III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 149 

Expressing solidarity with the writers, journalists, and librarians of Cuba 

on World Press Freedom Day and calling for the immediate release 

of citizens of Cuba imprisoned for exercising rights associated with freedom of the press. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 14, 2009 

Mr. MARTINEZ (for himself, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. 

NELSON of Florida, Mr. VOINOVICH, and Mr. LUGAR) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing solidarity with the writers, journalists, and librarians of Cuba on World Press Freedom Day and calling 

for the immediate release of citizens of Cuba imprisoned 

for exercising rights associated with freedom of the press. 

Whereas Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human 

Rights provides, ‘‘Everyone has the right to freedom of 

opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to 

hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive 

and impart information and ideas through any media and 

regardless of frontiers.’’; 

Whereas the United Nations General Assembly declared May 

3 of each year to be ‘‘World Press Freedom Day’’ to 

raise awareness of the importance of freedom of expresVerDate Nov 24 2008 01:49 May 15, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR149.ATS SR149

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•SRES 149 ATS 

sion and to remind governments of their obligation to respect the rights of free expression and of a free press; 

Whereas the United States Department of State, in its 2008 

report on human rights in Cuba, notes, ‘‘The government 

[of Cuba] subjected independent journalists to travel 

bans, detentions, harassment of family and friends, 

equipment seizures, imprisonment, and threats of imprisonment. State Security agents posed as independent journalists to gather information on activists and spread misinformation and mistrust within independent journalist 

circles.’’; 

Whereas Reporters Without Borders, an international nongovernmental organization, continues to rank Cuba as 

one of the most repressive countries in the world, and the 

most repressive country in the Western Hemisphere, with 

respect to freedom of the press; 

Whereas the International Press Institute, a global network 

of journalists, editors, and media executives, concludes 

that Cuba ‘‘remains a leading jailer of journalists’’; 

Whereas International PEN, an international network of 

writers, has reported that 22 writers, journalists, and librarians were among the individuals arrested and tried 

during the crackdown by the Government of Cuba on 

independent civil society activists in the spring of 2003, 

and subsequently imprisoned; 

Whereas International PEN further reports that ‘‘the majority of the detained writers, journalists and librarians are 

suffering from health complaints caused or exacerbated 

by the harsh conditions and treatment they are exposed 

to in prison. Despite their deteriorating health status, access to adequate medical treatment is often limited.’’; and 


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•SRES 149 ATS 

Whereas the Committee to Protect Journalists, a nonpartisan 

international organization of journalists, has identified 

more than 20 writers, journalists, and librarians in Cuba 

who remain imprisoned by the Government of Cuba: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses solidarity with— 

3 (A) the citizens of Cuba who are suffering 

4 harassment, deprivation, or imprisonment for 

5 exercising rights associated with freedom of the 

6 press and pursuing livelihoods as independent 

7 writers, journalists, or librarians; and 

8 (B) the family members of those writers, 

9 journalists, and librarians; and 

10 (2) calls on the Government of Cuba to release 

11 immediately all writers, journalists, and librarians 

12 who are imprisoned for exercising their fundamental 

13 human rights, including the citizens of Cuba that 

14 have been specifically identified by international or15 ganizations that monitor respect for the freedom of 

16 the press as being imprisoned by the Government of 

17 Cuba. 

Æ 


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