Protest actions planned: Return Elian to his home!

Socialist parties from the Asian region have called for February 17 to become an international day of coordinated protest against the kidnapping of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez.

The US government and the right-wing Cuban exile community in Miami refuses to return Elian to his father in Cuba, defying the laws of the United States, natural human justice, and the overwhelming sentiment of the Cuban people, the majority of the US population, and worldwide opinion (see articles on pages 18-19).

The Democratic Socialist Party and Resistance in Australia, the Socialist Party of Labour in the Philippines and the Labour Party Pakistan have sponsored the protest actions, which will demand: Return Elain Gonzalez to his home now!

In Australia, actions for Elian's release organised by the DSP, Resistance and the Committees in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean will be held this Thursday, February 17, in:

BRISBANE: 5pm, steps of King George Square, Adelaide Street, city. Phone 3254 0565.

CANBERRA: 5.30pm, United States embassy, 21 Moonah Place, Yarralumla. Phone 6247 2424.

HOBART: 12noon, corner Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets, city. Phone 6234 6397.

MELBOURNE: 5pm, United States consulate, 553 St Kilda Road (near cnr Commercial Rd), St Kilda. Phone 9639 8622.

PERTH: 4.30pm, United States consulate, 16 Adelaide Terrace, city. Phone Camilo 9227 7367.

SYDNEY: 4.30-6pm, United States consulate, Martin Place (corner of Castlereagh Street), city. Phone Belinda 9690 1977.

The action in South Australia will be:

ADELAIDE: Saturday, February 19, 11am, Rundle Mall, city. Phone 8231 6982.

From GLW issue 393