[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17350]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONDEMNING THE RECENT ARREST OF DISSIDENTS IN CUBA BY THE AUTHORITARIAN 
                             CASTRO REGIME

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CONNIE MACK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2005

  Mr. MACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for 
freedom in the face of fascism on the island of Cuba. Last Friday, 
advocates of liberty who simply wanted to hold a peaceful demonstration 
against the Castro government, were surrounded and thrown into jail--
all for expressing their personal views.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation was founded on the principle of freedom of 
speech. As Americans, we should find it particularly appalling when 
such a basic and fundamental human right is abridged by a tyrannical 
regime right here in our neighboring waters.
  At a time when freedom is on the move around the world, it is a shame 
to see the flame of liberty snuffed out by such despots like Cuba's 
Fidel Castro and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
  I call on our European allies to stand with the United States and 
condemn the egregious abuses of human rights in Cuba and the copycat 
abuses in Venezuela. Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to turn our backs 
on those who seek freedom and democracy. Now is the time to find ways 
to promote freedom, security and prosperity for all people and for the 
United States to continue to stand firm against totalitarian regimes.

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