•HRES 99 EH
intimidation, arbitrary arrest, detention, imprisonment,
and defamation of those who voice their opposition
against the government;
Whereas the Government of Cuba engages in torture and
other cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment or pun-
ishment against political prisoners including the use of
electroshock, intense beatings, and extended periods of
solitary confinement without nutrition or medical atten-
tion, to force them into submission;
Whereas the Government of Cuba suppresses the right to
freedom of expression and freedom of association and re-
cently enacted legislation which carries penalties of up to
30 years for dissidents and independent journalists;
Whereas religious freedom in Cuba is severely circumscribed
and clergy and lay people suffer sustained persecution by
the Cuban State Security apparatus;
Whereas the Government of Cuba routinely restricts workers’
rights including the right to form independent unions;
Whereas the Government of Cuba denies its people equal pro-
tection under the law, enforcing a judicial system which
infringes upon fundamental rights while denying recourse
against the violation of human rights and civil liberties;
Whereas in recent weeks the Government of Cuba has carried
out a brutal crackdown of the brave internal opposition
and independent press, arresting scores of peaceful oppo-
nents without cause or justification;
Whereas the internal opposition in Cuba is working intensely
and valiantly to draw international attention to Cuba’s
deplorable human rights situation and continues to
strengthen and grow in its opposition to the Government
of Cuba;
•HRES 99 EH
Whereas at this time of great repression, the internal opposi-
tion requires and deserves the firm and unwavering sup-
port and solidarity of the international community; and
Whereas the Congress of the United States has stood, con-
sistently, on the side of the Cuban people and supported
their right to be free: Now therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the re-
pressive crackdown by the Government of Cuba against
the brave internal opposition and the independent press;
(2) expresses its profound admiration and firm soli-
darity with the internal opposition and independent
press of Cuba;
(3) demands that the Government of Cuba release
all political prisoners, legalize all political parties, labor
unions, and the press, and schedule free and fair elec-
tions;
(4) urges the Administration, at the 55th Session of
the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Gene-
va, Switzerland, to take all steps necessary to secure
international support for, and passage of, a resolution
which condemns the Cuban Government for its gross
abuses of the rights of the Cuban people and for contin-
ued violations of all international human rights stand-
ards and legal principles, and calls for the reinstatement
•HRES 99 EH
of the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human
Rights in Cuba;
(5) declares the acts of the Government of Cuba, in-
cluding its widespread and systematic violation of human
rights, to be in violation of the charter of the United Na-
tions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
(6) urges the President to nominate a special envoy
to advocate, internationally, for the establishment of the
rule of law for the Cuban people; and
(7) urges the President to continue to actively seek
support from individual nations, as well as the United
Nations, the Organization of American States, the Euro-
pean Union, and all other international organizations to
call for the establishment of the rule of law for the
Cuban people.
Attest:
Clerk.