8
Wednesday, June 29, 1994
NATION/WORLD
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Cuban refugees continue to flee to United States despite dangers
The Associated Press
MIAMI — Desperate and indifferent Cuban authorities are steadily increasing the number of Cuban boat people arriving in Florida — even though as many as half of the refugees die during the voyage.
"The average life expectancy on the waves is probably no more than four or five days," said Thomas Van Hare, head of Freedom Flight International, an air search group. "It is probably the hardest refugee journey in this world."
Refugees must contend with sharks and the forceful current of the Gulf Stream. Severe sunburn and dehydration are a risk, and many travel during hurricane season.
As many people perish during the voyage as arrive on Florida's shores, says Jose Basulto, founder of Brothers to the Rescue, a 3-year group of spotters.
While the plight of Haitians has gained international attention, the flow of Cubans floating north on anything from homemade rafts to a stolen 125-foot Cuban government ship has been steadily expanding for years.
On Monday, fishing boat crews spotted nine people in a 14-foot rowboat and another group of three off the Florida Keys, bringing the year's total to 3,665 arrivals,
That's nine more than in 1933 and the largest number since nearly 125,000 arrived in the 1980 Mariel boat lift.
said Coast Guard Petty Officer Rob Wyman.
The total of 1,117 so far this month also set a post-Mariel record for one month, eclipsing 726 Cubans counted in April.
"We're still seeing a lot of rafts, but we're also seeing the occasional group of 60 or more people in a single boat," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jim Howe. "We haven't really seen that since 1980."
Rescuers say desperation overrides the obvious risks. Many who make the 90-mile trip have no hope for a better life in Cuba, where President Fidel Castro maintains a communist outpost.
"They have lost faith in the system," Basulto said. "They don't see themselves as part of the present or a part of the reconstruction in the future."
Other observers say Cuba's coastal surveillance is getting lay, for lack of fuel or desire.
In 1966, with memories of the Cuban missile crisis still fresh and communism still viewed as a great threat, the United States passed a law granting legal residency to nearly all Cubans who make it to U.S. shores. Most of the new arrivals are quietly absorbed by relatives and friends in Miami's Latin community.
Panetta to tighten reigns
New chief of staff replaces McLarty
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Leon Panetta presided over his first meeting as chief of staff yesterday, promising to bring discipline to the White House.
Insisting that no one's job was in immediate jeopardy, Panetta said improving White House operations could be done with minor staff adjustments, but "it may be that we have to do more."
Panetta also moved quickly to try to end speculation about prospects for Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, saying, "I have full confidence in Dee Dee."
The outgoing budget director said he took the job after President Clinton promised him "full authority" to make personnel changes and oversee policy development.
Although complimentary to outgoing Chief of Staff Mack McLarty, Panetta said Clinton wanted a hands-on manager with tighter reigns on the operation.
The former California congressman said he admired the performance of James Baker, chief of staff under Republican Presidents Reagan and Bush. "He had the full trust and confidence of the president and basically ran a tight ship," Panetta said.
Celebrating his 56th birthday, Panetta made the rounds of Washington's media establishment following Monday's shakeup of the White House staff.
He replaces McLarty, who becomes a senior adviser, while David Gergen, counselor to the president, will move to the State Department.
The gradual transition, which is to conclude July 14, began at yesterday's senior staff meeting. Panetta moved from his usual seat across the table from McLarty and sat next to the outgoing chief of staff.
"Mack and Leon sort of shared responsibility for chairing the meeting and Mack essentially turned it over to Leon at the end of the meeting." Myers said.
Jack Quinn, Vice President Al Gore's chief of staff, lauded McLarty for proposing the shakeup, and the staff burst into applause. Panetta, too, was applauded after he outlined
his commitment to the president.
Panetta told reporters yesterday that he would spend the next couple of weeks studying the staff and talking to aides before recommending changes to Clinton. He wants clearer lines of authority, better communication and "greater flow of guidance though the chief of staff office."
"It may be, on the one hand, enough just to tighten the lines of authority," Panetta said. "It may be that you have to do more."
He triggered speculation about Myers' future during an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live."
Asked if he would bring in his own "press person," Panetta said, "It's obvious I'm going to bring in some of my own people to try to assist me in that effort."
But Panetta said yesterday that his comments pertained to the entire White House, not just Myers.
"There ought to be nothing, nothing interpreted from my remarks that I have anything less than full confidence in Dee Dee." he said.
Although the endorsement stopped short of guaranteeing Myers her job, she said she wasn't concerned about the future.
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