[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 96 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       CRITICIZING CUBA'S SINKING OF A BOAT FILLED WITH REFUGEES

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 1994

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, once again, Castro has shown his stripes. In 
one of the most brutal assaults on innocent civilians in this 
hemisphere, a boat-load of 72 Cuban refugees was sunk 8 days ago when 
Cuban Government ships rammed their vessel and fired high-pressure 
water cannons at them.
  According to the Miami Herald, the ship, the Marzo 13, had sailed for 
45 minutes and was 7 miles from Cuban shores, when the boat was met by 
the Cuban fire-fighting vessels. Reports indicate that people were sent 
flying overboard and slamming against walls and railings as powerful 
hoses shot their water against the tugboat.
  Although the refugee passengers pleaded with their pursuers to end 
the assault and spare their lives, the Cuban ships continued the 
attack. In the end, more than 30 people had died before the survivors 
were rescued.
  This tragedy represents only the latest offense against basic 
standards of human rights committed by Castro's government. I applaud 
President Clinton for correctly characterizing this act as just 
``another example of the brutal nature of the Cuban regime.''
  Mr. Speaker, there are those in Washington who continue to oppose the 
stiff sanctions imposed on the Cuban Government by the Cuban Democracy 
Act. Let this ruthless act be a lesson to them: Only clear and firm 
pressure by the United States will bring about long-awaited change in 
Havana.

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