[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 158 (Monday, December 12, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13443-S13444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, in recognition of Human Rights Day on 
December 10, I rise to pay tribute to some of the bravest human rights 
advocates in this hemisphere Cubans who have dared to raise their 
voices to protest a regime they rightfully see as antidemocratic and 
harshly repressive.
  Cuba is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that has not held 
democratic elections in recent decades. Fidel Castro has served as 
dictator for

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over four decades, and his regime does not permit free speech or free 
enterprise. What is particularly reprehensible is the treatment Castro 
doles out to those who desire freedom on the island.
  This week, the EU will present its Sakharov Prize for Freedom of 
Thought to the Ladies in White, the mothers and wives of Cuban 
political prisoners who hold peaceful demonstrations each Sunday to 
protest the imprisonment of their husbands and sons, some for more than 
20 years, for political reasons. I extend my congratulations to these 
worthy award recipients and to the Sakharov Prize selection committee 
for their continuing attention to Cuba.
  Three years ago, the same prize was awarded to Oswaldo Paya, 
organizer of the Varela Project, which seeks a referendum on open 
elections, freedom of speech, freedom for political prisoners, and free 
enterprise. Despite the imprisonment of more than 50 organizers and 
continuous government harassment, the Varela Project continues to 
gather more signatures. To date, more than 35,000 ordinary Cubans have 
signed the petition at great personal risk and joined a historic 
national grassroots movement. Mr. Paya also continues to work with 
other dissidents to plan for Cuba's transition to democracy. I have met 
with Mr. Paya and found him to be an extraordinary individual.
  All this is happening in a context of increasing demands for freedom 
by the Cuban people. This year's edition of the report entitled ``Steps 
to Freedom'' by the Miami-based Directorio chronicled 1,805 acts of 
nonviolent civil protest and 1,371 vigils for the freedom of political 
prisoners throughout Cuba, including one major conference on May 20. 
This represents a significant increase since the first such report in 
1997, which found only 44 acts of civil protest, all of which were 
limited to Havana only. The increasing courage of the Cuban people to 
stand up for their human rights is all the more remarkable since it is 
happening in the midst of continuing arrests and ``actos de repudio'' 
organized by the Castro government.
  In 2003, I traveled to Cuba with an open mind about U.S. trade and 
travel policy. During my trip I was touched by the stories I heard of 
people imprisoned for such ``crimes'' as opening a library, belonging 
to an independent trade union, or being members of Doctors Without 
Borders. Since that trip, I have come to believe that supporting those 
who are working for freedom is the single most important policy we can 
espouse toward Cuba.
  Democracy in Cuba is not something the United States can or should 
impose. What we can do is support the efforts of the Cuban people to 
achieve their God-given right to live in a free society. On this Human 
Rights Day, I salute the Ladies in White, Mr. Paya, and all the other 
Cubans working for human rights and freedom in their country.

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