Cuba Declares Deadline to Halt Rafters

Fulfilling a deal with the United States to end the flow of boat people, Cuba said Friday it would stop further departures from midday Tuesday, even if force had to be used.

A statement issued on state media gave rafters 72 hours from midday today to clear up rafts or raft material gathered on beaches.

The statement, published in the ruling Communist Party newspaper Granma, said that during the 72-hour period, persuasion would be used to try to stop people leaving.

During this period no arrests would be made of rafters, nor would their vessels or boat material be confiscated, the statement said.

But from midday Tuesday, departures would be stopped, even if force had to be used, and raft materials found on or near the seaside would be confiscated.

Given Cuba’s lengthy coastline it would be impossible to stop every single person from leaving, but people should realize that if they did leave in rafts, they would not reach the United States, the statement said.

The statement was issued hours after Cuba and the United States reached an accord in New York.