[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM CUBAN PATRIOTS

  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, I wish to share with my colleagues a 
recent letter from 17 courageous activists within Cuba who are calling 
for democracy for their country. These individuals represent peaceful 
local movements across the nation. They represent Cuba's future more 
than the aged military elite now ruling that country alongside Raul 
Castro. They are asking for the support of the United States, including 
a policy that does not ``sacrifice the moral leadership of the United 
States in the face of commercial temptations.''
  Though Cubans have suffered oppression under the Castro regime for 
more than 50 years, this is an especially appropriate time to raise 
awareness of the ongoing plight of the Cuban people. In recent weeks, 
the Cuban regime has tightened its grip on the reins of power and 
installed hard-line military officers in top government posts. 
Ironically, at a time with increasing harassment and imprisonments 
taking place in Cuba, there are efforts within this Congress to adjust 
U.S. policy in a way that would essentially reward the Cuban regime.
  Before any Member of this body or the President considers loosening 
the sanctions we have on Cuba, I commend the following letter to their 
reading:
  The material follows:

                         [Informal Translation]

       Dear President Obama, Your election is a formidable symbol 
     of what civic determination can do to institute 
     transcendental social and political change. By assuming and 
     conducting your important Presidential duties, you honor the 
     millions of Americans who have fought for liberty, social 
     justice, civil rights and human dignity.
       In Cuba, there is a movement representing a broad racial 
     and religious spectrum, formed by women, men, workers, and 
     young people that--despite being the object of terrible 
     repression by the regime in power--is conducting a peaceful 
     civic struggle for democracy and human rights.
       Our movement includes the desire for CHANGE by thousands of 
     Cubans who have defied the repression, the intimidation and 
     have overcome the fear to sign their names in petitions for 
     constitutional reforms and academic freedom. Thousands more 
     have refused to join in the attacks or ``actos de repudio'' 
     ordered by the political police against those who aspire for 
     peaceful political change. We are sustained by the 
     inspiration of the more than 1.4 million Cubans that 
     boycotted the elections of a single party and candidate 
     organized by the regime in January and February 2008. Every 
     day, in subtle and not so subtle ways, in visible and 
     invisible ways, the Cuban people increasingly deny their 
     support to the regime in power through acts of civil 
     disobedience.
       A great majority of Cubans, including many within the 
     government, yearn for deep democratic changes in Cuba.
       The great example of the civil rights movement in the 
     United States is a ray of hope that the full dignity of every 
     Cuban will be restored. We want to determine our future 
     through democratic means.
       It is our understanding that your administration will 
     redirect the policy of the United States on Cuba and the 
     regime. We ask that you do not put commercial considerations 
     ahead of political freedom for our people. The regime's 
     repression has increased considerably during the last year, 
     and the militarization at high levels of government is a 
     clear signal of the government's lack of will to initiate 
     real changes. Today, hundreds of political prisoners languish 
     in terrible conditions in Castro's jails. Their only crime 
     has been to fight for the same freedoms that Americans such 
     as Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave their 
     lives for. Have no doubt Mr. President Obama that their fight 
     is our fight now.
       We ask that you consider an international, multilateral 
     strategy that would compel the regime to open itself to its 
     own people by freeing the political prisoners, restoring the 
     civil rights of the Cuban people and organizing free 
     elections with international supervision. Such a policy would 
     reinforce and strengthen the work of many groups of Cubans 
     dedicated to the peaceful political change.
       This movement for change seeks to peacefully and deeply 
     transform the political scene of Cuba.
       We invite you to not sacrifice the moral leadership of the 
     United States in the face of commercial temptations. Your 
     presidency is a tribute to everything that can be conquered 
     when a cause is just and correct. We dedicate our lives to 
     the movement for the freedom of Cuba and expect--one day--to 
     have a democratically-elected Cuban president who would 
     welcome you to Havana.
       Do not forget us. We need your support. We, too, ``have a 
     dream'' of freedom.
       Attentively,
       1. Jorge Luis Garcia Perez ``Antunez'', Presidio Politico 
     Pedro Luis Boitel
       2. Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, Movimiento Cubano de Jovenes 
     por la Democracia, La Habana
       3. Rolando Rodriguez Lobaina, Alianza Democratica Oriental, 
     Guantanamo
       4. Idania Yanez Contreras, Coalicion Central Opositora, 
     Villa Clara
       5. Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, Consejo de Relatores de 
     Derechos Humanos, La Habana
       6. Iris Perez Aguilera, Movimiento Feminista de Derecho 
     Civiles Rosa Parks, Villa Clara
       7. Alejandro Tur Valladares, Jagua Press, Cienfuegos
       8. Ana Margarita Perdigon Brito, Presidio Politico Pedro 
     Luis Boitel, Sancti Spiritus
       9. Joaquin Cabezas de Leon, Movimiento Cubano Reflexion, 
     Villa Clara
       10. Ricardo Pupo Sierra, Plantados hasta la Libertad y la 
     Democracia, Cienfuegos
       11. Enyor Diaz Allen, Movimiento Cubano de Jovenes por la 
     Democracia, Guantanamo
       12. Cristian Toranzo, Movimiento Cubano de Jovenes por la 
     Democracia, Holguin
       13. Marta Diaz Rondon, Movimiento Feminista de Derecho 
     Civiles Rosa Parks, Holguin
       14. Margarito Broche Espinosa, Consejo de Relatores de 
     Derechos Humanos de Cuba, Villa Clara
       15. Maria de la Caridad Noa Gonzalez, Comision de Derechos 
     Humanos y Reconciliacion Familiar, Villa Clara
       16. Virgilio Mantilla Arango, Fundacion Cubana de Derechos 
     Humanos, Camaguey
       17. Yorledis Duvalon Gibert, Movimiento Cubano de Jovenes 
     por la Democracia, Santiago de Cuba

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