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Protests Wane as Reality of Elian Gonzalez's Departure Sets in

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: More than four months after Elian Gonzalez was plucked from the Florida Straits, the young Cuban refugee appears to be just days away from a reunion with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, now in the United States.

We have two reports. From Washington, CNN's Lucia Newman on U.S. efforts to reunite father and son, then CNN's Maria Hinojosa on the change of mood in Miami, from hope to resignation.

We start with Lucia Newman.

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LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Juan Miguel Gonzalez spent his third day in the United States making plans, first to meet sometime on Sunday with a team of mental health experts chosen by the Justice Department to determine the smoothest and least traumatic way to transfer custody of Elian from his Miami relatives to his father

Then, according to his attorney, Gonzalez also hoped to meet with these two men, the fishermen who rescued Elian on Thanksgiving Day. They traveled from Fort Lauderdale to the diplomatic residence where Elian's father is staying with a request.

DONATO DALRYMPLE, FISHERMAN: The little boy would have been dead on the ocean, I would like to say to Juan -- to Miguel. I would like for him to know that he is alive now, that he owes it to us, and he really owes it to his family members to sit down and let's hash this out. Whatever he decides to do, I can't stand before that.

NEWMAN: The fishermen came on behalf of Elian's Miami relatives to plea for a family reunion. And they were accompanied by a member of the Miami family who was already turned away yesterday. This time, Juan Miguel Gonzalez wasn't even there. He'd gone to the Cuban Interest Section for a get-together with Cuban diplomats and their children.

Gonzalez answered the call for a family meeting through his attorney.

GREGORY CRAIG, LAWYER FOR JUAN MIGUEL GONZALEZ: The first thing that has to happen is Lazaro has to take by the hand Elian Gonzalez and lead him to his father and say, here is your son. And until that happens, it's very difficult to contemplate anything more.

NEWMAN: Justice Department officials tell CNN they have no formal plans to use force to reunite Elian and his father.

(on camera): For now, Justice officials tell CNN they'll continue to apply legal pressure to see that happen rather than the threat of force. That, they say, would only be used as a last resort.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Washington.

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MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Maria Hinojosa in Miami.

Huddled under the first rainstorm of the week, a small yet determined group of protesters remained camped out in front of the Gonzalez home. But some fear the battle to keep Elian in Miami may soon be lost.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He'll end up eventually in Cuba. There's not much we can do with it. What can we do except pray for him?

HINOJOSA: The protesters remained mostly calm as the reality set in that Elian may soon be gone, a focus now on spiritual healing, a visit from a priest to Lazaro Gonzalez' home, and later to counsel with the protesters and a call from the mayor.

MAYOR JOE CAROLLO, MIAMI, FLORIDA: The power of prayer can defeat not just 100 Castros, it can defeat 10,000 Castros. And this is the response that our people should be giving.

HINOJOSA: Across the street from the great-uncle's home, a different religious tradition, but one which is very much a part of the Cuban culture, Santeria, or Yoruba.

MARY RODRIGUEZ, NEIGHBOR: This religion is totally based on nature. We have gods of the ocean, gods of the wind, gods that take care of thunder, you know, mountains.

HINOJOSA: Rodriguez says she and many others in the Cuban- American community believe Elian is a representation of Elegua, who is the child god. So altars for Elegua always have toys and candies. They believe Elian, who survived 72 hours alone in the ocean, is blessed.

RODRIGUEZ: Grown ups will not -- won't make it 24 hours out there under the conditions this child was put through. He saw his mother die, he fell asleep on the inner tube, he himself said that on occasions he would feel like he would fall asleep and the dolphins would push him back up again to keep him from slipping through the inner tube. He wasn't even sunburned when he arrived, which is what amazed me. And the first thing I asked Lazaro when I saw the kid on TV, I said, my god, the little boy looks in incredible shape. HINOJOSA: Faith remains their only hope, and that of the demonstrators outside.

(on camera): No demonstrations are planned here for the rest of the weekend. But on Monday evening, a religious call, a prayer vigil to be held here in Little Havana.

Maria Hinojosa, CNN, Miami.

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