[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 279 Engrossed in House (EH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 279

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

    Whereas there are credible reports that on July 13, 1994, vessels 
            of the Cuban Government fired high-pressure water hoses, 
            repeatedly rammed, and deliberately sank the ``13th of 
            March'', a tugboat carrying 72 unarmed Cuban citizens;
    Whereas approximately 40 of the men, women, and children passengers 
            on the ``13th of March'' drowned as a result of the actions 
            of the Cuban Government, including over 20 children aboard;
    Whereas President Clinton deplored the sinking of the ``13th of 
            March'' as ``another example of the brutal nature of the 
            Cuban regime'';
    Whereas on August 20, 1994, the President pledged that ``The United 
            States will continue to bring before the United Nations and 
            other international organizations evidence of human rights 
            abuses, such as the sinking of the tugboat `13th of March.' 
            Meanwhile, we will pursue this matter with vigor and 
            determination.'';
    Whereas all of the male survivors of the ``13th of March'' have 
            been imprisoned by the Cuban Government;
    Whereas the freedom to emigrate is an internationally recognized 
            human right and freedom's fundamental guarantor of last 
            resort; and
    Whereas the Cuban Government, by prohibiting the existence of a 
            free press and by jamming TV and Radio Marti, denies the 
            Cuban people the right of free access to information, 
            including information about this tragedy: Now, therefore, 
            be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) condemns the Cuban Government for deliberately sinking 
        on July 13, 1994, the ``13th of March'', a tugboat carrying 72 
        unarmed Cuban citizens, causing the death of approximately 40 
        Cuban citizens, including over 20 children;
            (2) urges the President to direct the United States 
        Representative to the United Nations to urge the United Nations 
        Security Council to adopt a resolution that--
                    (A) condemns the sinking of the ``13th of March''; 
                and
                    (B) provides for a full internationally supervised 
                investigation of the incident;
            (3) urges the President to direct the United States 
        Representative to the United Nations to urge the United Nations 
        High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate the sinking 
        of the ``13th of March''; and
            (4) urges the Cuban Government--
                    (A) to release from prison and cease intimidation 
                measures against all survivors of the sinking of the 
                ``13th of March'';
                    (B) to identify all individuals missing from such 
                sinking;
                    (C) to recover the bodies of the dead from such 
                sinking; and
                    (D) to return such bodies to their families so that 
                these men, women, and children may have appropriate 
                burial services.

            Passed the House of Representatives October 4, 1994.

            Attest:






                                                                 Clerk.






103d CONGRESS

  2d Session

                            H. CON. RES. 279

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

   Condemning the July 13, 1994, sinking of the ``13th of March'', a 
  tugboat carrying 72 unarmed Cuban citizens, by vessels of the Cuban 
                              Government.