[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14642]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      CUBAN RAFTERS TREATED WORSE THAN CATTLE BY U.S. COAST GUARD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, the inscription on the Statue of 
Liberty refers to this great country of ours as the mother of exiles 
which requests: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses of 
your teeming shore; send these tempest tossed to me.
  But, Mr. Speaker, today I find myself asking if the torch of freedom 
no longer shines for those who risk life and limb in search of liberty 
in this great country. As the vanguard of democracy, our country, the 
United States of America, must set the standards to be emulated. Today, 
however, the actions reportedly taken by the U.S. Coast Guard in south 
Florida against Cuban rafters could cast a solemn shadow over this 
country and could stain our proud history as defenders of the oppressed 
and protectors of human rights worldwide.
  According to the video footage obtained by news sources in Miami, six 
Cuban refugees reached U.S. territorial waters today in the early 
afternoon and were subsequently approached by U.S. Coast Guard boats. 
These Coast Guard vessels opened water cannons on the rafters causing 
some of them to fall overboard. As the rafters started to swim to 
safety, the smaller Coast Guard vessels pursued them and pushed them 
against the sand, corralling them like cattle. Actually in this country 
we afford animals much better treatment than that.
  It is reported that only after Coast Guard officers had completed 
their attack on these defenseless freedom seekers did they proceed to 
take them into custody. This is something we expect from oppressive 
regimes who care little, if anything, for human life, but this is not 
what we expect from our fine United States Coast Guard. Members of the 
Coast Guard are valiant men and women who proudly serve their country 
and who have saved hundreds and indeed thousands of lives off of our 
south Florida shores. I am sure that they did not welcome this tragic 
order today. We expect the United States Coast Guard to enforce the 
laws, but we do not and should not tolerate violations of the basic 
human rights of those seeking refuge from persecution.

                              {time}  1900

  We expect the United States Coast Guard to protect U.S. territory 
against all enemies, but we do not and will not tolerate attacks on 
defenseless victims such as the survivors of Castro's brutal 
dictatorship. If there is one entity which survivors of Castro's 
oppression have looked to with respect and admiration, if there was one 
entity which Cuban refugees trusted and confided in, it is the U.S. 
Coast Guard.
  Has their trust been misplaced? I hope not. It is unconscionable for 
an entity of the U.S. Government charged with the responsibility of 
enforcing our laws to violate them and employ excessive force, 
including the use of water cannons and mace, against those who present 
no threat to the personal security of our men and women in uniform nor 
to the security of our great country.
  These actions merit an immediate and comprehensive investigation. I 
have asked the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, 
the Coast Guard Commandant and other senior officials to take action 
regarding these Coast Guard officers who gave the orders violating the 
rights of those refugees and that appears to have violated U.S. 
guidelines on how to deal with such situations.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in this request and express their 
indignation over this display of aggression. This is not what America 
stands for.
  I have sent this letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright this 
afternoon and a similar letter, as I have said, to President Bill 
Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Secretary of Transportation Rodney 
Slater and Coast Guard Commandant Admiral James Lloyd.
  I say, your personal attention to this matter is greatly appreciated 
to ensure due diligence in the investigation and resolution of this 
case. This is a matter of grave concern; and to enlist their 
cooperation for an immediate investigation of the events which unfolded 
off the coast of South Florida today, June 29, between Cuban rafters 
seeking asylum and U.S. Coast Guard officials, and I would like to 
place this letter in the Record.

                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, June 29, 1999.
     Hon. Madeleine Albright,
     Secretary, Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Albright: I am writing on a matter of grave 
     concern and to enlist your cooperation for an immediate 
     investigation of the events which unfolded off the coast of 
     Florida, today, June 29th between Cuban rafters seeking 
     asylum and U.S. Coast Guard officials.
       According to the video footage by news sources in Miami, 
     six Cuban refugees reached U.S. territorial waters in the 
     early afternoon and were subsequently approached by U.S. 
     Coast Guard boats which opened water cannons on the rafters, 
     causing some of them to fall overboard. As the rafters 
     started to swim to safety, the smaller Coast Guard vessels 
     pursued them and pushed them against the sand. It is reported 
     that only after the Coast Guard had completed its attack on 
     these defenseless freedom seekers, did they proceed to take 
     them into custody.
       These actions merit an immediate and comprehensive 
     investigation. If confirmed, I ask that action be taken 
     regarding these Coast Guard officials who gave the orders 
     which violated the basic human rights of these Cuban refugees 
     and appears to have violated U.S. guidelines on how to deal 
     with such situations.
       Your personal attention to this matter is greatly 
     appreciated to ensure due diligence in the investigation and 
     resolution of this case.
           Sincerely,
                                              Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
     Member of Congress.

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