[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 11 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN SUPPORT OF CONCILIO CUBANO AND INDEPENDENT CUBAN JOURNALISTS

 Mr. MACK. Mr. President, late last year, a broad spectrum of 
Cuban opposition groups came together in an effort to form Concilio 
Cubano. Concilio Cubano, or Cuban Council, is a group that seeks to 
unite an unprecedented number of human rights, professional, political, 
and other organizations behind a common platform that includes amnesty 
for political prisoners, free and multiparty elections, and human 
rights.
  The Castro regime's response has been sickeningly familiar. Members 
of Concilio Cubano have been subjected to lengthy interrogations, 
violent harassment, and a disinformation campaign.
  The Miami Herald in a recent editorial likened Concilio Cubano to 
Charter 77, the Czech group that bravely opposed the Czech Communist 
dictatorship. Referring to former dissident, now President, Vaclav 
Havel, one of the leaders of the group told the Herald, ``We have more 
Havels than they had.''
  Concilio Cubano plans to meet in late February. In Cuba, that's no 
simple matter. In the weeks leading up to this meeting, supporters of 
freedom, democracy, and human rights in Cuba must watch closely and 
speak out against any continued attempts to intimidate these democratic 
activists.
  Also recently, the Cuban regime has stepped up persecution of 
journalists affiliated with independent news organizations. The 
campaign of harassment has included detentions and interrogations.
  To my knowledge, the Clinton administration has been silent on the 
recent harassment of Concilio Cubano's members and independent 
journalists. The U.S. press has been fairly silent as well. I urge the 
administration to denounce these violations of the right of free 
expression and free association and strongly align itself with the 
supporters of democracy and freedom in Cuba. And I call upon the 
American press to report on the persecution of their fellow journalists 
and on Cuba's newest, broadest coalition of democratic activists.
  Cuba's people have been subjected to virtually every form of 
subjugation. Their mildest form of opposition is met with repression. 
The United States and the American people are their closest friends. I 
call upon my colleagues in the Congress, and my fellow citizens to 
support the Cuban peoples efforts to exercise their inherent rights of 
free speech and association. The Cuban people have been resisting the 
Castro dictatorship for over 30 years. For as long as it takes, we must 
stand alongside them and let them know we support their 
struggle.

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