Visitors to the island have noted the appearance of small opposition groups and are surprised at the open criticism of the regime. Voting with their feet. Cubans are again risking their lives by trying to escape Fidels loselose proposition of socialism or death. While attention has focused on Haiti. the United States Coast Guard documented some 2.500 Cuban boat people last year compared with 467 for all of 1990. This is the largest number of refugees since the Mariel boatlift in 1981. Castros crackdown has come despite clear messages from several Latin American nations that they are willing to provide Cuba with help if there are signs of democratic progress. Last May 20. on Cuban independence day.
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refugees