    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 20, 1991]
    [Pages 524-525]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message on Cuban Independence Day
    May 20, 1991

        On May 20th, Cuban-Americans commemorate the 89th anniversary of
    Cuban independence, a day that celebrates the heroic efforts of the
    people who forged the Cuban Republic.
        The history of our two countries is closely intertwined. During our
    own Revolution, when American troops were short on supplies, the women
    of Havana banded together and raised money for the cause of American
    freedom and independence.
        Eighty-two years later, Cubans banded together and, after a long
    brutal struggle, built their own republic. Today we remember that
    victory for freedom and hope for its renewal in Cuba.
        Freedom demands sacrifice. And the battle for freedom draws upon
    people's most heroic instincts and abilities. Jose Marti, a hero of
    freedom, the father of Cuban independence, said, ``To witness a crime in
    silence is like committing it.'' So, today we again reiterate unwavering
    commitment for a free and democratic Cuba. Nothing shall turn us away
    from this objective.
        I ask Fidel Castro to make this an Independence Day to remember. I
    call on Fidel Castro to free political prisoners in Cuba and allow the
    United Nations Commission on Human Rights to investigate possible human
    rights violations in Cuba. I challenge Mr. Castro to let Cuba live in
    peace with its neighbors. And I challenge Mr. Castro to follow the
    examples of countries like Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Chile in
    their achievement of new democracies.
        Put democracy to a test: permit political parties to organize and a
    free press to thrive. Hold free and fair elections under international
    supervision. Ninety-nine percent of the people of this hemisphere live
    either in a democracy or a country that is on the road to democracy. One
    percent live under the hemisphere's last dictator, Fidel Castro.
        On Cuban Independence Day, our goals for the Cuban nation, shared by
    Cubans everywhere, are plain and clear: freedom and democracy, Mr.
    Castro, not sometime, not someday, but now. If Cuba holds fully free and
    fair elections under international supervision, respects human rights,
    and stops subverting its neighbors, we can expect relations between our
    two countries to improve significantly.
        Thank you, and may God bless the freedom-loving people of Cuba and
    the United States.

                        Note: This message was recorded on May 16 in the
                            Oval Office at the White House and

    [[Page 525]]

                            was released by the Office of the Press
                            Secretary on May 20. In his message, President
                            Bush referred to President Fidel Castro Ruz of
                            Cuba. The message was broadcast into Cuba with a
                            Spanish translation on Radio and TV Marti.