More than 50 Cuban exiles picketed in downtown Miami today protesting the arrest of Jose Rodriguez Perez, charged with crime on the high seas.

Fellow members of Rodriguez's militant Insurrectional Revolutionary Recuperation Movement (MIRR) marched around the post office building. They carried placards demanding his release from Dade County Jail where he has been held for $20,000 bail.

Rodriguez, 38, of 235 NE 162nd St. North Miami Beach, was arrested by the FBI on Dec. 16 and charged with mining the Spanish ship Satrustegui in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Oct. 9.

The pickets, carrying United States and Cuban flags and Green and White MIRR banners, were joined by members of other exile groups, including RECE and several women's organizations.

Walking quietly but attracting large crowds of passersby, they began circling the Post Office at 9 a.m. and planned to continue until Rodriguez was taken before U.S. Commissioner Edward P. Swan at 2:30 p.m. today.

Among the picketers was MIRR leader Dr. Orlando Bosch, who pleaded not guilty last month in federal court to charges of attempting to extort $20,000 from anti-Castro exiles here. He is awaiting trial.

The FBI said Rodriguez was identified as the scuba diver who was using a rowboat to reach the Spanish ship with 161 passengers aboard. The vessel had a 3-by-5-foot hole blown in it at the water line.

Rodriguez was indicted by a Puerto Rican grand jury Dec. 29, and his removal to Puerto Rico for trial in district court was requested.

The grand jury findings said Rodriguez was tampering with the vessel by "unlawfully and knowingly placing explosives with intent to endanger the safety of the vessel."

If found guilty of crime on the high seas he could face up to 20 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Bosch said his group was angered because Spain builds ships and sells them to Fidel Castro.