[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 97 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 97
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the arrests of Cuban
democracy activists by the Cuban Government.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 25, 2003
Mr. Nelson of Florida (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Edwards, and Mr.
McCain) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
April 7, 2003
Committee discharged; considered, amended, and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the arrests of Cuban
democracy activists by the Cuban Government.
Whereas on March 18, 2003, Fidel Castro and the Government of Cuba began an
islandwide campaign to arrest and jail dozens of prominent democracy
activists and critics of the repressive regime;
Whereas since March 18, 2003, the Cuban police have arrested approximately 80
Cubans for engaging in free speech under Law 88, the Law for the
Protection of National Independence and the Economy of Cuba, which is a
notorious law passed 3 years ago by the communist county;
Whereas the imprisoned political opponents of Castro include librarians,
journalists, and others who have supported the Varela Project, which
seeks to bring free speech, open elections, and democracy to the island
nation;
Whereas during this crackdown, widely recognized as the most severe in some
time, Fidel Castro is inhumanely pursuing the harshest punishments for
these political prisoners, including pursuing life sentences for as many
as 12; and
Whereas the failure to condemn the Cuban Government's renewed political
repression of democracy activists will undermine the opportunity for
freedom on the Island: Now therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the recent arrests and other intimidation
tactics against democracy activists by the Castro regime;
(2) calls on the Cuban Government to immediately release
those imprisoned and held during this most recent crackdown for
activities the government wrongly deems ``subversive, counter-
revolutionary, and provocative'';
(3) reaffirms Senate Resolution 272, 107th Congress, agreed
to June 10, 2002, which was agreed to without opposition and
which called for, among other things, amnesty for all political
prisoners;
(4) praises the bravery of those Cubans who, because they
practiced free speech and signed the Varela Project petition,
have been targeted in this most recent government crackdown;
and
(5) urges the President to demand the immediate release of
these prisoners and to take all appropriate steps to secure
their immediate release.
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