[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF 
                   THE HUMAN RIGHTS CRACKDOWN IN CUBA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. TODD TIAHRT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2005

  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 81, 
expressing the sense of Congress regarding the two-year anniversary of 
the human rights crackdown in Cuba.
  The people of Cuba have suffered under the authoritarian dictatorship 
of Fidel Castro for more than 45 years. Rather than allowing Cubans to 
thrive and live prosperous lives, the Castro regime has instead created 
a legacy of suppression, harm and failure. Cubans are ready for 
freedom, but their government does not want them to have even a taste.
  Freedom-loving countries widely recognize that human rights 
violations against innocent Cubans are a sign Castro is afraid. Whether 
it is fear that Cubans will love freedom more than socialism, fear that 
a faltering economy will lead to more unrest, or fear of political 
opposition, it is clear Castro's government is a regime of fear. Rather 
than securing rights for the good of the people, Fidel Castro has 
imprisoned those who have spoken against human rights violations and 
other injustices within Cuba.
  I hope with the passage of this resolution we will again unite our 
voices with those who dream of a free Cuba and join with those whose 
voices have been silenced by a repressive government.
  In March 2003 Castro arrested 75 people who were bold enough to speak 
out against harmful policies of the government. Men and women whose 
occupations included librarians, union organizers and civic leaders 
were charged with innocuous crimes and sentenced to long prison terms. 
While a few of those arrested have been conditionally released, most of 
these voices of freedom remain behind bars.
  Ignoring international condemnation for its actions, the Cuban 
government continues down its path of suppression.
  However, as history has shown, when one group of voices are silenced, 
other voices will fill the void and cry out. The yearning for freedom 
within the human spirit can be suppressed, but it cannot be 
extinguished.
  One Cuban group speaking on behalf of Castro's political prisoners 
are the mothers, daughters, wives and sisters of those arrested more 
than two years ago. Every Sunday for the past two years, a band of 30 
women, called the Women in White, attend mass at Santa Rita Catholic 
Church before proceeding down a sidewalk on a silent protest. Even 
after intimidation from Castro's thugs, this little band of women are 
determined to peacefully expose the injustice of what is happening to 
their relatives. I hope the Women in White, along with thousands of 
other Cubans, will have the strength to continue fighting for the right 
to live in freedom.
  I urge my colleagues to join me today in voting for H. Con. Res. 81 
and send a strong message that the American people stand in solidarity 
with all freedom-loving Cubans.

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