109 HRES 193 IH: Expressing support to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in Havana. U.S. House of Representatives 2005-04-06 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

109th CONGRESS 1st Session

H. RES. 193

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 6, 2005

Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Engel, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Ms. Harris, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Mack, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Davis of Kentucky, Mrs. Drake, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Baker, Mr. Foley, Mr. Feeney, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Weller, Mr. Barrett of South Carolina, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Flake, Mr. Cannon, Mr. Souder, Mr. McCotter, Ms. Norton, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Kennedy of Minnesota, and Mr. Weldon of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing support to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in Havana.

Whereas Fidel Castro’s terrorist regime has continued to repress all attempts by the Cuban people to bring democratic change to Cuba and denies universally recognized liberties, including freedom of speech, association, movement, and the press; Whereas thousands of political prisoners are currently imprisoned by Fidel Castro’s totalitarian regime; Whereas in March 2003 Fidel Castro carried out a massive, island wide crackdown on members of Cuba’s pro-democracy movement, under which pro-democracy activists were arrested, subjected to summary trials, and sentenced to up to 28 years in prison for their pro-democracy activities; Whereas the Department of State’s 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, in referring to Castro’s Cuba, states: Members of the security forces and prison officials continued to beat and abuse detainees and prisoners, including human rights activists. . . . Prison conditions remained harsh and life threatening, and the Government restricted medical care to some prisoners as a method of control. Prisoners died in jail due to lack of medical care.; Whereas on May 20, 1902, the Republic of Cuba obtained its independence; Whereas in the spirit of Jose Marti, many of the future leaders of a free Cuba have called for a meeting of the Assembly of the Civil Society in Cuba, an organization that consists of over 360 opposition and civil society organizations in Cuba; Whereas on May 20, 2005, the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba seeks to convene an historic meeting in Havana on the 103rd anniversary of Cuban Independence; Whereas the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba will focus on bringing democracy and liberty to the enslaved island of Cuba; Whereas the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba is led by three courageous pro-democracy opponents of the Castro regime—Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, Felix Bonne Carcasses, and Rene Gomez Manzano; Whereas organizers and participants are convening a meeting of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba at great risk to themselves and their families; and Whereas President George W. Bush stated in his second inaugural address on January 20, 2005: All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you. Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are—the future leaders of your free country.: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)extends its support and solidarity to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in Havana; (2)urges the international community to support the Assembly’s mission to bring democracy to Cuba; (3)urges the Administration and international community to actively oppose any attempts by the Castro regime to repress or punish the organizers and participants of the Assembly; and (4)shares the pro-democracy ideals of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba and believes that this Assembly and others will hasten the day of freedom and democracy for the people of Cuba.