[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ANNIVERSARY OF SHOOTDOWN BY CASTRO REGIME

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today marks the third anniversary of 
the callous murder of four innocent civilians by the Castro regime.
  On a fateful day 3 years ago, Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Mario 
de la Pena, and Pablo Morales boarded their Brothers to the Rescue 
planes, as they had done so many times before, to search the waters off 
the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean for Cuban refugees who risk their 
lives in makeshift rafts in search of freedom and liberty.
  On the afternoon of February 24th, 1996, the ruthless nature of the 
Castro regime was once again clearly revealed. Like vultures awaiting 
their prey, Cuban Migs circled and hovered until they locked on to the 
frail Cessna planes carrying Carlos, Armando, Mario and Pablo.
  There would be no out outcry from the international community, as the 
strongest resolution obtained from the U.N. Human Rights Commission was 
one which only expressed dismay at the shootdown; and the Castro regime 
would continue to act with impunity.
  Most recently, in an attempt to silence the independent journalists 
and the opposition leaders, the Castro regime implemented a law which 
classified a broad range of activities as illegal and carries a 30-year 
prison sentence.
  For the sake of those four men, and for anyone who is suffering under 
Castro's tyranny, the U.S. cannot appease the Castro regime.

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