III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 584 

Acknowledging the peaceful hunger strike of Guillermo ‘‘El Coco’’ Farin ̃as, 

a political dissident in Cuba, applauding his bravery and commitment 

to human rights, and expressing solidarity with him and his cause. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 

Mr. CRUZ (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Acknowledging the peaceful hunger strike of Guillermo ‘‘El 

Coco’’ Farin ̃as, a political dissident in Cuba, applauding 

his bravery and commitment to human rights, and expressing solidarity with him and his cause. 

Whereas Fidel Castro and Raul Castro have led an oppressive, totalitarian, 1-party Communist state in Cuba for 

57 years; 

Whereas the Castro regime has unyieldingly violated basic 

human rights and steadfastly suppressed peaceful dissent 

in Cuba, despite nonviolent calls for change in Cuba and 

internationally; 

Whereas the unconditional reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba has failed to 


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•SRES 584 IS 

meaningfully improve the predicament of the people of 

Cuba; 

Whereas Guillermo ‘‘El Coco’’ Farin ̃as is an internationally 

renowned Cuban dissident dedicated to advocating for political freedoms and human rights in Cuba; 

Whereas the Communist Party of Cuba has viewed political 

freedoms and human rights as antithetical to the totalitarian agenda, and a threat to the existence, of that 

party; 

Whereas El Coco Farin ̃as has repeatedly stated his willingness to give up his own life for the cause of freedom and 

liberty in Cuba; 

Whereas El Coco Farin ̃as held a 7-month hunger strike in 

2006 to call attention to the Cuban Government’s practice of Internet censorship in Cuba; 

Whereas El Coco Farin ̃as held another hunger strike in 2010 

to protest the Cuban Government’s practices of making 

politically motivated arrests and maintaining prisoners of 

conscience; 

Whereas the Government of Cuba denied El Coco Farin ̃as an 

exit visa in 2010 to travel to Strasbourg, France, to receive the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for 

Freedom of Thought, in recognition of the efforts of El 

Coco Farin ̃as to peacefully advocate for political freedoms 

in Cuba; 

Whereas at the funeral of fellow activist Oswaldo Paya ́, who 

is widely believed to have been murdered by the Castro 

regime, El Coco Farin ̃as was among dozens of dissidents 

who were arbitrarily arrested; 


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•SRES 584 IS 

Whereas El Coco Farin ̃as initiated another hunger strike in 

the summer of 2016 to call international attention to the 

continued brutality committed by the Cuban Government; 

Whereas, on September 12, 2016, El Coco Farin ̃as ended 

that hunger strike following the release of a fabricated 

report that the European Union had conditioned relations 

with Cuba on improvements in the human rights situation in Cuba, which the European Parliament later confirmed was false and the Cuban American National 

Foundation denounced as a ‘‘discrediting campaign to 

misinform the people of Cuba and the international community’’; 

Whereas in recognition of his unwavering efforts to peacefully 

push for reforms for the people of Cuba, El Coco Farin ̃as 

has been awarded— 

(1) the 2006 Cyber-Freedom Prize by Reporters 

Without Borders; 

(2) the Weimar International Human Rights Award; 

and 

(3) the 2010 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of 

Thought by the European Parliament; and 

Whereas recognition of the recent hunger strike of El Coco 

Farin ̃as and an expression of solidarity with him and his 

cause sends a positive signal of the enduring commitment 

of the people of the United States to the people of Cuba: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) honors the courage of Guillermo ‘‘El Coco’’ 

3 Farin ̃as in standing up to the relentless repression 

4 of the Government of Cuba; 


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•SRES 584 IS 

1 (2) recognizes El Coco Farin ̃as for his persever2 ance in seeking meaningful change for the people of 

3 Cuba through peaceful means; 

4 (3) acknowledges that the efforts of the Govern5 ment of Cuba to undermine the latest hunger strike 

6 of El Coco Farin ̃as, through the release of a fab7 ricated report, failed to diminish the international 

8 attention that his hunger strike attracted to the 

9 human rights situation in Cuba; and 

10 (4) expresses solidarity and support for El Coco 

11 Farin ̃as, his valiant efforts, and his commitment to 

12 basic human freedoms for the people of Cuba. 

Æ 


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