A number of human rights organizations and Latin/Central America Research Centres have been contacted for this response. The Latin American Working Group (LAWG) of Toronto, contacted on 13 October 1992, and the Inter-Church Committee for Human Rights in Latin America (ICCHRLA), also in Toronto and contacted on 9 October 1992, had no information on a decree, proposed or passed, stripping Cubans of their nationality once leaving the country illegally. Both Americas Watch and the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, contacted on 9 October 1992, had not heard about the decree. The Embassy of Cuba in Ottawa, was unable to comment on this topic (13 October 1992). Radio Martí, the dissident Cuban radio broadcasting station in Florida, was contacted on 14 October 1992. The Director of News in Washington, responsible for the content of radio broadcasts, stated that Cubans have been stripped of their Cuban nationality for leaving the country illegally, and that this practice is not new. Two to three months ago, Radio Martí carried a broadcast that mentioned this practice. Corroborative or additional information on this subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa.

As a complement of information on penalties for illegal departures from Cuba, please find several documents attached.

Americas Watch, Washington. 9 October 1992. Telephone Interview with the Researcher responsible for Central America.

Embassy of Cuba, Ottawa. 13 October 1992. Telephone Interview with a Councillor.

Inter-Church Committee for Human Rights in Latin America (ICCHRLA), Toronto. 9 October 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.

Latin American Working Group (LAWG), Toronto. 13 October 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.

Lawyers Committe for Human Rights, Washington. 9 October 1992. Telephone Interview with the Legal Expert on Central America.

Radio Martí, News Room, Washington. 14 October 1992. Telephone Interview with the Director of News.

Americas Watch. 1989. Human Rights in Cuba: The Need to Sustain the Pressure. New York and Washington: Americas Watch, p. 42-58.

Association of the Bar of the City of New York. 1988. Human Rights in Cuba: Report of a Delagation of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. New York: Association of the Bar of the City of New York, p. 45-48.

Constitution of the Republic of Cuba. 1981. Havana: Editora Politica, p. 16-18.

Human Rights Watch. 1992. Human Rights Watch Report 1992. New York and Washington: Human Rights Watch, p. 186.