H.Res. 388

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank, first of all, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), who has been so kind to bring forth this resolution today as a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations and as a great friend and supporter of human rights throughout the world, including in that oppressed island just 90 miles from our shores.

The gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), when I first arrived in this Congress in January 1993, that same month I was able to witness firsthand the man who has devoted his entire life to defending those who cannot defend themselves, and since that very month, my admiration that I already had for him has grown ceaselessly. I thank him for, once again, coming forth here in this hall and speaking on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.

The resolution before us today, Mr. Speaker, calls for the liberation of each and every one of the thousands, really, unknown is the number, of political prisoners in Cuba. There are hundreds recognized, identified and called ``prisoners of conscience'' by international organizations such as Amnesty International. There are thousands of others who commit so-called crimes that are not crimes anywhere else, certainly in any democratic societies, crimes like trying to feed their families, crimes like trying to leave the country, something guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So there are countless political prisoners.

The resolution before us calls for the liberation of each and every one of them, immediately; it calls for the legalization of political parties, labor unions and the press by that tyranny; and it calls for free elections, because ultimately the right of self-determination is the only right that guarantees all other human rights, and without the right of self-determination, all other human rights, when they are granted by tyrants, they are but gifts from the tyrants to people, to his people, gifts that can be withdrawn at any time.

In addition, as the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) stated, this resolution remembers those who, as we speak today, as we speak, are languishing in dungeons for the so-called crime of seeking and supporting the rights that we cherish and take really for granted, and have for over 200 years in this country, and much of the world certainly takes for granted, the right to speak and the right to elect leaders in periodic elections.

The right to organize political parties and labor unions, and the right to free expression and to freedom of the press, the right of association, for trying to seek those inalienable rights, people are languishing and suffering, and we remember them today.

Now, just a few weeks ago, in July, when this latest round-up occurred of opposition leaders inside of Cuba, perhaps the most well- known was the very prestigious jurist Rene Gomez Manzano, as well as the other leaders of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society. A few were subsequently released at the whim of the dictator; they may be picked up at any time. Mr. Gomez Manzano remains in a cell at this time and has engaged and is engaging in a hunger strike. And there are others whose health has already deteriorated to the point where, for example, Mr. Victor Rolando Arroyo, his wife informs us today that she fears his imminent death because he is engaged in a hunger strike protesting the conditions that all political prisoners suffer each day in that oppressed island. Mr. Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique is also engaging in a hunger strike.

He received a month ago, approximately a month ago, such a brutal beating inside the prison that when he protested for receiving that beating, he was put in what they call a punishment cell, as others in that prison, like Adolfo Fernandez Sainz, and others in hunger strikes like Jose Gabriel Ramon Castillo, like Normando Hernandez, and I will, Mr. Speaker, with your authorization, submit for the Record a list that I mentioned before is recognized by international organizations, such as Amnesty International, of hundreds of prisoners of conscience.

Now, what we are also doing in this resolution is asking the European Union, because they, in response to this series of crackdowns that the dictatorship has engaged in against the pro-democracy movement, the European Union has, in its wisdom, Mr. Speaker, following the advice and consent of Mr. Zapatero, the Prime Minister of Spain, has decided to appease the dictatorship even more. And the few sanctions that the European Union had, political sanctions they called them, for example, inviting the dissidents to receptions in embassies and allowing them entry into embassies to have discourse, dialogue with members of the diplomatic corps in the embassies of the European Union, those so- called sanctions were ended by the European Union under the premise and theory that they would encourage the ending of the sanctions, the dictator to be more benevolent. Well, we have seen how the dictator has responded.

We are asking in this resolution for the European Union to reconsider its policy of appeasement, and we are asking also that the United Nations, in its Human Rights Commission, pass a resolution asking for the cessation of human rights violations in Cuba.

So it is a very appropriate resolution. I commend, again, my colleagues who have been supportive. It is in the tradition, it stands in the tradition of this House of Representatives, this Congress that, in April of 1898, passed the resolution that is well-known in Cuban history, saying that Cuba is and, of right, ought to be free and independent, and it is in that tradition that we bring forth this resolution today, and I urge its adoption overwhelmingly by colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this day in which so many continue to suffer on that oppressed island.

Brief Examples--All Information From Amnesty International

Mijail Barzaga Lugo, 36; Independent Journalist; Sentence:

15 years; Date of arrest: 20 March 2003.

Oscar Elias Biscet Gonzalez, 43; Human Rights Leader;

Sentence: 25 years; Date of arrest: 6 December 2002.

Marcelo Cano Rodriguez, 38; Medical Doctor, Human Rights

Activist; Sentence: 18 years; Date of arrest: 25 March 2003.

Eduardo Diaz Fleitas, 51; Farmer, Opposition Activist;

Sentence: 21 years; Date of arrest: 18 March 2003.

Antonio Ramon Diaz Sanchez, 41; Electrician, member of the

Christian Liberation Movement; Sentence: 20 years; Date of

arrest: 18 March 2003.

Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, 55; Member of the United Cuban

Workers Council; Sentence: 26 years; Date of arrest: 18 March

2003.

``Antunez'' Jorge Luis Garcia Perez--18 years (sentenced in

1990).

Partial list of political prisoners in Cuba, provided by

Plantados Hasta La Libertad De Cuba.

Adolfo Fernandez Sainz, Adrian Alvarez Arencibia, Agustin

Cervantes Garcia, Alejandro Cabrera Cruz, Alejandro Gonzalez

Raga, Alexei Solorzano Chacon, Alexis Rodriguez Fernandez,

Alexis Triana Montecino, Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, Alfredo M.

Pulido Lopez, Alfredo Rodolfo Dominguez Batista, Alilas Saes

Romero, Alquimidez Luis Martinez, Andres Frometa Cuenca,

Antonio Augusto Villareal Acosta, Antonio Ramon Diaz Sanchez,

Antonio Vladimir Rosello Gomez, Ariel Aguilera Hernandez,

Ariel Sigler Amaya, Armando Sosa Fortuny, Arnalda Ramos

Lauzerique, Arturo Perez de Alejo Rodriguez, Arturo Suarez

Ramos, Arturo Suarez Ramos, Benito Ortega Suarez, Bernardo

Espinosa Hernandez, Bias Giraldo Reyes Rodriguez, Carlos Luis

Diaz Fernandez, Carlos Martin Gomez, Cecilio Reinoso Sanchez,

Charles Valdez Suarez, Claro Fernando Alonzo Hernandez, Claro

Sanchez Altarriba, Daniel Candelario Santovenia Fernandez,

Daniel Escalona Martinez, David Aguila Montero, Delvis

Cespedes Reyes, Digzan Ramirez Ballester, Diosdado Gonzalez

Marrero, Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet

Gonzalez, Duilliam Ramirez Ballester, Eduardo Diaz

Castellanos.

Eduardo Diaz Fleitas, Efrain Roberto Rivas Hernandez, Efren

Fernandez Fernandez, Egberto Angel Escobedo Morales, Elio

Enrique Chavez Ramon, Elio Terrero Gomez, Elizardo Calbo

Hernandez, Enrique Santos Gomez, Ernesto Borges Perez,

Ernesto Duran Rodriguez, Ezequiel Morales Carmenate, Fabio

Prieto Llorente, Felix Geraldo Vega Ruiz, Felix Navarro

Rodriguez, Fidel Garcia Roldan, Fidel Suarez Cruz, Francisco

Herodes Diaz Echemendia, Francisco Pacheco Espinosa,

Francisco Pastor Chaviano Gonzalez, Guido Sigler Amaya,

Hector Larroque Rego, Hector Maceda Gutierrez, Hector Palacio

Ruiz, Hector Raul Valle Hernandez, Hiran Gonzalez Torna,

Horacia Julio Pina Borrego, Humberto Eladio Real Suarez,

Ignacio Ramos Valdez, Ivan Hernandez Carrillo, Jesus Manuel

Rojas Pineda, Jesus Mustafa Felipe, Joel Cano Diaz, Joel

Perez Ozorio, Jorge Alvarez Sanchez, Jorge Gonzalez

Velazquez, Jorge Luis Gonzalez Riveron, Jorge Luis Gonzalez

Tanquero, Jorge Luis Martinez Roja, Jorge Luis Suarez Varona,

Jorge Ozorio Vazquez, Jorge Pelegrin Ruiz, Jorge Rafael

Benitez Chui, Jose Agramonte Leiva.

Jose Antonio Mola Porro, Jose Benito Menendez del Valle,

Jose Carlos Montero Ocampo, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, Jose

Enrique Santana Carreiras, Jose Diaz Silva, Jose Gabriel

Ramon Castillo, Jose Joaquin Palma Salas, Jose Miguel

Martinez Hernandez, Jose Ramon Falcon Gomez, Jose Rodriguez

Herrada, Jose Ubaldo Izquierdo Hernandez, Juan Alfredo Valle

Perez, Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, Juan Carlos Vazquez

Garcia, Juan Ochoa Leyva, Julian Enrique Martinez Baez,

Julian Hernandez Lopez, Julio Cesar Alvarez Lopez, Julio

Cesar Galvez Rodriguez, Lazaro Alejandro Garcia Farah, Lazaro

Gonzalez Adan, Lazaro Gonzalez Caraballo, Leandro Suarez

Sabot, Lenin Efren Cordova, Leoncio Rodriguez Ponce, Leonel

Grave de Peralta Almenares, Lester Gonzalez Penton, Librado

Ricardo Linares Garcia, Luis Cabrera Ballester, Luis Elio de

la Paz Ramon, Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, Luis Milan

Fernandez, Manuel Ubals Gonzalez, Manuel Ubals Gonzalez,

Marcelino Rodriguez Vazquez, Marcelo Cano Rodriguez, Marco

Antonio Soto Morell, Marino Antomachit Rivero, Mario Enrique

Mayo Hernandez, Maximo Omar Ruiz Matoses, Maximo Robaina

Pradera, Miguel Diaz Bauza, Miguel Galvan Gutierrez, Mijail

Barzaga Lugo, Nelson Aguiar Ramirez, Nelson Molinet Espino.

Norberto Chavez Diaz, Normando Hernandez Gonzalez, Omar

Moises Hernandez Ruiz, Omar Pernet Hernandez, Omar Rodriguez

Saludes, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Pablo Javier Sanchez

Quintero, Pablo Pacheco Avila, Pedro Arguelles Moran, Pedro

de la Caridad Alvarez Pedroso, Pedro Genaro Barrera

Rodriguez, Pedro Lizado Pena, Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos,

Pedro Pablo Pulido Ortega, Prospero Gainza Aguero, Rafael

Corrales Alonso, Rafael Gonzalez Ruiz, Rafael Ibarra Roque,

Rafael Jorrin Garcia, Rafael Millet Leyva, Ramon Fidel

Basulto Garcia, Randy Cabrera Mayor, Raul Alejandro Delgado

Arias, Raumel Vinagera Stevens, Regis Iglesia Ramirez,

Reinaldo Calzadilla Paz, Reinaldo Galvez Contrera, Reinaldo

Miguel Labrada Pena, Ricardo Enrique Silva Gual, Ricardo

Gonzalez Alfonso, Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso, Ricardo Pupo

Cierra, Ridel Ruiz Cabrera, Roberto Alejandro Lopez

Rodriguez, Rolando Jimenez Posada, Santiago Adrian Simon

Palomo, Saul Lista Placeres, Tomas Ramos Rodriguez, Vicente

Coll Campaniony, Victor Rolando Arroyo Carmona, Virgilio

Mantilla Arango, Yosbel Gonzalez Plaza, Felipe Alberto

Laronte Mirabal, Rene Montes de Oca Martija, Adolfo Lazaro

Bosq Hinojosa, Alberto Martinez Fernandez, Alexander Roberto

Fernandez Rico.

Amado Idelfonso Ruiz Moreno, Andres Sabon Lituanes, Angel

R. Eireo Rodriguez, Ariel Fleitas Gonzalez, Ariel Ramos

Acosta (Hijo), Arnaldo Nicot Roche, Augusto Cesar San Martin

Albistur, Anita la de Chaviano, Augusto Guerra Marquez,

Candido Terry Carbonell, Carlos Alberto Dominguez, Carlos

Alberto Dominguez, Carlos Brizuela Yera, Carlos Brizuela

Yera, Carlos Israel Anaya Velazquez, Carlos Miguel Lopez

Santos, Carmelo Diaz Fernandez, Carmelo Diaz Fernandez, Dania

Rojas Gongora, Delio Laureano Requejo Rodriguez, Edel Jose

Garcia Diaz, Edel Jose Garcia Diaz, Emilio Leyva Perez,

Enrique Dieguez Rivera, Enrique Garcia Morejon, Antonio

Marcelino Garcia Morejon, Ernesto Duran Rodriguez, Francisco

Godar Marino, Froilan Menas Albrisas, Guillermo Farinas

Hernandez, Guillermo Renato Rojas Sanchez, Humberto Acosta

Yorka, Humberto Eladio Real Suarez, Idelfonso Batista Cruz,

Inocente Martinez Rodriguez, Jesus Adolfo Reyes Sanchez,

Alejandro Mustafa Reyes, Joaquin Barriga San Emeterio, Jorge

Hanoi Alcala Gorrita, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, Jorge Olivera

Castillo, Jorge Olivera Castillo, Jose Alberto Castro

Aguilar, Jose Arosmin Diaz Kolb, Jose Lorenzo Perez Fidalgo,

Jose Miguel Martinez Hernandez, Jose Patricio Armas Garcia.

Juan Carlos Fonseca Fonseca, Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leyva,

Juan Luis Corrales Perez, Juan Pedoso Esquivel, Juan Ramirez

Gonzalez, Juan Rodriguez Leon, Julio A. Valdes Guevara,

Lazaro Iglesias Estrada, Lazaro Miguel Rodriguez Capote,

Leobanis Manresa Osoria, Leonardo Corria Amaya, Leonardo M.

Bruzon Avila, Lexter Tellez Castro, Luis Alberto Martinez

Rodriguez, Luis Campos Corrales, Manuel Vazquez Portal,

Manuel Vazquez Portal, Marcelo Lopez Banobre, Margarito

Broche Espinosa, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, Migdalia

Hernandez Enamorado, Migdalis Ponce Casanova, Miguel Angel

Gata Perez, Miguel Sigler Amaya, Miguel Sigler Amaya, Miguel

Valdes Tamayo, Noel Ramos Rojas, Normando Perez Alvarez,

Ociel Olivares Tito, Reinaldo Hernandez 02/05/05, Omar Wilson

Estevez Real, Orlando Fundora Alvarez, Oscar Mario Gonzalez

Perez, Oscar Espinosa Chepe, Osvaldo Alfonso Valdes, Pedro

Pablo Alvarez Ramos, Rafael Perera Gomez, Ramon Herrera

Corcho, Raul Rivero Castaneda, Raydel Ramirez Valdes, Raul

Arencivia Fajardo, Ricardo Ramos Pereira, Ricardo Rodriguez

Borrego, Roberto de Miranda Hernandez, Roberto Esquijerosa

Chirino, Roberto Montero Tamayo, Rodolfo Barthelemy Coba.

Rogelio Ramos Prado, Rolando Corrales Martinez, Ulises

Manresa Osoria, Victor Bresler Cisneros, Victor Campa

Almarales, Virgilio Marante Guelmes, Yoel Vazquez Perez,

Rolando Ferrer Espinosa, Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, Julio

Cesar Morales Gonzalez, Roberto Bruno Fonseca Guevara,

Abelardo Cesar Cordero Perez, Adolfo Fernandez Sainz,

Alejandro Gonzalez Raga, Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, Alfredo M.

Pulido Lopez, Dr. Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, Fabio Prieto

Llorente, Hector Maceda Gutierrez, Ivan Hernandez Carrillo,

Jose Ubaldo Izquierdo Hernandez, Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta,

Julio Cesar Galvez Rodriguez, Lexter Tellez Castro, Mario

Enrique Mayo Hernandez, Miguel Galvan Gutierrez, Mijail

Barzaga Lugo, Normando Hernandez Gonzalez, Omar Moises

Hernandez Ruiz, Omar Rodriguez Saludes, Pablo Pacheco Avila,

Pedro Arguelles Moran, Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso, Victor

Rolando Arroyo Carmona.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House of Representatives considered House Resolution 388, a resolution condemning the gross human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime, and expressing the support of this House for the right of the Cuban people to exercise their fundamental political and civil liberties. Unfortunately due to scheduled Committee hearings I was unable to be on the floor during debate on this extremely important resolution. As chairman of the International Relations Committee Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere--and a long-standing critic of the Castro regime--and co-sponsor of the resolution, I want to take this opportunity to express my strong support for H. Res. 388. I would also like to thank my colleague from Florida, Congressman Lincoln Diaz- Balart--a true champion for the Cuban people--for introducing this resolution and once again highlighting the atrocious human rights violations the Cuban people continue to suffer at the hands of Castro's oppressive regime.

Since Castro assumed control of Cuba on January 1, 1959, fundamental human rights and basic living conditions have deteriorated tremendously. Most Cuban people live every day in fear of their government, thousands of whom risk their lives every year to flee the communist regime by any means necessary--even attempting to brave the hazardous 90-mile crossing between the United States and Cuba on makeshift rafts.

For a time, they tried to pretend that Mr. Castro had changed his ways, but events in Cuba over the past two years have reopened the eyes of the world community to the true evil nature of the Castro Regime. For example, Castro created a constitutional amendment permanently making socialism the official form of state government, and positioning himself to remain in power until he is either forcibly removed or deceased. In addition to these totalitarian mandates, he has staged the most sweeping crackdown on peaceful advocates of change in the history of Cuba.

On March 18, 2003, Fidel Castro ordered the arrest of many writers, poets, librarians, and pro-democracy activists in a large-scale operation to stifle any movement against his regime. Subsequently, some of the targeted individuals were released, but 75 remained in jail to be tried for their ``crimes'' against the country, citing Article 91 of Cuba's Penal Code that states, ``(anyone) who in the interest of a foreign state, commits an act with the objective of damaging the independence or territorial integrity of the state of Cuba.'' The Cuban government accused the dissidents of engaging in activities that could be perceived as damaging to Cuba's internal order, and/or perceived as encouraging to United States embargoes against the country.

The list of Cuban detainees published by Amnesty International in their ``Essential Measures'' brief of 2003 reveals some striking information. Among the detained are 23 people over the age of 50, as well as 5 others who are more than 60 years of age. I wonder what dissenting activities they were engaging in that would earn them a collective 1,242 years in prison. These peaceful pro-democracy advocates, whom Mr. Castro likes to call dissidents or ``enemies of the revolution,'' were convicted for activities such as: attending an assembly to promote civil society, possessing membership in the Committee on Cuban Human Rights, or publishing documents to be disseminated abroad that represent a clear means of implementing the measures established in Article IV of LIBERTAD, also known as the Helms-Burton Act, which would increase the United States sanctions and blockades against Cuba.

Three of the 75 activists rounded up during the regime's Spring 2003 crackdown on dissent are currently engaging in a hunger strike to protest the deplorable conditions of their confinement; contaminated food and water, excessive heat, filthy conditions and medical mistreatment.

Christian Liberation Movement member Jose Daniel Ferrer, who has not eaten for more than 22 days. He is serving a 25-year sentence for promoting the Varela Project, a constitutional petition calling for free elections, civil liberties and freedom for political prisoners. He recently was placed in a prison unit with dangerous common criminals, a tactic that Cuban authorities often use to harass and injure political prisoners.

Victor Rolando Arroyo, an independent journalist and librarian, has been on a hunger strike for more than 16 days. In 2000 he spent 6 months in jail for giving out toys to children on Three Kings Day. Now he is serving a 26-year sentence. His wife says that he has been hospitalized. He has refused forced feeding and is severely dehydrated.

Felix Navarro, a democracy advocate and Varela Project activist, has shared the hunger strike in solidarity with Mr. Arroyo, who is in the same prison. Mr. Navarro is serving a 25-year term.

Just this past July, the Castro regime renewed its efforts to stamp out the pro-democracy movement.

On July 13, 2005, the Cuban Government detained 24 human rights activists who were participating in a solemn event in remembrance of the victims of the tugboat massacre of innocent civilians by the Cuban government on July 13, 1994. Human rights activists Rene Montes de Oca, Emilio Leiva Perez, Camilo Cairo Falcon, Manuel Perez Soira, Roberto Guerra Perez, and Lazaro Alonso Roman remain incarcerated from the July 13, 2005, event and face trumped up charges of ``disorderly conduct.''

On July 22, 2005, Members of the pro-democracy opposition in Cuba sought to demonstrate in a peaceful and orderly manner in front of the French Embassy in Havana, on behalf of the liberation of all Cuban political prisoners, and to protest the current policy of the European Union toward the Cuban Government. The Cuban regime mobilized its repressive state security apparatus to intimidate and harass, and eventually arrest and detain many of those who were planning on attending the peaceful protest. These leaders in the struggle for freedom in Cuba continue to be detained without cause.

The Cuban regime has also arrested more than 400 young Cubans, from late 2004 through June of 2005, as a ``measure of pre-delinquent security.''

The facts are undeniable; the Castro regime is just as committed today to repressing attempts by the Cuban people to bring democratic change to the island and denying the Cuban people their universally recognized liberties, including freedom of speech, association, movement, and the press as it was in 1959. That is why H.R. 388 is so important; because it sends a strong message to the Castro regime that this House will not forget--and it will not let the world community forget--those people who are suffering and dying in Cuban prisons for the so-called crime of speaking out against the injustices perpetrated by Castro and his henchmen.

Mr. Speaker--although I am very concerned about the state of democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere--as it stands today, Cuba is the only nation in the hemisphere that is a complete dictatorship. As U.S. service men and women put their lives on the line to bring freedom and democracy to people around the world who have long suffered under the hand of tyranny, we only need to look at Cuba to see what can happen when any Nation shuns democracy and subjugates itself to the whims of dictatorship.

I believe that because of the ills inflicted upon Cuba by the Castro regime, the transition from economic stagnation and political oppression to a democratic society built around the principles of respect for the rule of law and basic human rights--with a free economy--will be a challenging process, but it is an attainable endeavor. I have hope that there will be a day when the light of democracy shines in Havana. Until that day, I say to Mr. Castro--we will never forget.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation and I want to thank my good friend, Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart, for introducing it.

I wish I could say I was surprised when the Castro regime again arrested members of the Cuban opposition this July. But I wasn't.

In Cuba, every opposition member, human rights activist, or citizen who takes any step towards democracy is deemed a threat to the Cuban regime. These opposition members must live under a constant threat of arrest and persecution for themselves, and their families.

In Cuba, we see a persistent, long-term, calculated, and strategic abuse of human rights aimed at keeping any opposition from succeeding in Cuba.

Cuba remains the only dictatorship in our Hemisphere, and Castro must repress the opposition to stay in power.

In July 2005, Castro arrested 24 human rights activists for simply remembering those who had been killed by the regime in 1994. And he arrested many more later that month who were simply planning on attending a peaceful protest--they hadn't even actually attended the event yet.

But this is not the only recent example of Castro's brutal repression. In March 2003, the Cuban regime conducted one of the most repressive and violent actions against dissidents in recent history. We all remember how, with no provocation, 75 political dissidents were subjected to a farcical judicial process and imprisoned for nothing more than expressing a point of view not sanctioned by the Castro regime.

In May of this year, Cuban opposition leaders organized an historic Assembly on the 103rd Anniversary of Cuban independence. When we had the opportunity to recognize that Assembly here in this committee, I specifically said that we opposed 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.

I also made it clear to the Cuban opposition witnesses in our hearing in the subcommittee in March that we expected no retaliation against them for their work on behalf of freedom or for their participation in our hearing.

Unfortunately, it is my understanding that all three of those witnesses were then arrested during the July crackdown. While Martha Beatriz Roque and Felix Bonne were subsequently released, I believe that Rene Gomez Manzano remains in prison.

Given the recent arrests, I am still deeply concerned for the safety of all those who participated in the May Assembly and those who testified before this Committee.

Hundreds of political prisoners remain in Castro's jails today, and the world has recognized these injustices.

In March 2005, Amnesty International released a report on Cuba called Prisoners of Conscience: 71 Longing for Freedom. In this report, Amnesty states that they believe that, ``the charges are politically motivated and disproportionate to the alleged offenses'' and specifically note reports of ill-treatment and harsh conditions suffered by the prisoners of conscience.

Unfortunately, my friends in the European Union appear to have been deceived by Castro's conditional release of a few prisoners last year. I cannot understand why else they would think there was a reason to soften their diplomatic approach towards Cuba.

Instead of rewarding Cuba for pretending to take steps towards upholding fundamental civil rights, we should call for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Cuba. I certainly hope that the European Union will review its policy towards Cuba, as is called for in this resolution.

And I hope that other multinational organizations, such as the UN Commission on Human Rights, join the rest of the world in strongly condemning the most recent crackdown in July by passing a strongly worded resolution against these violations of human and civil liberties, as is also called for in this resolution.

I know Members do not always agree with one another on issues relating to Cuba. And I know that this is, for many of us, a very personal issue.

But I also know that every one of my colleagues should be willing-- and proud--to vote for this resolution, which simply states that the gross human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime are abhorrent.

Every one of my colleagues should be willing, and proud, to vote for the right of the Cuban people to exercise fundamental political and civil liberties that we enjoy here in the United States.

To my brothers and sisters who suffer in Castro's jails, to their families and friends both here in the United States and Cuba, and to the Cuban people, I say that Castro will not succeed in his vain attempt to suppress the spirit of the Cuban people. I look forward to the day, which is coming soon, when we will all celebrate a free and democratic Cuba. It is the spirit of the Cuban human rights activists and their courage that will ultimately be Castro's downfall.

So I ask each of you to join me in voting yes for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 388) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the July, 2005, measures of extreme repression on the part of the Cuban Government against members of Cuba's prodemocracy movement, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, the legalization of political parties and free elections in Cuba, urging the European Union to reexamine its policy toward Cuba, and calling on the representative of the United States to the 62d session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to ensure a resolution calling upon the Cuban regime to end its human rights violations, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 388.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) would normally be here. The gentleman is very, very concerned about this resolution and is very, very supportive of it, but he currently has a markup, a committee vote that he is in the process of doing, so, again, I have the opportunity and honor of going ahead with this in his stead.

H. Res. 388 is a resolution which condemns the gross human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime and expresses support for the right of the Cuban people to exercise fundamental political and civil liberties.

As a member of the Committee on International Relations, I would like to thank my colleague the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz- Balart) for introducing this resolution, which highlights the atrocious human rights violations the Cuban people continue to suffer at the hands of Castro's oppressive regime.

Mr. Castro continues to hone his craft, that is to say, his systematic reign of fear and intimidation of his own population. This past July, the Castro regime renewed its efforts to stamp out the pro- democracy movement.

This resolution sends a strong message to the Cuban Government that the world will not forget those people who are languishing in Cuban prisons for the so-called crime of speaking out against the injustices perpetrated by the Castro regime. Many of the dissidents arrested July remain in custody, and several of them face long sentences in prison for threatening to undermine Cuba's Communist government, according to Amnesty International and other organizations.

As U.S. service men and women put their lives on the line to bring freedom and democracy to areas of the world that have long suffered in the shadow of tyranny, Cuba represents a prime example in our own hemispheres of what can happen if any nation shuns democracy and subjugates itself to the whims of dictatorship.

As it stands now, Cuba is the only nation in the hemisphere that is a complete dictatorship, and since the earliest days of the regime, Castro has not only stifled efforts to promote freedom and democracy in Cuba, but he has also actively been involved in promoting communism and dictatorships around the world, most especially in Central and South America. The fall of Castro's principal benefactor, the Soviet Union, may have caused a shift in Castro's tactics, but he has never abandoned his ambition to export communism.

I am very concerned about the state of affairs in the Western Hemisphere, and I am convinced that there will never be true, lasting peace and freedom in the region until we solve the Cuba problem once and for all. The only acceptable solution is a free and democratic Cuba. I have hope there will be a day when the light of democracy shines in Havana, a day when free expression and free elections replace the current hopeless status quo.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. We owe it to the thousands of Cubans who risk their lives every year to flee the Communist regime by any means necessary, even attempting to brave the hazardous 90-mile crossing between the United States and Cuba on makeshift rafts, as well as those languishing in Cuban jails, to further open the eyes of the world community to the true evils of the Castro regime. We must never forget them.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), the original sponsor of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Ranking Member Lantos and Chairman Hyde for their leadership and such a bipartisan effort for these human rights issues. Again, we truly appreciate their leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Cuba is a country that has a people with a diverse culture, a rich heritage, a people who came as pioneers, people who came and sought their freedom and built a future. This rich and diverse history was suppressed 46 years ago under a dark veil of Communist rejection of all freedom, of rights, of dignity and liberty of the individual.

I think it is important that this resolution pass, and I rise today in its support. I cannot stress enough how important it is that human rights and human dignity be afforded to the citizens of Cuba who live in oppression under a brutal, tyrannical dictator who cares more for his own power and the advancement of his family and his cronies than his citizens who are starving and are neglected of the basic rights and privileges and necessities that we take for granted in this country.

He stands against those things that we represent, and my family has seen that firsthand. My wife Pat has helped many Cuban families who have made literally the pilgrimage to freedom, in a heartbreaking decision to leave their home country, to leave all that they love, lose all of their worldly possessions, except for their dignity, their self respect, their faith and, ultimately, maintaining cohesiveness in their family, to come seek a new life here, awaiting that day when they may return to their land and live in freedom.

Unfortunately, some in the international community see fit to recognize Fidel Castro as a power with whom to negotiate and placate. We must remember one thing. Still, today, even in old age, he is a dangerous man. He is an enemy of freedom and has sought on many continents to suppress that throughout his entire career of leadership of his tyrannical government. He is a suppresser of faith, the ability of his people and peoples elsewhere to express their faith in God, to practice their religion and, ultimately, he is an enemy of the future, an enemy of freedom in this hemisphere of no greater value than anyone else.

On July 14, the government of France invited Castro to the French Embassy in Havana to celebrate Bastille Day, but courageous members of Cuba's democratic opposition were not invited, so they chose to peacefully protest the French decision. On the morning of the protest, Cuban security forces stormed the homes of those planning to demonstrate and arrested at least 20. This type of dictatorial behavior cannot be tolerated for any length of time whatsoever. Think about it: a dictator invited to a celebration of liberation of people and, at the same time, suppressing his own people from peacefully expressing their views. It is illogical and it is illogical for the French to accept this.

For too long, the international community has danced around Castro and his Communist state, while the people live in oppression or risk their lives attempting to escape. It is not just the 20 individuals who were simply planning to protest who were arrested. Protestant Christians in Cuba are facing new regulations on house churches that can restrict religious freedom.

In order to suppress one house church, I know personally of a case where a pastor was arrested on the pretext of practicing medicine without a license simply because he prayed for one of his parishioners in the house church.

Imagine for a moment a place where the government supervises church services, and if an agent of the government arbitrarily decides that the church is breaking government regulations, it can shut it down. Imagine also a place where the government say that two house churches of the same denomination cannot exist within a mile and a half of each other, and imagine a place where human rights activists are taken into custody for simply commemorating the tragic deaths of 35 people who were killed when the boat they were fleeing in was rammed by authorities. Imagine all of that, and you will be imagining Castro's Cuba.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical and important resolution for the message that it sends.