[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H2815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CUBA BEGINS TRIALS OF DISSIDENTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, let me draw your attention to a headline that 
appeared in the Associated Press today, and the headline reads ``Cuba 
Begins Trials of Dissidents. Cuba pressed forward with its harshest 
crackdown on dissidents in years, holding the first trials Thursday for 
dissidents rounded up across the Island and reportedly seeking life 
sentences for at least 10 of them.''
  My colleagues, we are at this moment attempting to liberate Iraq from 
a dictator, Saddam Hussein. Our men and women are in harm's way. 
Regrettably, in this very Chamber, we have had our own colleagues, our 
own colleagues advocating open trade and opportunity with Fidel Castro.

                              {time}  2330

  Mr. Speaker, I am referring to the very person who is arresting and 
charging and sentencing dissidents in Cuba to life sentencing. At least 
78 dissidents have been arrested since March 18. If you dare to speak 
out against the government, and I say that loosely because it is not a 
government, it is a dictatorship, of Fidel Castro, you are arrested. My 
colleagues from south Florida will tell Members at length what is 
considered a chargeable crime, and they will tell some of the things 
that this dictator is charging his citizens with.
  Let me read what Elsa Pollan said about her husband, Hector Fernando 
Maseda. She says, ``I feel so defenseless. Where can I find someone to 
defend my husband?''
  Her husband is going to be on trial, and no one will stand up for 
him. Why are our men and women in Iraq? To free and liberate people. 
And yet the very Members who voted to send our men and women into 
harm's way in Iraq, some of those people here on the floor gleefully 
say the embargo has not worked, 42 years later. Let us just trade with 
Cuba because if we embolden this dictator, he may give up and we will 
have freedom for people.
  I have never heard such nonsense in my life. I hope those Members who 
advocate free trade with Cuba will look at today's headlines. If they 
feel comfortable doing business with a person who will incarcerate 
people for simply speaking their free will and their free mind, then 
have at it. I want no part of it.
  If Members can look Elsa Pollan in the eyes and say her husband 
should be locked up for life because he spoke out against Fidel Castro, 
join with the happy campers in wanting to do free trade with Cuba. I 
challenge those Members who believe in free trade with Cuba, would they 
today, based on the political reality, advocate free trade with Saddam 
Hussein? Would they stand up in this well and say let us do business 
with Saddam Hussein because if he gets a little economic commerce, he 
will become a nicer person?
  It is different because they keep saying if we do grain sales and 
medicine and food, we do opportunity, travel, somehow we are going to 
loosen the embargo and loosen Fidel Castro's grip on his people. 
Obviously, Fidel Castro has a different opinion on what loosening the 
grip on his people means. There are 78 people, confirmed defendants, 
and sentences sought for each. Several Cuban exile groups have 
distributed slightly longer lists. We are not sure. We hear 78 by the 
Associated Press. These are probably people who we will never hear from 
again because they will probably be dead at the hands of Fidel Castro's 
henchmen.
  Mr. Speaker, tonight I ask my colleagues to carefully look at the 
headlines, think about our men and women in harm's way, and think if 
they really want to pursue a policy of appeasement with a man who is in 
fact locking up his own citizens as we speak. The parallels between 
Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro are absolutely identical. One has a 
beard, one is south of Florida by 90 miles, the other is in the Middle 
East. But if the citizens dare speak out against either, they are dead 
or imprisoned for life. If they advocate health care or opportunity, 
they are arrested. Please do not fall for the trap; trade will not 
work. The embargo must stand. Fidel must go, and Cubans on that 
beautiful island south of Florida should have a chance for democracy 
and free elections.

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