Date: 2011-03-30
Speaker: CHRIS SMITH (democrat)
Chamber: H

from the State of New Jersey. Congresswoman ILEANA RosLEHTINEN. chairperson of the International Relations Committee. and I. spoke to Dr. Biscet by telephone. And. obviously. the first thing was we asked him about his health. And he has suffered greatly in prison. I can tell you. Mr. Speaker. that he has not. however. given up his efforts. He said. You know. I am recuperating so I can continue the struggle for freedom. We asked him about. well. what was his opinion about the policy. the United States policy? By the way. the same policy that former President Jimmy Carter now has just criticized. He said. there are some that claim that if we just opened up trade and we just opened up and we got rid of the sanctions that freedom would come to the Cuban people. He was emphatic. He was so emphatic. He said. no. no. no. no. no. He said. tyrants are always looking at ways to get more money. Tyrants are always looking at ways of getting more revenue. But he further stated. the only thing that would doand Im paraphrasing what he saidbut he was very emphatic and very clear. The only thing that would do. he said. would be to strengthen the dictatorship. It wouldnt help the Cuban people. It would strengthen the dictatorship. Did former President Jimmy Carter meet with Dr. Biscet. the recipient of the Medal of Freedom? No. he did not. He did not because he probably would have not liked to have heard what Dr. Biscet would have had to say. He would have not liked to have heard about the oppression and the lack of human rights and the lack of dignity that those who suffer in Castros gulags have to suffer. while former President Jimmy Carter calls the dictator in Havana his good friend. There are other such incredible heroes that are on the island. Mr. Speaker. I mentioned Dr. Biscet. but I also want to mention Antunez. as I mentioned before. Antunez served almost two decades in prison. He received incredible tortures. beatings. multiple beatings. while he was there. and. yet. when released. his attitude has been what? His attitude has been one of great dignity. of great courage. of standing up and he continues to demand elections. continues to demand freedom. And he also would tell you. if he could be speaking here today. that we have to stay firm and we have to hold steadfast and show solidarity with the Cuban people. not with the regime. not with those that former President Carter calls his good friends. not with those that former President Carter says that they should continue to prosper. when they were ill. hoping that they would do well and fully recover. No. we have to hold firm and stand with the Cuban people. Mr. Speaker. Im so convinced. so convinced that the Cuban people will be free. despite the apologists. despite those that go out of their way to try to make the regime look good. try to make the regime look like theyre this wonderful. charitable regime because every once in a while they may free a political prisoner as a token gesture. Despite that. the Cuban people continue to stand firm. Their heroes are still there. the Mandelas and the Havels of Cuba are on the island. Theyre speaking out. Most of them. many of them have been in prison. Many of them have been tortured and beaten. but their spirit remains strong. Mr. Speaker. They continue to speak out. And despite individuals like. unfortunately. former President Jimmy Carter. who looks for every excuse and every opportunity to criticize the policies of the United States and yet refused to criticize the savagery of that dictatorship. despite that. Im absolutely convinced that the Cuban people will be free because of the heroes like Dr. Biscet and Antunez and many more. So I am not discouraged. I am not discouraged when I see these gestures of solidarity with the dictatorship. I am not discouraged when people go down to Havana and. you know. might have a mojito and relax and go to the beaches and tour the hotels where the Cubans are not allowed to go unless theyre accompanied by foreigners. Im not discouraged because ultimately truth always reigns. because ultimately the rights of individuals always surface. Ultimately. those that sacrifice and that work hard and the heroes who. by the way. are the future leaders of a free Cuba. those heroes who are in the dungeons or who are in and out of the dungeons. they dont give up. And theyre not discouraged. and theyre not quieted. and they will not be intimidated. So. Mr. Speaker. despite this. what some would call a slap in the face to the cause of human rights and democracy in Cuba. I will tell you further than that. the cause of human rights and human dignity around the planet. despite that that former President Jimmy Carter has just attempted to do. Im not discouraged. On the contrary. I am as encouraged as ever. I think I might end by reading a letter. if I actually have it here. No. I dont think I have it. I do want to mention. though. that one of our colleagues in the Senate. a Democrat. Democrat from New Jersey. Senator MENENDEZ. wrote a letter to former President Jimmy Carter where he expressed. and I will be submitting that for the RECORD. Mr. Speaker. where he expressed what Jimmy Carter. what former President Jimmy Carter should be talking about. And he expressed how it was rather incredible that the former President would not demand the freedom of the Cuban people and would criticize the policies of the United States. And as Senator MENENDEZ says in that letter. the issue is not what the policy of the United States is with the Cuban regime. The issue is the policies of the regime and the oppression of the regime with its own people. And once again. Senator MENENDEZ. Democrat from New Jersey. is right on. With that. Mr. Speaker. I just want to again say that we do not forget the heroes in the island. We do not forget those who are struggling and working and speaking out and suffering the consequences for their actions in the island. We do not forget them. We admire them. We support them. We are humbled by their courage. We are humbled by their love for freedom and what they are willing to sacrifice for that freedom. and we know that sooner than I think some may believe and clearly sooner than some would like. they too will be free. They too will be able to discuss the issues in public. They too will be able to make the determination as to the future of their country. I am encouraged and humbled by their leadership. despite sometimes the sadness of what we have to listen to by those who still continue to call Fidel Castro their good friend. Hon. JIMMY CARTER. The Carter Center. One Copenhill. Freedom Parkway. Atlanta. GA. DEAR PRESIDENT CARTER: I am writing to express my grave concern about your visit to Cuba this week to discuss improving U.S.Cuba relations. Your visit suggests that the improvement of relations between the United States and Cuba is contingent upon some action by the United States. rather than acknowledging that it is Cubas intolerant and tyrannical actions that continue to define the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. While you are visiting with President Castro and other Cuban officials to learn about new economic policies and the upcoming party Congress. the regimes thugs are in the streets harassing and arresting scores of political dissidents who dared to hope that you would hear their pleas and argue on their behalf for the adoption of political reforms. The fate of American Alan Gross. a USAID contractor who sought to assist the islands Jewish community. also hangs in the balance while you meet with the political elite that are directing the crackdown on Cubas peaceful civil society activists. On Sunday. the regime detained activists Adriano Castafieda Meneses. Yris Tamara Perez Aguilera and Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antunez and on Monday. Liranza Romero. president of the Cuban Youth for Democracy Movement and Boris Rodriguez Jimenez were arrested when they attempted to stand in front of the Capitol with signs reading "Freedom without Forced Exile for Cubas Political Prisoners" and "The Streets belong to the Cuban People." I urge you to address with President Castro the aspirations of Cubas civil society to live in a democratic state whose laws are derived and implemented by their democratically elected representatives and are based on the core principles of respect for human and civil rights. including the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. As we witness unprecedented movements for democratic change in the Middle East. I appeal to you to recognize that same heartfelt desire amongst the Cuban people and to urge the regime to fulfill the democratic aspirations of the Cuban people. Sincerely.