The Bahamian government should immediately release Marialys Darias Mesa and David Gonz�lez Mesa to U.S. authorities. The two Cuban dentists have been wrongfully locked up in Nassau for 10 months. The Bahamian government apparently fears retribution from Cuba more than it values its relationship with the United States. But that isn’t an acceptable excuse for an unjust detention. The longer the Bahamian government delays, the worse it will jeopardize U.S. diplomatic and commercial ties.
Years of waiting for visa
In 2002, Ms. Darias and Mr. Gonz�lez separately were awarded visas to come to the United States. However, Cuba forbids natives from leaving the island without its authorization, a human-rights abuse that exists in no free nation. The regime further subjects medical professionals to years of waiting for an exit visa. Both dentists sent their families to the United States, figuring they would soon follow. But in 2003, Ms. Darias was told that she might have to wait for as long as 10 years.
By 2005, the two were fed up. According to State Department figures, Cuba denied exits that year to more than 550 Cubans with U.S. visas, more than 170 medical professionals among them. The dentists took to the seas. In April, the U.S. Coast Guard picked them up on a Bahamian cay and turned them over to the Bahamians, who locked them up in a notorious immigrant facility.
Had the Coast Guard called for U.S. immigration to screen the Cubans, as is routine when it interdicts Cubans in U.S. or international waters, Ms. Darias and Mr. Gonz�lez likely would have ended up coming to the United States. They had U.S. visas and good cases for asylum. Turning them over to the Bahamas was a mistake, and U.S. policy should be changed to prevent such incidents.
By June, U.S. diplomats had confirmed Ms. Darias’ and Mr. Gonzalez’s visas and asked the Bahamian government for their release. Now, Florida Congress members are demanding the dentists’ release. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Naples, and others are threatening to sanction the Bahamas.
Bad press will hurt Bahamas
The Bahamian government apparently thinks that its obligation to return Cubans to the island prison trumps giving asylum to legitimate political prisoners or freeing them to the United States. That is a big mistake, even if the Bahamians fear a mass exodus from Cuba. The Bahamians may think their position represents neutrality between committed foes, but in fact, it is an affront to a long-time friend. The Bahamian government risks bad press that hurts tourism or, worse, U.S. sanctions. It is morally right to free the Cuban dentists and is in the Bahamas’ best interest to do so.
Opinion from The Miami Herald
www.miami.com
