CHRISTOPHER MARQUIS Herald Staff Writer

About 200 Cuban exiles gathered Saturday in a Little Havana hall to voice indignation at the U.S. Justice Department's decision to deny political asylum to anti-Castro militant Orlando Bosch. In a sequence of fervent speeches, leaders from a nearly a dozen anti-Communist groups blasted the Bush administration for paving the way for Bosch's deportation and voiced fears that he could eventually fall prey to Cuban President Fidel Castro's treachery.

"It hurts me that a nation as big as the United States quarrels with a Cuban whose only crime is to fight for his homeland," said Reynol Delvalle, a member of the civic network known as municipalities-in-exile.

"They're going to deport him, and he's going to be killed," said Bosch's daughter, Myriam Bosch. "Fidel is winning the battle."

The Justice Department ruled Friday that Bosch, who entered the country illegally by flying to Miami from Venezuela in 1988, should be excluded from the United States, stating he "has been resolute and unwavering in his advocacy of terrorist violence" for 30 years.

Despite three acquittals, Bosch spent 11 years in prison in Venezuela, accused of plotting the 1976 bombing of a Cuban jetliner that killed 73 people. Before that, he served four years in a U.S. prison for his role in shelling a Polish freighter in the Port of Miami. Bosch has spent the last 16 months in the Metropolitan Correctional Center. He is in the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, a branch of the Justice Department.

In many parts of Cuban Miami, the former pediatrician is viewed as a patriot -- a custodian of the values and zeal necessary to topple Castro and regain Cuba. Now 62, and in what his family calls delicate health, Bosch has drawn wide sympathy since his return.

Within hours of the decision to deny Bosch asylum, calls of defiance and support crowded phone lines at Miami's leading Spanish-language radio stations. Exile leaders took to the airwaves to urge people to send telegrams of protest to the White House.

Feelings of anger and betrayal mounted Saturday afternoon in the sweltering hall, which acquired the air of an urgent town meeting. At least a dozen exile groups answered a free-for-all roll-call, including Masons, former political prisoners, Bay of Pigs veterans and the Junta Patriotica Cubana.

Adriana Bosch, the militant's Chilean-born second wife, thanked the crowd. "The only thing I can say is that I'm Cuban because of all of you."

The group set plans to stage two protests next week. The first, set for 3 p.m. Monday, would be a street demonstration outside the federal courthouse downtown. The second event was described as a "general strike" set for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Bosch's attorneys said they plan to appeal the ruling by Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Miami. The United States, they said, has not found a country willing to accept Bosch.

Julio Estorino was one of several exiles Saturday who accused the U.S. government of trampling on the aspirations of Cuban Americans.

"This is not just an offense against Bosch," said Estorino, vice president of the Junta Patriotica Cubana. "It's an offense against all people who fight for their freedom."

Radio commentator Armando Perez Roura declared Saturday that Bosch's deportation would drive a wedge between conservative exiles and the Bush administration.

"They will hold President Bush directly responsible for this decision," said Perez Roura, of WAQI-AM Radio Mambi. "If he wants a complete break with the Cuban people, may he continue in this process."

Roberto Perez Fernandez, dean of the National Association of Cuban Journalists in Exile,said that, once deported, Bosch could easily fall prey to enemy attack.

"The golden dream of the tyrant Castro has always been to have Orlando Bosch in his hands," he said.

SUPPORTERS BLAST U.S. DECISION TO DENY ASYLUM BID

'I am outraged at the Justice Department's ruling on Dr. Bosch's case. It's unfortunate that a bureaucracy that rightfully serves the land of freedom turned its back on a man who sacrificed much of his life for freedom. Dr. Bosch paid his legal debt.'

Connie Mack, U.S. senator

'Unfortunately, he has been caught in the web of politics. He and his family have been used politically. We're closer to re-establishing relations to Cuba, and Bosch is someone who would be fighting that if he were on the streets.'

Raul Martinez, Hialeah mayor

'I believe the allegations against Bosch are planted information, biased information. It's important for the exile community to take a reasoned approach to this decision. Any violent activities will only be counterproductive to the Orlando Bosch case.'

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, state senator

'This week I have been psychologically knocked down twice. The first time was when the Supreme Court ruled it was no big deal to burn the flag. And now the second time is this decision on Bosch. The fact that he may have beliefs on how to rid Cuba of communism is not a crime.'

Nilo Juri, state representative

'I am insulted in the way this has been handled, passed from one person to another. And then to have the Justice Department make this decision. There are worse individuals roaming the streets who have been given asylum.'

Pedro Reboredo, West Miami mayor

'It's now coming down to the wire. This man, if he is sent anywhere in the world, Castro will come hunting for him and his life will be in jeopardy. Bosch represents to the Cuban community a man who loves his country, who loves democracy, who loves freedom.'

Carlos Valdes, state rep.

'We need to launch a serious, committed campaign to Washington. You can expect the Cubans are going to get tough -- boycotts, legal actions. Here is a man who had a license to practice medicine. . . . But he decided to follow his ideals.'

Javier Souto, state senator

'I'm very disappointed. I had hoped he would get political asylum. By deporting him, his safety is not guaranteed. He's had three trials in Venezuela and he's never been convicted. He's sick and he should be able to stay with his family and have another chance.'

Rosario Kennedy, city commissioner

'The United States every so often receives agents for Fidel Castro who defect and come here to live. And a man who has fought for democracy all his life is called a traitor. There are a lot of allegations, but no proof. This is a country of proof.'

Julio Martinez, Hialeah Council