[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               CONDEMNING THE DEATH OF JUAN WILFREDO SOTO

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the brutal beating 
and subsequent death of Juan Wilfredo Soto. Last Thursday, Soto, while 
participating in a peaceful protest against the Castro regime, Cuban 
authorities beat him so badly that he was later taken to the hospital, 
where he died.
  Soto was a brave man and a respected advocate who helped support the 
hunger strikes of human rights award winner Guillermo Farinas.
  Juan Wilfredo Soto's death is the latest brazen illustration of the 
violent methods the Castro brothers utilize to oppress freedom in Cuba. 
In the last 2 months reports of oppression have increased.
  As many praised the false promises of the Sixth Communist Party 
Congress held in Cuba last month, few acknowledged the crackdown on 
dissidents and journalists that took place. Prior to the congress, 
Cuban authorities reportedly arrested and detained opposition members 
to ensure that all voices critical to the regime would be silent and 
that no protests would be visible.
  The United States and the international community must join together 
in condemning the wrongful death of Juan Wilfredo Soto and supporting 
human rights on the island. We must show Cuban leaders that their 
brutality is not going to go unnoticed.

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