Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba

ASSEMBLY TO PROMOTE THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN CUBA -- (Senate - May 17, 2005)

Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a very important sense-of-the-Senate resolution pending before the Senate. This resolution expresses support for a historic meeting taking place in Havana, Cuba, this Friday, May 20. It is called the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba. This resolution expresses support for the courageous individuals who continue to fight for and advance liberty and democracy for the Cuban people.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I join my colleague from Florida and a number of other colleagues who have sponsored this resolution. This is a historic time for Cuba. The U.S. Government is redoubling its commitment to freedom and democracy around the world. We are watching as people around the globe demand accountability from their leaders, and the ability to participate in free, fair, and open elections. The winds of freedom are not only blowing in the Middle East but also closer to home, near to our blessed shores of Florida--in fact, only 90 miles away from Key West.

Despite the horrific crackdown in 2003, Cuban civil society and political dissidents continue to meet and to carry out small actions to express their views on a daily basis. This takes courage. The wives of imprisoned dissidents march silently every Sunday following church services. They are known as the Ladies In White. They march largely unopposed, despite attempts to intimidate and to pressure them.

A counterprotest was organized. It was organized once, but that counterprotest has not been repeated.

This is just one of many examples of the Cuban people organizing in small groups, showing that Fidel Castro does not have the full support of his people and that all people of the world, including Cubans, desire to be free.

A few of the dissidents rounded up in that 2003 crackdown have since been released because of the severity of their medical condition. Their time served in Cuban jails has not curtailed their desire to bring freedom to the people of Cuba. One of those individuals, Martha Beatriz Roque, continues her struggles unfazed by the experiences of a summary trial and then imprisonment. And despite the fact that she runs the risk every day of being returned to jail, she continues to fight for basic rights and she continues to organize dissidents working towards the ultimate goal of freedom.

In an effort to heighten the level of international attention--attention to those brave souls' efforts--and in an effort to continue to create greater common cause among the groups of people on the island, the Cuban dissidents are organizing this assembly to promote civil society in Cuba. Over 300 civil society groups are expected to be represented at the meeting. The goal of the assembly is to discuss how they will play a role in the transition after the end of the Castro regime. This end is approaching. The clock is ticking. We must be ready, both on the island and around the world, to ensure that Cubans have the opportunity to freely and fairly choose their successor government.

Senator Martinez, my colleague from Florida, and I, along with 20 colleagues, are encouraging the Senate to support this resolution, and in supporting this resolution, therefore, to support this assembly, its participants, and all civil society on the island, and to do it in a bipartisan fashion.

This resolution is an effort to bring international attention to the assembly and to all members of civil society on the island of Cuba. These are brave individuals who deserve our support every day, not only on these memorable and momentous occasions but every day in respect for what they have endured as their liberty has been taken away from them.

We want that liberty to return. Our thoughts and prayers will be with all these individuals.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://thomas.loc.gov