Big guard set for Castro

Press, 11 October 1979, Page 9

Big guard set for Castro

(NZPA-Reuter New York I Security officials launched lan air. land, and water 'guard on the United Nations yesterday for the arrival of the Cuba President (Dr : Fidel Castro). | After threats to kill Dr (Castro, a web of secrecy surrounded his first visit to (New York in 19 years, and no-one was saying officially [just when he would arrive. | Rumours flew thick and (fast, but one usualiy-reliable I diplomatic source said the 'Cuban leader's plane would land in the early hours of (this morning (N.Z. time). I Hundreds of policemen [and secret service officers (were to be deployed in the i streets near the United [Nations, and police helicopiters would guard the air [space and Coast Guard boats [patrol the East River. Inside the United Nations complex, the world body’s own security agents planned to take no chances. In 1964 ;when Dr Castro’s lieutenant IChe Guevara, addressed the [United Nations, anti-Castrc Cuban- fired a bazooka rocIket at, the headquarters. It [landed harmlessly in the l river.

Dr Castro's last visit wa s full of incident. This lime he lis to address the Genera Assembly' in his capacity a : chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. Officials responsible foi guarding the Cuban leade received a jolt when a ligh aircraft hovered near Unite: Nations headquarters for more than two hours, fore ing evacuation of the com plex for the first time ir history.

After speculation that tin incident might be connecter with the Castro visit, it wadetermined that the pilo was an Australian write; (with a grievance against t INew York publishing firm. ' United Nations said United States visas hat been issued for a party o' more than 260 Cubans, an< that the entourage would fly in aboard three aircraft. President Castro’s visi comes at a time when rela Itions between his country and the United States are a one of their low points, this time over the presence of Soviet troops on the Caribbean Island.

Apart from other security headaches, officials feared they might have to cope with Cuban demonstrators Thousands of exiles and proCastro Cubans would have to be kept apart by police barriers if they demonstrated during the visit. Dr Castro was last in New York for the 1960 : Unitei Nations General Assembly which attracted most of the top political figures of the day including the late Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev.