[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 123 (Thursday, September 13, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HUNGER STRIKES IN CUBA

  (Mr. RIVERA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, this Monday, prominent Cuban dissident Marta 
Beatriz Roque launched a hunger strike in order to draw attention to 
the unwavering attempts by the Castro dictatorship to suppress pro-
democracy supporters. She has since been joined in her hunger strike by 
an additional 25 dissidents. Roque suffers from diabetes, and her 
water-only fast could easily kill her in days.
  Castro's thugs have continually increased the level of repression 
against the opposition movement. It is intolerable that this has become 
the ``norm'' in Cuban society. Jailing, beating, and detaining peaceful 
protestors who are simply demanding their basic human rights is not the 
norm. It is unacceptable.
  The Castro brothers will continue their violent and abusive ways and 
will stop at nothing to remain in power. How bad do things need to get 
before the international community finally recognizes the plight of the 
Cuban people? These brave men and women continue to risk their lives 
every day, and we must call attention to their struggle.

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