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Coast Guard Interviewing Hijacked Ship's Crew
Aired February 26, 2004 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: Now to the crisis in Haiti and new questions about the future of president Jean Bertrand Aristide.
Officials in the U.S. and French administrators are suggesting Aristide may have to step down as part of any political solution. That would occur within the framework of Haiti's constitution and allow for a successor government.
Rebels control a large stretch of northern Haiti now after a three-week-old uprising. But they have not moved on the capital, Port-au-Prince. In the words of a rebel leader, they want to give peace a chance.
Despite warnings from President Bush, several boatloads of Haitians are taking to the sea, trying to flee the unrest.
As CNN's John Zarrella is watching that part of the story for us from Miami.
John, good morning to you.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Well, immigrations and customs officials, along with the FBI, are on board a 200-foot freighter, which is about five or 10 miles out behind me, out of government water (ph) here.
That 200-foot freighter, The Margot, apparently was seized or commandeered on the 22nd of this month by 17 Haitians who forced the captain of that vessel to sail here to Miami.
About 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon, the captain reported to the Coast Guard that armed men had seized the vessel, forced him here to Miami, and he was asking what he should do. He was told to stop.
At that point, United States Coast Guard immigration officials went out to the boat, and after the men on board released and lowered their arms off the side of the boat, they ended up with three shotguns and one handgun.
Then, after the Coast Guard took possession of those weapons, they boarded the Margot and began to assess what was going on. And that assessment continues on, evaluations and interviews with the members of the crew of the Margot.
Now, the Coast Guard is telling us that as part of procedure now, any boats that make it into or want to come into the port, that is, boats from Haiti who want to come to the port of Miami are going to be boarded before they're allowed in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. TONY RUSSELL, U.S. COAST GUARD: One step that is being taken is all vessels from Haiti to the United States are going to be boarded at sea before they enter port.
That's consistent also with the advance notice of arrival, the 96-hour notice of arrival so we'll know they're coming four days in advance and be able to prepare that, to make sure that there aren't any migrants or stowaways or any other homeland security threats on board.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: Now, not clear yet exactly what will happen to these individuals, whether they will be sent back to Haiti, whether they have legitimate claims for asylum, or whether they could be brought in to U.S. Soil to face charges of hijacking.
Florida's governor this morning is already saying that if, in fact, they did hijack this vessel and if they do not have claims that meet the U.S. criteria, legitimate claims for asylum, then that they should, in fact, be sent back to Haiti.
But that will be determined later, maybe later this afternoon. Some more word out of the U.S. government officials here.
But so far this morning, interviews are continuing on board the Margot. No one has been brought to shore yet. And again, Heidi, not clear if they will ever make it to U.S. shore -- Heidi.
COLLINS: John Zarrella, live in Miami this morning. John, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 26, 2004 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, ANCHOR: Now to the crisis in Haiti and new questions about the future of president Jean Bertrand Aristide.
Officials in the U.S. and French administrators are suggesting Aristide may have to step down as part of any political solution. That would occur within the framework of Haiti's constitution and allow for a successor government.
Rebels control a large stretch of northern Haiti now after a three-week-old uprising. But they have not moved on the capital, Port-au-Prince. In the words of a rebel leader, they want to give peace a chance.
Despite warnings from President Bush, several boatloads of Haitians are taking to the sea, trying to flee the unrest.
As CNN's John Zarrella is watching that part of the story for us from Miami.
John, good morning to you.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
Well, immigrations and customs officials, along with the FBI, are on board a 200-foot freighter, which is about five or 10 miles out behind me, out of government water (ph) here.
That 200-foot freighter, The Margot, apparently was seized or commandeered on the 22nd of this month by 17 Haitians who forced the captain of that vessel to sail here to Miami.
About 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon, the captain reported to the Coast Guard that armed men had seized the vessel, forced him here to Miami, and he was asking what he should do. He was told to stop.
At that point, United States Coast Guard immigration officials went out to the boat, and after the men on board released and lowered their arms off the side of the boat, they ended up with three shotguns and one handgun.
Then, after the Coast Guard took possession of those weapons, they boarded the Margot and began to assess what was going on. And that assessment continues on, evaluations and interviews with the members of the crew of the Margot.
Now, the Coast Guard is telling us that as part of procedure now, any boats that make it into or want to come into the port, that is, boats from Haiti who want to come to the port of Miami are going to be boarded before they're allowed in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. TONY RUSSELL, U.S. COAST GUARD: One step that is being taken is all vessels from Haiti to the United States are going to be boarded at sea before they enter port.
That's consistent also with the advance notice of arrival, the 96-hour notice of arrival so we'll know they're coming four days in advance and be able to prepare that, to make sure that there aren't any migrants or stowaways or any other homeland security threats on board.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZARRELLA: Now, not clear yet exactly what will happen to these individuals, whether they will be sent back to Haiti, whether they have legitimate claims for asylum, or whether they could be brought in to U.S. Soil to face charges of hijacking.
Florida's governor this morning is already saying that if, in fact, they did hijack this vessel and if they do not have claims that meet the U.S. criteria, legitimate claims for asylum, then that they should, in fact, be sent back to Haiti.
But that will be determined later, maybe later this afternoon. Some more word out of the U.S. government officials here.
But so far this morning, interviews are continuing on board the Margot. No one has been brought to shore yet. And again, Heidi, not clear if they will ever make it to U.S. shore -- Heidi.
COLLINS: John Zarrella, live in Miami this morning. John, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
