15360: (Hermantin) Miami-Herald -Disparate treatment (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Fri, Apr. 18, 2003

Letter to the Editor

Disparate treatment

I was beginning to feel numb to the disparities between the treatment of
Cuban and Haitian refugees. But reading the April 11 article Suspects in
plane hijacking given bond, about six Cubans charged as hijackers being
released, made my blood boil. They aren't considered a flight risk because
they ``went to so much trouble to flee their homeland for the United
States.''

I was under the impression that: plane hijacking is a federal crime; we were
under a heightened state of security; and Cuba is on the list of countries
from which terrorists might arrive.

The Cubans' release is more unbelievable when contrasted with what happens
to Haitians. Since arriving in Miami on Oct. 29, the 211 Haitian refugees
who jumped into the water and made it to shore have been kept in detention.
Women and children are being held in hotel rooms under armed security guard
and aren't allowed to go out or have freedom of movement.

Even Haitians granted bond and political asylum haven't been released. They
are people who sacrificed everything, put on their Sunday best and climbed
into a rickety boat to make it to the United States. They didn't use weapons
or violence to get here. Yet they are being treated as criminals, threats
and potential ''terrorists.'' The disparity in treatment between Cubans and
Haitians must end.

KAREN HURSEY-McLAUGHLIN

Miami Shores







_________________________________________________________________
Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail