[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 64 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 95TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISLAND OF CUBA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 1997

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday, May 20, marks the 95th 
anniversary since the island of Cuba gained its independence. The 
history of that beautiful nation has been measured, in large part, by 
the struggle of its people to overcome tyrannies that have attempted to 
rule over the island--first the Spanish crown, and today, another 
destructive dictatorship, that of Fidel Castro.
  Under the Castro dictatorship, the people of the island enjoy no 
semblance of human rights or civil rights. Dissidents, independent 
journalists, and human rights activists are routinely harassed, 
arrested, and imprisoned.
  Others are murdered by the Castro Communist elite that allows no 
opposition to its repressive policies. Many of the names of those who 
have been subject to the torturous reign of the Castro regime, men and 
women, black and white, may never be known.
  The immorality of the Castro dictatorship is equaled by the 
willingness by many of our European allies, Canada, and Mexico to trade 
with the Castro regime despite them knowing that it only serves to 
strengthen his grip on power.
  As we approach the 96th anniversary of the first time the Cuban flag 
flew alone over Cuba, let us remember that only 90 miles from the 
greatest democracy on earth, 11 million Cubans yearn for the freedoms 
we in the United States take for granted.

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