Section A · Page 6 The University Daily Kansan Friday, March 31, 2000 Nation/World Cuban boy's father requests visa The Associated Press MIAMI — Eilan Gonzalez's father asked for a visa yesterday to come to the United States and take the boy back to Cuba, as dozens of anti-Castro activists linked arms outside the 6-year-old's Miami home, practicing resistance techniques. The attempt to get a visa hit a procedural snag, however. The father's lawyer asked the State Department for a visa, only to be told that applications must be submitted to the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana. Washington. "Juan Miguel Gonzalez "The only person that has the legal and moral authority to speak for Elian Gonzalez is his father," Gregory Craig, an American lawyer for Juan Miguel Gonzalez, said in EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT TIVOLI AT MANOR SQUARE STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 31 4050 PENNSYLVANIA • 913-383-7756 is ready at a m o m e n t ' s notice to come to the United States." Craig said he asked the Immigration a n d Naturalization Service to allow the boy's father and other Cuban relatives to stay as long as it took to Elian: Caught in an international custody battle Sanchez instructed the demonstrators on nonviolent protest, telling them that if the police arrive, they should stay seated and hold out their flats if they were to be handcuffed. complete the appeals process. A federal appeals court in Atlanta has scheduled the case for May 11. Meanwhile, on the street in front of the house in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood where Elian has been staying with his great-uncle, dozens of demonstrators linked arms and formed two rows. "We will not let Elan's civil rights be violated," said Ramon Saul Sanchez, head of the Democracy Movement, an unint-Castro group. During the last few days, demonstrators have vowed to give their lives to prevent Elian from being taken away. ON THE WEB In another development. In another development, Vice President Al Gore broke with the Clinton administration and backed legislation in Congress that would grant permanent resident status to Elian and to his father. If that were to happen, the boy's fate would be decided by the courts and not by the INS. Gore's presidential rival, Republican George W. Bush, said he supports similar legislation. ON THE WEB INS: http://www.in.susdoi.gov Cuban newspaper Grama: http://www.gramma.cu Miami relatives: http://liberty forelian.org Volcano may erupt soon 10,000 Japanese evacuate homes The Associated Press DATE, Japan — Fissures appeared on the flanks of a snow-capped Japanese volcano yesterday, a sign that an eruption was imminent because of the magma churning below the earth. More than 10,000 people were forced to leave their homes near Mount Usu on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and were warned not to venture back. "I'm very, very anxious to see what is happening in my house and in my field," said Masanori Ueavena, a 66-year-old farmer. Thousands of quakes have been registered in the last three days around the 2,416-foot mountain — 475 miles north of Tokyo. While tremors have become less frequent, officials said they were gaining in intensity because of the movement of magma underground. Observers aboard a military hellcopter found that magma had pushed open cracks on the volcano's western slope and near its base yesterday. Its fissure on the western slope stretched 100 yards. Jason Williams/KANSAN Mount Usu last erupted in 1977. Mudslides caused by eruptions killed two people. In Tokyo, an emergency task force was set up at Prime Minister Keito Obuchi's residence. Worried that an eruption would melt the snow and cause mudslides, authorities ordered the evacuation of 4,137 homes in this town at the volcano's base and at Sobetua and Abuta. Together, the towns have a population of 51,300. Residential areas near the volcano were deserted except for police cars blocking the roads, town officials checking for stragglers and abandoned dogs scampering about the streets. Bickering about census intensifies in Congress The Associated Press FAIRFAX, Va. — Countering criticism from congressional Republicans, Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt said yesterday the agency's longform questionnaire was an essential tool in helping communities across the country. Even questions that some Republicans labeled as intrusive, such as "Do you have a telephone?" and "Are you a veteran?" are useful to determine how local services are provided. Prewitt said during an appearance here aimed at promoting participation in the Census. Some Republicans, including Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, said they had urged constituents to leave blank questions they felt invaded their privacy. But yesterday, Prewitt said: "When they pause and look at the information is being used, my guess is they will actually see its usefulness. People will recognize that this information is legally, socially and economically important." Speaking to reporters at a fire hall, Prewitt also said he was unsure how the complaints would affect the willingness of citizens to return the forms. Through Wednesday, 46 percent of American households had responded to this year's survey. A long form of the census questionnaire, which contains 53 questions, was sent to one in six of the country's some 115 million households, said Lott spokesman John Czwartacki. He said that Lott had received a number of complaints from constituents about the form. "If there's a question that invades their privacy they should leave it blank." Czwartacki said, while at the same time urging everyone to fill out and return their forms. The Census Bureau said it had added just one question to the long form since 1990. 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