[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 68 (Friday, May 14, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FREEDOM FOR NELSON MOLINE ESPINO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2004

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about 
Nelson Moline Espino, a prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.
  Mr. Moline Espino is a pro-democracy activist working for freedom for 
the people of Cuba. He is the President of the Confederation of 
Democratic Workers of Cuba and a member of the 30 November party. Mr. 
Moline Espino has dedicated his energy and talents to liberating the 
oppressed people of Cuba from the tyrannical regime.
  As a leader in the struggle for freedom and human rights for the 
people of Cuba, Mr. Moline Espino has been a constant target for the 
dictator's thugs. According to Amnesty International, he has been 
harassed for his activities, called into a police station, and 
threatened with arrest if he did not abandon his struggle for human 
rights and workers rights.
  Because of his belief in freedom, Mr. Moline Espino was arrested as 
part of the tyrant's vicious crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy 
activists in March 2003. On March 20, he was detained and his home was 
searched. Eventually Mr. Moline Espino was ``indicted'' on charges that 
he had mixed with people dedicated to ``subversive'' activity. After a 
sham trial, he was sentenced to 20 years in the totalitarian gulag.
  Mr. Moline Espino is languishing in the inhuman squalor of Castro's 
totalitarian gulag. According to reports, since his trial in April 
2003, he has again been ``tried and sentenced'' to an additional year 
on charges of ``disrespect''. Let us be clear, Mr. Moline Espino is 
locked in the grotesque inferno of totalitarian repression simply 
because he believes in democracy and human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that peaceful pro-democracy 
activists are locked in a diabolical gulag 90 miles from our shore. My 
Colleagues, we must demand the immediate release of Nelson Moline 
Espino and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

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