By Patricia Maldonado
Associated Press Writer
Sunday, March 7, 1999; 4:56 p.m. EST

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Cuban exiles demonstrated against the Baltimore Orioles' planned exhibition game in Havana, saying Sunday the March 28 game symbolizes America's growing support for Fidel Castro and his communist government.

``Going to Cuba under the current conditions there is a sign of insensitivity and lack of respect for human rights there,'' said Huber Matos, a Cuban native who spent 20 years in prison on the island for opposing Castro's government. ``It's like taking part in the abuses that are going on there.''

Matos joined more than 70 exiles waving Cuban flags and holding protest signs outside the gates of Fort Lauderdale Stadium before an exhibition game against the Florida Marlins. Then they took their protest inside the ballpark and continued the demonstration in the stands.

``We want to be able to let Oriole players know Cuba's reality,'' said Sylvia Iriondo, head of Mothers and Women Against Repression in Cuba. ``This is a time to support the Cuban people. They don't realize there is a wave a violence aimed at the opposition and certain journalists there. This is not a time to play ball with Castro.''

The game will be the first by a major league team in Cuba in 40 years.

Protesters said they oppose a game played on the island while Castro's government continues to jail political opponents. They cited the case of four opposition leaders on the island who went on trial last week on charges of sedition amid a new crackdown on political dissidents.

The government accused the four dissidents of promoting U.S. policies toward Cuba and trying to harm the economy by discouraging foreign investment.

The defendants were arrested in July 1997 for criticizing a Communist Party document that they said did not present solutions to the country's severe economic problems.

``In Cuba there is a brutal dictatorship that stomps on the rights of people,'' Matos said.

But the words of the protesters were lost on some fans at the game.

``I think we should keep sports out of the political arena,'' said Kevin Stutzman of Fort Lauderdale. ``I understand what they are saying, but I think they are going about it the wrong way. They make people angry instead of sympathetic.''

Orioles fan Kevin Callahan said the Havana trip provides his favorite team a chance to scout potential players.

``We could get a good player down the road from this,'' said Callahan, who lives in nearby Coral Springs.