[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FREEDOM FOR VIRGILIO MARANTA GUELMES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 29, 2005

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak 
about Virgilio Maranta Guelmes, a political prisoner in totalitarian 
Cuba.
  Mr. Maranta Guelmes is a pro-democracy activist and a delegate of the 
24th of February Movement. The movement is named for both the 
commencement of the glorious Cuban War of Independence in 1895, and the 
day in 1996 when two civilian aircraft carrying four members of the 
Brothers to the Rescue movement were shot down over international 
waters by the Cuban dictatorship's fighter jets. The 24th of February 
Movement desires and struggles for freedom in Cuba.
  Because of his belief in freedom and democracy, Mr. Maranta Guelmes 
has been a constant target of the tyrant's machinery of repression. 
According to Amnesty International, he was arrested and imprisoned in 
the totalitarian gulag on December 6, 2002. On May 19, 2002, he was 
again detained and interrogated by the dictatorship. In that 
interrogation, he was told to abandon his activities with the 24th of 
February Movement.
  Mr. Maranta Guelmes, knowing full well the heinous repression that 
awaited him if he continued to advocate for freedom for the people of 
Cuba, never wavered in his convictions. Unfortunately, on May 18, 2004, 
in a sham trial, Mr. Maranta Guelmes was sentenced to 3 years in the 
totalitarian gulag.
  Let me be very clear, Mr. Maranta Guelmes is locked in a dungeon 
because he desires freedom for Cuba. The U.S. State Department 
describes the conditions in the gulag as, ``harsh and life 
threatening.'' The State Department also reports that police and prison 
officials beat, neglect, isolate, and deny medical treatment to 
detainees and prisoners.
  Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable that anyone, anywhere, is 
imprisoned in sub-human gulags simply for their belief in truth, 
freedom and democracy. At the dawn of the 21st century, mankind must no 
longer tolerate prisoners of conscience in any form, in any place, in 
any country. My colleagues, we must cry out for the immediate and 
unconditional release of Virgilio Maranta Guelmes and all prisoners of 
conscience in the totalitarian Cuba.

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