Expressing Support of the Historic Meeting of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba

EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF THE HISTORIC MEETING OF THE ASSEMBLY TO PROMOTE THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN CUBA -- (House of Representatives - May 10, 2005)

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Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join a bipartisan group of original cosponsors of this resolution which supports the development of democracy and civil society in Cuba. As you know, on May 20th, opposition leaders are organizing a historic Assembly on the 103rd Anniversary of Cuban independence.

In this momentous meeting of 365 irdependent organizations, Cuba will hear a dialogue of freedom and progress. This Assembly will continue a discussion-from within Cuba-of how to begin the process of reconstructing a democratic culture, promoting civil society, combating poverty, and establishing labor rights. They are Cuba's bravest and brightest-they are Cuba's future.

Who among us would not be supportive of the right to peaceful assembly and public discourse? That is what this resolution and Cuban civil society is calling for on May 20th.

As we learned in a Western Hemisphere Subcommittee hearing early this year, the organizers and the participants in this event are risking their personal freedom for the freedom of the Cuban people.

This resolution makes it clear that we oppose any attempt by the Castro regime to repress or punish the organizers and participants of the Assembly, as Castro has done with so many others who have spoken out against repression. News reports indicate that Cuban dissidents who are choosing to participate in the Assembly are already being harassed.

This past April 20th-not even a month ago-three of these dissidents took the time to speak to many of us about their situation. They told of the beatings, detentions, interrogations, harassment and political slander which they and other dissidents are being subjected to as the Cuban regime continues to try to repress and de-legitimize their struggle for freedom.

And let us not forget the crackdown on human rights two years ago, when Castro arrested 75 dissidents, subjected them to summary trials, and sentenced them to long jail terms.

Many of the prisoners, along with other prisoners of conscience, spent over a year in solitary confinement. Some have been deprived of adequate medical treatment, and reports from Cuba detail beatings and harassment.

Clearly, the Castro regime has no respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states in Article 4 that, "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

That is why I am proud of my resolution that passed with bipartisan support condemning Castro's brutal crackdown and demanding that the Cuban regime immediately release all political prisoners, legalize all political parties, labor unions, and the press, and hold free and fair elections.

On that day, we came together from both sides of the aisle, to stand together for a universal cause, human rights, and to celebrate the strength and perseverance of the Cuban people.

That is why I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. This resolution says again that we stand behind those who risk repression and harassment to bring freedom to their long-suffering people.

It says that the international community is watching Castro, and that we will not accept the abuses of human and civil rights that the Castro regime employs so indifferently.

And it says that we believe in the Assembly and the ability of a group of individuals with a strong faith in democracy to free their people from a tyrant's restrictive grasp.

To my brothers and sisters who suffer in Castro's jails, under his regime, to their families and friends both here in the United States and in Cuba, to the leaders and participants in the Assembly to Promote Civil Society in Cuba, and to the Cuban people, I say that Castro's days are numbered. Over a hundred years ago, the Cuban people won the battle against brutality and oppression and fought for their freedom. I have no doubt that we will win again. I look forward to that day, which is coming soon, when on May 20, our independence day, we will all celebrate a free and democratic Cuba.

I urge my colleagues to vote "yes" on this resolution.

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