[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                 RECOGNIZING CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to five 
former political prisoners who arrived in Miami on March 15, 2016: 
Vladimir Morera Bacallao, Jorge Ramirez Calderon, Yojarne Arce, 
Aracelio Riviaux Noa, and Niorvis Rivera Guerra. These men were victims 
of vicious acts at the hands of Castro's thugs.
   Vladimir, Jorge, and Aracelio were among those on the so-called 
``list of 53'' who were released as part of the Obama-Castro deal. 
Although Castro released these 53 wrongfully incarcerated political 
prisoners, many, including Vladimir, Jorge, and Aracelio, were 
rearrested.
   While in prison, Vladimir began a hunger strike on October 9, 2015. 
In December, I expressed grave concern for his health as he lingered 
near death in a Cuban prison, and in January wrote a letter to 
President Obama expressing serious concern for Jorge and others re-
arrested on the list of 53.
   The five political prisoners I mentioned here were promised safe 
haven in the U.S., but their families remain in Cuba, subject to abuse 
and harassment at the hands of the Castro regime. These activists are 
extremely worried about their families in Cuba who are suffering 
retaliation because they had the courage to speak out against an unjust 
government.
   The Castro regime holds the worst human rights record in our 
hemisphere, and its repression has escalated. The concessions that 
President Obama has provided to the Castro dictatorship has emboldened 
the Cuban people's oppressors, and they further harass, brutalize, and 
abuse courageous activists such as these five individuals.
   Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues in Congress to condemn the 
egregious human rights abuses perpetrated against Cuban pro-democracy 
activists and their families, and demand the immediate, unconditional 
release of all political prisoners.

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