[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 164 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 164

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
        human rights situation in Cuba, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 26, 2003

Mr. Flake submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
        human rights situation in Cuba, and for other purposes.

Whereas the Cuban government continues to systematically violate fundamental 
        civil and political rights of its citizens;
Whereas the Cuban government denies citizens the freedoms of speech, press, 
        assembly, and association;
Whereas the Cuban government denies political dissidents and human rights 
        advocates due process;
Whereas Cuban authorities routinely harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, 
        detain, imprison, and defame human rights advocates and members of 
        independent professional associations, including journalists and 
        economists;
Whereas in March 2003 the Cuban government detained dozens of independent 
        journalists and political activists solely for exercising their right to 
        freedom of expression;
Whereas in May 2002 a group of Cuban citizens led by Oswaldo Paya, in an effort 
        known as the Varela Project, submitted over 11,000 signatures to the 
        National Assembly of the Republic of Cuba in support of a referendum on 
        guarantees of human rights and civil liberties;
Whereas many of the supporters of the Varela Project were among those detained 
        in March 2003;
Whereas the Varela Project seeks a national referendum on fundamental civil 
        liberties, including freedom of speech, amnesty for political prisoners, 
        support for private business, a new electoral law, and a general 
        election; and
Whereas the goal of United States policy in Cuba is to promote a peaceful 
        transition to democracy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Cuban government to immediately release 
        all prisoners of conscience, including those detained in March 
        2003; and
            (2) calls on the Cuban government to provide its citizens 
        with internationally-accepted standards for civil, political, 
        and human rights, and the opportunity to vote in free and fair 
        elections.
                                 <all>