IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 193

Expressing support to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting 

of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 

2005, in Havana. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 6, 2005

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida (for himself, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. ROSLEHTINEN, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. SMITH of New 

Jersey, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. WILSON

of South Carolina, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. MACK, Mr. MURPHY, 

Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mrs. DRAKE, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. BAKER, Mr. 

FOLEY, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. WELLER, Mr. BARRETT of 

South Carolina, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. CANNON, 

Mr. SOUDER, Mr. MCCOTTER, Ms. NORTON, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 

Mr. PALLONE, Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota, and Mr. WELDON of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION

Expressing support to the organizers and participants of 

the historic meeting of the Assembly to Promote the 

Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in Havana.

Whereas Fidel Castro’s terrorist regime has continued to repress all attempts by the Cuban people to bring democratic change to Cuba and denies universally recognized 

liberties, including freedom of speech, association, movement, and the press; 
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•HRES 193 IH 

Whereas thousands of political prisoners are currently imprisoned by Fidel Castro’s totalitarian regime; 

Whereas in March 2003 Fidel Castro carried out a massive, 

island wide crackdown on members of Cuba’s pro-democracy movement, under which pro-democracy activists were 

arrested, subjected to ‘‘summary trials’’, and sentenced 

to up to 28 years in prison for their pro-democracy activities; 

Whereas the Department of State’s 2004 Country Reports on 

Human Rights Practices, in referring to Castro’s Cuba, 

states: ‘‘Members of the security forces and prison officials continued to beat and abuse detainees and prisoners, including human rights activists. . . . Prison conditions remained harsh and life threatening, and the Government restricted medical care to some prisoners as a 

method of control. Prisoners died in jail due to lack of 

medical care.’’; 

Whereas on May 20, 1902, the Republic of Cuba obtained its 

independence; 

Whereas in the spirit of Jose Marti, many of the future leaders of a free Cuba have called for a meeting of the Assembly of the Civil Society in Cuba, an organization that 

consists of over 360 opposition and civil society organizations in Cuba; 

Whereas on May 20, 2005, the Assembly to Promote the 

Civil Society in Cuba seeks to convene an historic meeting in Havana on the 103rd anniversary of Cuban Independence; 

Whereas the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba 

will focus on bringing democracy and liberty to the 

enslaved island of Cuba; 
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•HRES 193 IH 

Whereas the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba 

is led by three courageous pro-democracy opponents of 

the Castro regime—Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, Felix 

Bonne Carcasses, and Rene Gomez Manzano; 

Whereas organizers and participants are convening a meeting 

of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba at 

great risk to themselves and their families; and 

Whereas President George W. Bush stated in his second inaugural address on January 20, 2005: ‘‘All who live in 

tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States 

will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with 

you. Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or 

exile can know: America sees you for who you are—the 

future leaders of your free country.’’: Now, therefore, be 

it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) extends its support and solidarity to the or3 ganizers and participants of the historic meeting of 

4 the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba 

5 on May 20, 2005, in Havana; 

6 (2) urges the international community to sup7 port the Assembly’s mission to bring democracy to 

8 Cuba; 

9 (3) urges the Administration and international 

10 community to actively oppose any attempts by the 

11 Castro regime to repress or punish the organizers 

12 and participants of the Assembly; and 
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•HRES 193 IH 

1 (4) shares the pro-democracy ideals of the As2 sembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba and be3 lieves that this Assembly and others will hasten the 

4 day of freedom and democracy for the people of 

5 Cuba.

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