[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 97 (Friday, July 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                            CUBA'S BRUTALITY

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 22, 1994

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, on July 13, 1994, Fidel Castro's henchmen 
deliberately and cruelly sank the tugboat of 72 fleeing refugees, 
causing the death and disappearance of approximately 40. Twenty of 
those sent to their watery graves were young children.
  The episode is one that has become all too familiar to those who 
monitor the plight of individuals fleeing Cuba's brutality. The group 
of 72 freedom seekers hopped aboard a tugboat with the ambition of 
reaching freedom and safety. Once 7 miles offshore, the refugees were 
barraged by three Cuban tug boats which rammed their ship attempting to 
sink it. Castro's men then turned powerful water hoses on the refugees 
instantly clearing some off the decks. Hoping that the presence of 
children would deter Castro's men, the refugees pointed to the children 
on board only to have them knocked from their arms with the force of 
the water.
  Nearly as tragic as the massive loss of human life is the silence 
that has proceeded this brutal act. The survivors have spoken out, but 
the world has largely ignored them. Sadly, this is only one of many 
acts that Cubans have come to expect from the maximum leader, an 
inhuman dictator that makes a common practice of murder.
  Unfortunately, there are those who continue to embrace the Castro 
regime while conveniently overlooking these ruthless acts. They 
perpetuate this romantic notion of a charismatic leader who descended 
from the hills. Yet, if this act alone is not enough to thwart this 
notion, how many more corpses will it take until Castro's allies are 
convinced that his stranglehold on Cuba must end? As freedom loving 
Americans, we cannot allow these lives to have been lost in vain. We 
must force the world to confront the gross violation of human rights 
and outright murder in Cuba.

                          ____________________