Cubans with food,
water and medical treatment until they can be turned over to immigration
authorities on the mainland later this week, Archaga said.

At least 71 Cubans have landed on Honduran shores in similar
circumstances this year. Cubans often are allowed to stay in Honduras,
but many instead pay smugglers as much as $25,000 to take them to the
United States, said German Espinal, the country's immigration director.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/cuba/story/469725.html