[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2002

  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, in my office hangs a picture of a woman--
Marta Farias holding a photograph of her son--Lazaro Planes Farias. Mr. 
Planes is one of an estimated 400 Cuban political prisoners who have 
been unjustly imprisoned for having the courage to publicly speak out 
against the Communist regime, a regime which lives in perpetual terror 
of its citizens exercising the most basic forms of human rights. The 
Cuban Government's official charge against Mr. Planes is that he 
committed ``disrespect and resistance.'' His ``disrespect'' was to have 
the audacity to form an opposition political party to promote freedom. 
knowing the grave risk he was taking by openly opposing Fidel Castro, 
Planes continued to speak out--demading human rights and democracy for 
all Cubans.
  He was released from prison following a request by Pope John Paul--
the Second in 1998, but soon after the Pope's visit--the Communist 
authorities deemed him too great a risk, and imprisoned him again. 
Planes suffers today in Castro's gulags--recognized by human rights 
groups as some of the worst prisons in the world. Castro has not 
allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross to inspect prison 
conditions since 1989. And it's no wonder--men and women who refuse to 
undergo ``re-education'' in the gulag are subjected to daily beatings, 
malnourishment and an appalling lack of medical care.
  The United States of America and the rest of the world can no longer 
remain silent. The struggle undertaken by these courageous men and 
women demands international recognition. That is why I have joined with 
17 of my colleagues in the House and Senate in the Congressional Cuban 
Political Prisoners Initiative. Each month we will feature a new 
prisoner. And each month there will be a new name, a new face and a new 
story which strikes down Castro's lie that there are no political 
prisoners in Cuba.
  I am here today to urge my colleagues on both sides to stand with me 
in demanding the unconditional release of Mr. Farias and all Cuban 
political prisoners.

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