[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FREEDOM FOR LAZARO RODRIGUEZ CAPOTE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2007

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
speak about Lazaro Miguel Rodriguez Capote, a political prisoner in 
totalitarian Cuba.
  Mr. Rodriguez Capote is a member of the Cuban Pro Human Rights Party 
and a peaceful pro-democracy activist in totalitarian Cuba. As an 
opponent of the tyrannical regime in Havana, he has worked for basic 
human rights for the people of Cuba despite constant harassment and 
repression because he believes the Cuban people are entitled to basic 
human rights and democracy; in other words, freedom from tyranny.
  On February 24, 1996, three U.S. citizens and a resident of Florida 
were assassinated when two civilian Brothers to the Rescue aircraft, on 
a humanitarian mission, were destroyed in international airspace by 
Cuban MiGs on the direct order of the Cuban dictator. The downing of 
the Brothers to the Rescue airplanes over international waters by the 
tyranny left an indelible impression on the consciences of Cuban pro-
democracy activists and in countless millions throughout the world.
  Mr. Rodriguez Capote was one of the many human rights activists in 
totalitarian Cuba who sought to commemorate the tragic deaths of these 
men but who was prohibited from demonstrating by the tyranny. Although 
Mr. Rodriguez Capote was threatened by state security thugs prior to 
his participation in peaceful demonstrations, he refused to allow his 
voice to be silenced. Consequently, he was wrongfully arrested on 
February 22, 2002 on trumped-up charges of ``espionage and enemy 
propaganda''.
  Mr. Rodriguez Capote was summarily incarcerated and to this day 
languishes in grotesque subhuman conditions without having even been 
tried for a single crime. He is being held indefinitely in a 
totalitarian dungeon, suffering abhorrent conditions because he refuses 
to accept the reality inflicted upon Cuba by the tyranny. Since his 
incarceration he has held several hunger strikes to attract attention 
to the plight of Cuban political prisoners,
  Mr. Rodriguez Capote is one of the many heroes of the peaceful Cuban 
democratic movement who are locked in the dungeons of the dictatorship 
for their beliefs. These men and women are symbols of freedom and 
democracy, who will always be remembered when freedom reigns again in 
Cuba.
  Madam Speaker, let me be very clear, the brutal repression practiced 
by the tyranny in Havana is incompatible with the democratic values and 
the international law of our hemisphere. Mr. Rodriguez Capote is 
suffering in a dungeon because he believes in freedom, democracy and 
human rights. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and 
unconditional release of Lazaro Miguel Rodriguez Capote and every 
prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

                          ____________________