Three Hostages Held Under Threat by Cuban Inmates

ST. MARTINVILLE, La. — Nine Cuban inmates frustrated with their incarceration held three hostages for another day Tuesday, warning they would kill their captives if they weren’t freed.

Warden Todd Louvierre and deputies Jolie Sonnier and Brandon Boudreaux have been held at knifepoint since Monday, when they were grabbed as the detainees left an exercise area.

A fourth hostage, a deputy sheriff, was released Monday after six hours of negotiations. No injuries have been reported and the hostages are reportedly being well treated.

The Cubans said they have run out of patience with deportation proceedings.

“We want to be released and sent back to our country or any other country. We don’t care,” said Jonne Ponte, one of the Cubans who telephoned television station KLFY. He said he had been in jail for 13 years.

Baton Rouge radio station WCAC-FM broadcast an interview with three of the Cubans who said they were imposing a 72-hour deadline on their demand to be freed or they would kill the hostages. It was unclear when the deadline would be reached.

In Washington, State Department spokesman James Foley said the Cubans cannot be freed because of their past. Cuba will not accept them and the United States does not want them on the streets.

Four of the five Cubans who started the uprising were among a group of 60 being held in the jail for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, pending deportation or other action.

Officials described it as a typical intergovernmental arrangement, like those with numerous county jails around the nation. The fifth man was being held on state charges, the INS said.