Cuban boxers head home, deny defecting

[Mika]

Source: Miami Herald

Two Cuban boxers who had abandoned their delegation to the Pan American Games last month were headed back to Cuba on Saturday night, leaving behind a mystery as to whether they had intended to defect to Germany to become professional boxers or were drugged, kidnapped and held in Brazil against their will, a story they told police.

-
The two boxers refused to comment after being approached by a McClatchy reporter Saturday outside the police station. Laterca said the boxers claimed they were returning of their own free will because ``they are beloved and famous in their country.''

The pair had not requested political asylum in Brazil

-

The boxers told police that two German citizens, including one of Cuban descent, had approached them July 20 in the Pan American Games' athletes village in Rio de Janeiro and given them a drugged energy drink.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/193312.html

[ohio2007]

1. But who is going to pay for the credit card tabs they ran up?

playaz

[tidy_bowl]

2. I don't understand...

...how can they have said to defect? Cuba is a free and open society as many here on DU have said. I am not sure why this is even an issue, so what could they possibly have to fear?

[Bacchus39]

3. Fidel said they defected even

I guess its just expected.

[Mika]

4. Please post a link where Fidel says that they defected.

I don't believe you. I don't think that Castro said that.

Please post a link of Castro's own words (not a twisted paraphrase attributed to him) saying that.

[Judi Lynn]

8. I've read several articles on the boxers. Not a word supporting that claim. n/t

[Mika]

11. I've read all of Mr Castro's recent reflections, including his piece on the boxers.

He never said that they were "defecting".

The fabrication by the poster is typical.

I guess its just expected.

[Bacchus39]

12. oh he said they just "left" because of American money

that's different than defecting right???

[Mika]

6. Bump for that link.

Maybe you'll find one the validates your claim? :shrug:

[ProudDad]

7. Still waiting for the link

<Crickets>

[Mika]

10. Typical Cubaphobic behavior. Accuse, slander, & just make shit up.

Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that
this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that Castro did this Castro did that

[Bacchus39]

15. making shit up Mika

http://www.granma.cu/espanol/2007/agosto/lun6/la-politica-y-el-deporte.html

Los cables anunciaron que los dos boxeadores que desertaron en Río de Janeiro habían sido localizados y detenidos por las autoridades en una playa cercana a esa ciudad.

The wire services announced that the two boxers who had defected in Rio de Janeiro had been found and arrested by the authorities on a beach close to that city.

Fidel Castro Ruz

August 4, 2007

10:56 p.m.

[Mika]

18. Wire services made that claim. Mr Castro didn't make that claim.

Mr Castro, in his reflection, merely quoted the wires.

Close enough for you to say that it was a Castro quote, right?

[Bacchus39]

19. knocked out by American dollars and the German mafia was it?

and now they apparently they were just "lost" at a Brazilian resort. I suppose defection is a sensitive topic in Cuba.

[Bacchus39]

13. here's another bit of news for you

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6835344,00.html

HAVANA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Cuba is considering pulling out of the amateur World Boxing Championships in Chicago in October to avoid new defections by its boxers, Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Wednesday.
"Imagine all the sharks of the Mafia wanting fresh meat," the convalescing 80-year-old Castro wrote in a column published on the front page of the Communist Party newspaper Granma.
"I must tell them: we are not keen on delivering it to their doorstep," Castro said, commenting on an attempt by German boxing promoters to hire two of Cuba's top fighters during the Pan-American Games in Brazil last month.

[Posteritatis]

5. Cuban briefs to remain. (nt)

[jkg4peace]

9. ever notice if you look at the list of human rights abuses in Cuba

the majority are committed by the US in Guantanamo? I am never able to find what I think is even handed, balanced reporting on the subject of Cuba.

[Bacchus39]

14. HERE YOU GO MIKA!!!

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2007/agosto/lun6/32reflexiones3.html

Besides, the news is not disheartening. The wire services announced that the two boxers who had defected in Rio de Janeiro had been found and arrested by the authorities on a beach close to that city. Remember that they had been given up for missing. They were there without any documents.

La noticia además no es desalentadora. Los cables anunciaron que los dos boxeadores que desertaron en Río de Janeiro habían sido localizados y detenidos por las autoridades en una playa cercana a esa ciudad. Recuerden que se les daba por desaparecidos.

Fidel Castro Ruz

August 4, 2007

10:56 p.m.



oopsie!!

[ProudDad]

16. Why not post the whole article?

"Politics and Sports

(Translated by ESTI)

I am writing this quickly and a little late. I should do this because of the strong emphasis I have placed in the analysis of this matter.

Besides, the news is not disheartening. The wire services announced that the two boxers who had defected in Rio de Janeiro had been found and arrested by the authorities on a beach close to that city. Remember that they had been given up for missing. They were there without any documents.

They were not sent to prison. They remained in the same hotel where they were staying, under the surveillance of the Federal Police. The boxers told the police that they had made a mistake and regretted it. They refused to see a German citizen who very promptly took interest in them, following instructions from a mafia company. We learned about this later.

The authorities asked us for their documents, and the Cuban consular representatives, following our Ambassador’s instructions, proceeded to complete all relevant arrangements.

The news stating that the boxers were in Turkey while immigration matters were being looked after had obviously been released by the mafia as a smoke screen. There was even a German Member of Parliament who attempted to hit a home-run with a fake ball. The company that had invested more than two million dollars in this grotesque business was talking about the "human rights" of the athletes' families. What will the United Nations say about this unfair competition?

This is where sports and politics get together in the search for concrete and principled solutions, over and above fondness and bitterness.

Those citizens will not be submitted to any sort of arrest, much less the kinds of methods being used by the United States Government in Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo, which we have never used in this country. They will be temporarily transferred to a guest house and allowed family visits. The press will also be able to contact them if they so wish.

They will be offered decent jobs for the benefit of sports, given their knowledge and experience.

The Brazilian authorities should not be worried in the face of the inevitable campaigns being launched by our adversaries. Cuba’s behavior will rise to the occasion. I, for one, shall have a good sleep.

Fidel Castro Ruz

August 4, 2007

10:56 p.m."



Wish we had a "leader" in the U.S. who was half as reasonable and forgiving as Fidel...

[rinsd]

17. One should not have to state how benevolent they are.

The fact that he makes a big deal that he could punish them but is being merciful says it all.

"They will be temporarily transferred to a guest house and allowed family visits."

Translation = house arrest

"They will be offered decent jobs for the benefit of sports, given their knowledge and experience."

Translation = Never allowed to leave the country with a delegation again lest they embarrass Fidel.

[Mika]

20. Really? One should just allow the lying and mewling to go unchallenged.

Quotes from article post #16 by ProudDad.

- - - -

These athletes violated their contract with the state team.

Yet.. "Those citizens will not be submitted to any sort of arrest".



Because they quit the team they can no longer reside in the housing provided for national sport teams.

Yet.. "They will be temporarily transferred to a guest house and allowed family visits."



This must be a most embarrassing event for all in the evil Dr Castro's brutal regime.

Yet.. "The press will also be able to contact them if they so wish."



Under a brutal murderous dictatorship run by the evil Dr Castro such persons would be disappeared and/or declared undesirables and/or expelled to the outer limits never to be seen again. Unemployable.

Yet.. "They will be offered decent jobs for the benefit of sports, given their knowledge and experience".

--

Thanks, but your "translation" is anything but accurate.

I guess that it might fit your fantasy about Cuba more neatly if they were abused or disappeared. Sorry if the facts disappoint you.

[Bacchus39]

21. they would have been better off getting "knocked out by American dollars"

since 1) they would not have to depend on the State for sustenance

2) they would be quite wealthy (whereas now their boxing careers are over)

3) since being "knocked out by American dollars" is not the same as defection according to you, there would be no stigma attached.