IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 99
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the human
rights situation in Cuba.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 9, 1999
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. GILMAN, Mr.
MENENDEZ, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey, Mr.
DEUTSCH, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. BURTON of Indiana,
Mr. WEXLER, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, and Mr. SHERMAN) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
regarding the human rights situation in Cuba.
Whereas the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
in Geneva, Switzerland, provides a forum for discussing
the human rights situation throughout the world, for con-
demning abuses and gross violations of these liberties,
and for establishing an international mechanism to ex-
press support for the protection and defense of these in-
herent natural rights;
Whereas the actions taken by the United Nations Commis-
sion on Human Rights establish precedents for further
courses of action and send messages to the international
•HRES 99 IH
community that the protection and promotion of human
rights is a priority;
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which
guides global human rights policy asserts that all human
beings are born free and live in dignity with rights;
Whereas international human rights organizations, the Inter-
American Commission on Human Rights, and the De-
partment of State all concur that the Government of
Cuba continues to systematically violate the fundamental
civil and political rights of its citizens;
Whereas it is carefully documented that the Government of
Cuba propagates and encourages the routine harassment,
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 continues to violate the
rights of the child by engaging in child labor and the ex-
ploitation of child prostitution;
•HRES 99 IH
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;
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;
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 repressive crackdown by the Government of
Cuba against the brave internal opposition and the
independent press;
(2) expresses its profound admiration and firm
solidarity with the internal opposition and independ-
ent press of Cuba;
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(3) demands that the Government of Cuba re-
lease all political prisoners, legalize all political par-
ties, labor unions, and the press, and schedule free
and fair elections;
(4) urges the Administration, at the 55th Ses-
sion of the United Nations Human Rights Commis-
sion in Geneva, Switzerland, to take all steps nec-
essary to secure international support for, and pas-
sage of, a resolution which condemns the Cuban
Government for its gross abuses of the rights of the
Cuban people and for continued violations of all
international human rights standards and legal prin-
ciples, and calls for the reinstatement of the United
Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in
Cuba;
(5) declares the acts of the Castro regime, in-
cluding its widespread and systematic violation of
human rights, to be in violation of the charter of the
United Nations and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights;
(6) urges the President to nominate a special
envoy to advocate, internationally, for the establish-
ment of the rule of law for the Cuban people;
(7) urges the President to actively seek support
from individual nations, as well as the United Na-