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Elian Gonzalez Speaks On 10th Anniversary Of His Return To Cuba

by NowPublic Staff | July 1, 2010 at 08:48 am

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Elian Gonzales from 5 year old Cuban Castaway To 16 Year Old Communist Party Member

Elian Gonzalez is a 16 year old teenager now. Elian Gonzalez was the most famous Cuban castaway ever and the Cuban government did a rare thing on the 10th Anniversary of his return to Cuba - the Castro government allowed Elain Gonzalez to speak to foreign reporters.

Ten years ago Gonzalez was a five year old castaway found floating in a inner tube off the coast of Miami on Thanksgiving Day - his mother had died during the crossing. Gonzalez was place with Cuban relatives living in Miami.

Ultimately, after protracted and public battle US immigration officials said Gonzalez must be reunited with his father living in Cuba. Federal immigration officials raided the home Gonzalez was staying in April 2000, Gonzalez was returned to his father a few months later. Now, he recall that time in Miami with his relatives.

"Even though they didn't help me in every way possible — they didn't help me move forward — they are still my own family," Gonzalez said of his South Florida relatives, speaking in a shy, almost timid voice.

"I don't have anger for them," he said. "It's only that it wasn't the best effort possible, and thanks to a large part of the American public, and our public, today I'm with my father and I feel happy here."

When asked about the family's Miami relatives, however, Gonzalez's father, Juan Miguel, shot back that he was still angry, "because, at any moment, having the boy there and with me giving them opportunities so they could reunite the family, they let themselves get carried away in other things."

Elian Gonzalez is now a young military cadet in Cuba

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saddened (not verified)

at 09:35 on July 1st, 2010

his mother must have had a reason for risking their lives to get him out of there as many others do. i feel bad to think she died trying to give them a life of freedom and it doesn't seem to be appreciated.