Date: 2006-06-14
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. this is one of various amendments that will be brought forth. I believe. today with regard to the issue of our policy toward the Communist totalitarianism in Cuba. In fact. this amendment was brought up by Mr. FLAKE a year ago. and it was one of the amendments brought up last year. Since it was brought to the floor last year. the prodemocracy movement in Cuba. and I think it is of relevance to point out. had an opportunity. despite the extraordinary difficulties of speaking out with regard to issues of public policy. either in Cuba or anywhere else. the prodemocracy movement had an opportunity to speak with regard to the amendments that were introduced last year in this Congress. I think it is of relevance and I would like to make note of their position. We have a letter from the leaders of the Assembly to Promote Civil Society. Unbelievably. a year ago they were able to hold a convention for the first time in totalitarian Cuba. Many of their delegates were not allowed to arrive at the convention. They were detained. They were harassed. They were stopped before they left their house. Others were arrested. The assembly elected leaders. something wliich is extraordinary in a totalitarian state. and those leaders signed a letter which I would like to introduce into the RECORD. Mr. Chairman. with regard to the amendments that were brought forth that were made. that were introduced last year. And I would just like to say that as those leaders. one of the three. by the way. has since been arrested. is Mr. Rene Gomez Manzano. who signed this letter. subsequently was thrown in the gulag where he is today. despite not having been charged but he is there today in the gulag. And they said. as they expressed their opposition to the amendments that were filed last year. including this amendment by Mr. FLAKE. that the adoption of any unilateral measure to completely or partially lift the existing sanctions of the United States could be interpreted by the Cuban regime in Havana. which has given continuous examples of its absolute immovability and of its repressive and antidemocratic vocation as a policy of accommodation. Now. this is the position of the brave prodemocracy movement in Cuba. which I think it is of relevance to listen to. As I say. one of them was thrown in the gulag after making known this position with regard to amendments that were filed last year. including Mr. FLAKES. Another point I would like to bring out which I think of is relevance. the Flake amendment. he admits that it is legal to travel for religious purposes to Cuba. I want to reiterate that. It is legal. One of the existing categories for travel to Cuba is. religious travel. The administration does fight fraud and abuse. people who go and say. use even the most sacred of subterfuges. including the religious travel mantle. The administration does fight against abuse. and regulations are in place to make sure that people who are going .for religious travel go for religious purposes. Now. that must be reiterated. the fact that it is legal to travel for religious purposes. The Flake amendment says. no funds could be spent to change the current authorization. regulation that authorizes religious travel. So if a future administration wished to change the regulation. make it stricter. make it easier to travel. the regulations couldnt be changed under Mr. FLAKES amendment. So I simply. as I oppose this amendment. reiterate that it is legal. One of the 13 categories of travel. legal travel to Communist Cuba is for religious purposes. The Flake amendment is confusing. contingent. prospective. and thus difficult really to analyze with regard to its possible effects on the future. But. for me. the most important factor in this debate is that the people who are suffering the repression today and who risk their lives when they make a statement like Rene Gomez Manzano did a year ago in opposition of this amendment. they are clear in their opposition. So I reiterate their position and oppose the Flake amendment. Havana. June 24. 2005.