CANADA: As many as half the members of Cuba's 40-member national choir have skipped their downtown Toronto hotel to seek asylum in Canada, the president of the Cuban-Canadian Foundation said yesterday.
Among the asylum-seekers is baritone Ernesto Hermes Cendoya Sotomayor, foundation president Ismael Sambra said.
The choir began a cross-Canada tour on October 18th and were due to fly to Vancouver in the coming days, Mr Sambra said.
"We're trying to help those young people who are seeking asylum," said Mr Sambra. "Unfortunately some went back to the hotel to get their clothes and were held by the state security officials." Spokespeople at the prime minister's office, Immigration Canada and foreign affairs said they had not yet been advised of the defections but were looking into the case.
Mr Sambra estimated that about 20 people had sought asylum and that at least one was in Ottawa. The majority remained in Toronto, he said, and a few might have tried to seek asylum in the United States.
