DATE=6/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233441
TITLE=CUBA / REPORTED ARREST (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=VALONDA BRUINTON
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT IS LOOKING INTO REPORTS 
THAT MEMBERS OF A MIAMI-BASED CUBAN EXILE GROUP HAVE BEEN 
ARRESTED IN CUBA. AS VALONDA BRUINTON REPORTS FROM MIAMI, A 
NEWSPAPER REPORT SAYS THE EXILES SLIPPED INTO CUBA LAST WEEK TO 
FOMENT ARMED RESISTANCE TO PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO'S GOVERNMENT.

TEXT:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT CONFIRM NEWS REPORTS THAT 
AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI-BASED "MOVEMENT OF 
REVOLUTIONARY RECOVERY" HAD BEEN ARRESTED.  BUT THE AGENCY SAYS 
IT HAS ASKED CUBAN AUTHORITIES FOR DETAILS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE MEN'S FAMILY 
MEMBERS LAST WEEK THAT THEIR RELATIVE WAS ARRESTED IN CUBA.

ACCORDING TO STATE, THE FAMILY MEMBER WAS INFORMED OF THE ARREST 
BY UNIDENTIFIED SOURCES IN CUBA. 

THE MIAMI HERALD HAS BEEN REPORTING THAT MEMBERS OF THE MOVEMENT 
OF REVOLUTIONARY RECOVERY SLIPPED INTO CUBA LAST WEEK TO BEGIN 
ANTI-CASTRO ACTIVITIES.  THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE EXILES LANDED ON 
THE NORTHERN COAST OF WESTERN PINAR DEL RIO PROVINCE. 

IT QUOTES A LEADER OF THE GROUP, OSCAR SALAS, AS SAYING THE 
EXILES ARE LED BY 73-YEAR-OLD ERNESTINO ABREAU.

HOWEVER, WHEN V-O-A REACHED MR. SALAS BY TELEPHONE FRIDAY, HE 
SAID HE COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION.

                         // SALAS ACT //

         I THINK I CAN BE OF NO HELP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS
         HAPPENING THERE.  I AM LEARNING FROM THE RUMORS THAT I 
         HEAR FROM THE NEWS GIVEN BY PAPERS, BUT REALLY I AM NO 
         SOURCE OF  INFORMATION.

                          // END ACT //

MR. SALAS DID CONFIRM THAT HE GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO THE MIAMI 
HERALD. 

THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE REPORTS.  
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ TOLD REPORTERS IN 
HAVANA HE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION TO OFFER ON THE SUBJECT.

SEVERAL NEWS AGENCIES ARE REPORTING THAT MILITARY ACTIVITY HAS 
BEEN NOTICED IN PINAR DEL RIO, WHERE THE EXILES REPORTEDLY 
LANDED, AND THAT MORE CONTROLS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THE ROADS AND 
CITIES. (SIGNED)

NEB/VB/RRM

05-Jun-98 4:58 PM EDT (2058 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.