by Patrick Lescot Sun Apr 13, 10:20 PM ET
HAVANA (AFP) - Despite a dizzying array of reforms since Raul Castro
took the helm of Cuba's government, 2008 looks to be a record year for
emigration, as inhabitants abandon the communist island in droves.
In the first half of the US fiscal year, which began on October 1,
almost 3,000 Cubans tried to reach US shores by crossing the
shark-infested Florida Straits, according to the US Interests Section in
Havana. The number represents a 21 percent increase over the previous year.
Some Cubans are abandoning the island of some 11 million inhabitants
legally; Others leave illegally, crowded on smugglers' fastboats. Almost
all are heading to the islands nearby arch-enemy, the United States.
Illegal emigrants -- who are returned to Cuba by US authorities if
picked up at sea, but get to stay in the United States if they reach US
soil -- are joined another 20,000 Cubans to whom the Interests Section
grants legal immigrant visas here every year, under the immigration
accords Havana and Washington struck in 1994 and 1995.
And to their total one can add some 10,000 who hand themselves to US
authorities at the Mexican border.
US authorities estimate that some 35,000 Cubans will arrive to stay this
year in the United States, which grants them immediate residency and
working rights for fleeing communism. It does not do the same for
Chinese or Vietnamese immigrants.
Cuba charges that the US policy granting Cubans special benefits
encourages dangerous and potentially deadly illegal migration.
The number of Cubans who additionally are departing for Europe and Latin
American countries is not known.
Far from tapering off, what often is described as a "silent exodus" has
actually picked up since Raul Castro took the reins of government --
officially as president in February, and for over a year as interim
leader before then -- although his government has introduced a steady
stream of minor reforms aimed at eliminating unpopular restrictions and
boosting economic efficiency.
With calm weather at sea, illegal departures by sea were up sharply in
February and March, from 219 to 412, US data show. Most of those picked
up at sea are between 19 and 35, US Interests Section figures show.
Indeed, fully 70 percent of Cubans who made the crossing to the United
States did so with smugglers, paying 8,000-10,000 dollars per person,
the section's data showed.
Witnesses say the smugglers' craft sometimes even set out in broad
daylight from isolated locations including on the Island of Youth,
witnesses say.
In addition, the United States now is stepping up a family reunification
program for Cubans who want to go live with US-based relatives.
Paperwork that had been taking up to seven to 10 years now can take as
little as a few weeks. There are some 1.5 million Cuban-Americans,
including immigrants and their US-born descendants.
Many of them send remittance funds back to Cuba to help their families
make ends meet; Cubans earn an average of the equivalent of less than 20
dollars a month and those living abroad send home about one billion
dollars a year.
Earlier this month, access to appliances such as microwaves and
computers was just the latest of some traditional "bans" to be dumped by
Raul Castro, 76, five weeks after taking over permanently from his
81-year-old brother Fidel, who did not seek reelection.
The Raul Castro government also has dropped its controversial ban on
Cubans staying in hotels reserved for the tourists who generate the
lion's share of the Caribbean island's hard currency. Some rights groups
had dubbed the policy "tourist apartheid."
The change is expected to be welcomed by Cubans living abroad who come
home for visits and want to treat relatives to hotel stays, although
locals are unlikely to be stampeding for rooms that can cost up to 300
dollars a night.
The government also has moved to try to boost farm output with some
small reform steps, and said it would allow Cubans who are renting homes
from state employers to gain title to them that can be passed on to
their heirs.
On April 14, all Cubans for the first time will be allowed to sign
contracts for cell (mobile) phones, and will be able to reach friends
and relatives in the United States and beyond.
Cuba watchers say there is likely a short-term political benefit of
allowing greater economic openness, though they also warn many changes
in the Americas' only centrally-controlled, one-party regime could build
pressure for more change than the government is prepared to allow.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080414/wl_afp/cubareformpoliticsmigration_080414022007
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