| Submit your comments on this article |
| Great White North |
| Cubans defect in Toronto |
| 2005-10-26 |
| More than 20 members of Cuba's world-famous national chorus are singing songs of freedom today after defecting in Toronto. Members of the National Chorus of Cuba dodged security officers and jumped into waiting cars, some on Sunday and others yesterday, said Cuban exiles who planned the defections. "These people are scared for their lives," said Ismail Sambra, president of the Cuban Canadian Foundation. "They are worried about their families back home. "It took a lot of planning to get this far." The highly acclaimed 40-member group, which travels the world promoting the Communist regime, arrived in Canada last week and performed in the Toronto and Port Hope areas. The singers appeared at a downtown church last Sunday, were to perform this Saturday in B.C. with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and were scheduled to leave Canada next week. The booking agent in Canada for the group, Robert Missen, said he was only aware of 11 defectors and that the rest of the group would perform in B.C. The singers, who are hiding out at the homes of Cuban exiles in the city, are expected to apply for refugee status today in Toronto. Gaining their freedom is worth any danger they may face, the singers said. Ernesto Cendoya-Sotomayor, 27, a baritone, said he left his wife and young daughter behind. "Cuban police will probably tell my family I am a traitor to the revolution," he said. "They will put pressure on my family." |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 Now, will the Cuban loving Martin send them back a la Elian? |
| Posted by: Thavirong Whomorong1628 2005-10-26 12:20 |
| #1 I'll bet Steinbrenner signs every one of them. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-10-26 11:48 |