[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 37 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1415-H1416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RESOLUTION CALLING FOR SUPPORT OF CUBA'S PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, inside the

[[Page H1416]]

gulag of prisons in the Caribbean totalitarian state of the Castro 
brothers, a few days ago six heroes managed to get a statement out of 
one of the prisons, and I'd like to read it at this time.
  ``We continue to suffer cruel treatment, inhuman, degrading 
treatment, and even torture in the Communist regime's prisons. We ask 
all who support Cuba's freedom to, between March 12 and March 31, unite 
in short periods of fasting and study of the Bible, demanding the 
liberation of all political prisoners and liberty and democracy in 
Cuba. Please engage in short fasts and prayer sessions in your homes, 
churches, or other public gathering places, and speak out in articles 
and conferences to reflect upon and help implement, through peaceful, 
just, and patriotic means, the long-sought objectives of the Cuban 
people.''
  And this statement is from Oscar Elias Biscet, Julio Cesar Galvez, 
Ricardo Gonzalez, Normando Hernandez, Regis Iglesias, and Angel Moya. 
They are in the Combinado del Este prison of Cuba. This was sent March 
3rd.
  The Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies was formed 
this last Friday, Madam Speaker, under the leadership of Lithuania, 
that is chairing the Community of Democracies, and especially a 
magnificent diplomat, Ambassador Pavilionis.
  Lithuania led the Community of Democracies to form a parliamentary 
assembly, the Parliamentary Forum, and the first meeting was held in 
Vilnius, Lithuania, on Friday. And the first resolution by motion of 
the new president of the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of 
Democracies, President Zingeris, the first resolution of that 
Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies, I'd like to read. 
It's titled Calling for Support of Cuba's Pro-Democracy Movement. In 
the convening meeting, the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of 
Democracies, Vilnius, Lithuania, March 12, 2010:
  ``Whereas the pro-democracy movement in Cuba has grown at a rapid 
pace over the last 3 years, and specifically expressions of the 
movement are evident today in the explosion of bloggers, independent 
journalists and musicians, artists, writers, and others who are using 
their talents to denounce the atrocities of the dictatorship, all while 
putting forth new ideas for the transition to democracy;
  ``Whereas there are still extraordinary obstacles to overcome such as 
the continued repression by the totalitarian dictatorship, extremely 
limited access to the Internet and 'texting' capabilities, and a lack 
of a coherent message of solidarity from the international community;
  ``Whereas the dictatorship is fearful of the growth of the pro-
democracy movement;
  ``Whereas the message of the movement is coherent and clear in 
demanding freedom for all Cuban political prisoners, beginning with 
those are gravely ill inside the prisons, freedom of expression, and 
fair multiparty elections with international supervision;
  ``Whereas this common position of the Cuban pro-democracy movement 
requires recognition, dissemination, and solidarity on the part of the 
international community;
  ``Whereas now more than ever the Cuban pro-democracy movement 
requires that the democratic community take concrete steps to 
demonstrate its solidarity;
  ``Now, therefore it is resolved by the Parliamentary Forum of the 
Community of Democracies that it condemns the brutality of the Cuban 
regime against Cuban political prisoners;
  expresses its full support for the Cuban pro-democracy movement;
  honors Cuban pro-democracy fighters such as the martyr Orlando Zapata 
Tamayo and express its admiration for the efforts of other heroes such 
as Guillermo Farinas;
  calls for the immediate release of all Cuban political prisoners and 
free multiparty elections in Cuba; and
  calls on the democratic community to take concrete steps in 
demonstrating their solidarity with the Cuban pro-democracy movement by 
providing humanitarian and technological assistance to the pro-
democracy movement, urging foreign diplomatic posts in Havana to 
strengthen contacts with pro-democracy activists on the island, 
encouraging foreign dignitaries to visit Cuba for the sole purpose of 
meeting with pro-democracy activists, and looking for opportunities to 
reiterate and support the common position of the Cuban pro-democracy 
movement in the international community.''
  This action by the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of 
Democracies deserves commendation. Those heroes in the gulag who are 
suffering today are the leaders of Cuba tomorrow, and they deserve our 
support.

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