[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 50 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FREEDOM FOR LUIS ENRIQUE FERRER GARCIA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2005

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
speak about Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, a prisoner of conscience in 
totalitarian Cuba.
  Mr. Ferrer Garcia is a peaceful pro-democracy activist who desires to 
bring freedom, democracy, and human rights to Cuba. He is also a member 
of the Christian Liberation Movement. Because he believes that freedom 
is the birthright of every person, he has been repeatedly harassed and 
detained by the nightmare that is the Castro regime. According to 
Amnesty International, in December 1999 he was sentenced to 6 months 
``restricted freedom.''
  In March 2003, as part of Castro's heinous island wide crackdown on 
peaceful prodemocracy activists, Mr. Ferrer Garcia was arrested by the 
dictatorship. In a sham trial he was sentenced to 28 years in the 
totalitarian gulag.
  According to reports, Mr. Ferrer Garcia was transferred to a 
``punishment cell'' for having refused a military salute to a prison 
official. These punishment cells are the very depths of depravity. 
According to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights 
Practices for 2004: `` `punishment cells,' were located in the basement 
of a prison, with continuous semi dark conditions, no available water, 
and a hole for a toilet. Reading materials, including Bibles, were not 
allowed . . . Prisoners in punishment cells had no access to lawyers.''
  Mr. Ferrer Garcia was eventually released from this ``punishment 
cell'' because of a hunger strike carried out on his behalf. However, 
he is in constant danger of being returned to this version of hell 
within a gulag.
  Mr. Luis Ferrer Garcia is not the only member of his family sentenced 
to the totalitarian gulag. His brother, Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia been 
sentenced to 25 years in the gulag for his belief in freedom, democracy 
and basic human rights. These two brothers are brilliant examples of 
the heroism of the Cuban people. No matter how intense the repression, 
no matter how horrifically brutal the consequences of a dignified 
struggle for liberty, the totalitarian gulags are full of men and women 
of all backgrounds and ages who represent the best of the Cuban nation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is as inconceivable as it is unacceptable that, while 
the world stands by in silence and acquiescence, these two brothers are 
systematically tortured because of their belief in freedom, democracy, 
human rights and the rule of law. My Colleagues, we must demand the 
immediate and unconditional release of Luis Enrique Ferrer Garcia, Jose 
Daniel Ferrer Garcia and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

                          ____________________