[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  A CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONER, DR. OSCAR ELIAS 
                                 BISCET

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2000

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, a great Cuban patriot, the physician 
Oscar Elias Biscet, has been sentenced to 3 years in prison by the 
Cuban dictatorship for peacefully demanding free elections and human 
rights for the Cuban people.
  Dr. Biscet forms part of a new generation of leadership that has 
risen in the Cuban pro-democracy movement and that will play a key role 
in the free and democratic Cuba that is near.
  Dr. Biscet's imprisonment must be condemned and his immediate and 
unconditional release demanded by all freedom-loving people.
  A number of us here in Congress have written the United Nations 
Commissioner for Human Rights, urging that she add her voice to the 
call for Dr. Biscet's immediate release. We will not cease our efforts 
until he and all of the other Cuban political prisoners are free.
  I hereby submit for the record, Mr. Speaker, the letter sent by 13 
Members of this House to U.N. High Commissioner Robinson, as well as a 
translation of a letter by Dr. Biscet that was written on a 
handkerchief and secretly taken out of Dr. Biscet's prison cell 
approximately 6 weeks ago. The letter was delivered to Cuban 
independent journalist Angel Pablo Polanco, who revealed its contents 
via telephone.


                                Congress of the United States,

                                Washington, DC, February 25, 2000.
     Ms. Mary Robinson,
     Office of High Commissioner For Human Rights, United Nations 
         Headquarters, New York, NY.
       Dear Ms. Robinson: This is to request your urgent 
     assistance on behalf of the Cuban human rights activist Dr. 
     Oscar Elias Biscet, who is scheduled to stand trial on 
     February 25th, 2000 at the Municipal Tribunal ``10 de 
     Octubre'' in Havana, Cuba. The Cuban dictatorship apparently 
     plans years of incarceration for Dr. Biscet for so called 
     crimes of ``dishonoring national symbols'', ``public 
     disorder'' and ``inciting delinquent behavior''.
       On October 28, 1999 Dr. Biscet held a press conference, 
     prior to the Ibero-American Summit held in Havana in early 
     November. During the press conference, Dr. Biscet along with 
     other members of the peaceful opposition movement announced a 
     march calling for the release of all political prisoners and 
     respect of human rights for the Cuban people. During the 
     press conference two Cuban flags were displayed in an 
     inverted position as a sign of protest for the countless 
     human rights violations that occur on the island. 
     Subsequently, on November 3, 1999, Dr. Biscet was detained 
     and taken to ``Cien y Aldabo'', where he was placed in a damp 
     cell without sunlight with three common criminals.
       Dr. Biscet represents the noblest of aspirations of 
     democracy in Cuba. His efforts as the founder of the Lawton 
     Foundation for Human Rights, a humanitarian organization 
     which promotes the respect for human rights through 
     nonviolent means, have gained him the respect and admiration 
     of notable human rights activists throughout the world and 
     inspired countless Cubans to continue in their struggle for 
     democratic change.
       The Cuban regime, intimidated by the effectiveness of Dr. 
     Biscet's message, has detained him 26 times over that last 18 
     months, terminated his employment and evicted him and his 
     family from their home. He has been subjected to psychiatric 
     examinations and has been constantly pressured to abandon 
     Cuba.
       We respectfully urge you to immediately denounce Dr. 
     Biscet's unjust incarceration and trial and call for his 
     immediate and unconditional release from prison. A statement 
     of this nature would greatly serve to protect Dr. Biscet and 
     his family from further harm by the Cuban government.
       Thank you for your consideration.
         Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Robert Wexler, ------ ------, 
           Christopher H. Smith, James A. Traficant, Jr., Dana 
           Rohrabacher, Porter J. Goss, Peter Deutsch, Tillie K. 
           Fowler, Bill McCollum, Luis V. Gutierrez, Ileana Ros-
           Lehtinen, Ben Gilman.
                                         Havana, January 20, 2000.
     Supreme Court of Justice of the United States of America
     Excellencies: I send you kind greetings. From a ``tapiada'' 
     cell I write in darkness where it is forbidden to read and 
     write. Under these conditions I pray God may grant you wisdom 
     to make the proper decision in the case of the Cuban child 
     Elian in order to dignify human life and liberty.
       Esteemed judges: a nation must never deprive any person of 
     freedom unless the individual becomes a danger to society, 
     always respecting human rights. Nor may parents deprive their 
     children of their right to life and freedom. Limits must 
     prevail for both, nation and parents, to prevent violations 
     of inalienable human rights.
       I ask, what is life without freedom? Nothing, as without 
     freedom life is deprived of the love of God.
       ``Justice exalts a nation, sin becomes its shame.'' 
     Proverbs.
       Magistrates, glorify humanity.
       Thank you.
                                           Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet,
                               Lawton Foundation for Human Rights.

       Note: This letter, written on a handkerchief, was 
     clandestinely taken out of the prison at the Department of 
     Technical investigation in Havana where Dr. Biscet is 
     incarcerated. The letter was delivered to the independent 
     journalist in Cuba, Angel Pablo Polanco who revealed its 
     contents abroad via telephone.

     

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