Date: 2010-03-15
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Madam Speaker. inside the gulag of prisons in the Caribbean totalitarian state of the Castro brothers. a few days ago six heroes managed to get a statement out of one of the prisons. and Id like to read it at this time. "We continue to suffer cruel treatment. inhuman. degrading treatment. and even torture in the Communist regimes prisons. We ask all who support Cubas freedom to. between March 12 and March 31. unite in short periods of fasting and study of the Bible. demanding the liberation of all political prisoners and liberty and democracy in Cuba. Please engage in short fasts and prayer sessions in your homes. churches. or other public gathering places. and speak out in articles and conferences to reflect upon and help implement. through peaceful. just. and patriotic means. the longsought objectives of the Cuban people." And this statement is from Oscar Elias Biscet. Julio Cesar Galvez. Ricardo Gonzalez. Normando Hernandez. Regis Iglesias. and Angel Moya. They are in the Combinado del Este prison of Cuba. This was sent March 3rd. The Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies was formed this last Friday. Madam Speaker. under the leadership of Lithuania. that is chairing the Community of Democracies. and especially a magnificent diplomat. Ambassador Pavilionis. Lithuania led the Community of Democracies to form a parliamentary assembly. the Parliamentary Forum. and the first meeting was held in Vilnius. Lithuania. on Friday. And the first resolution by motion of the new president of the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies. President Zingeris. the first resolution of that Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies. Id like to read. Its titled Calling for Support of Cubas ProDemocracy Movement. In the convening meeting. the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies. Vilnius. Lithuania. March 12. 2010: "Whereas the prodemocracy movement in Cuba has grown at a rapid pace over the last 3 years. and specifically expressions of the movement are evident today in the explosion of bloggers. independent journalists and musicians. artists. writers. and others who are using their talents to denounce the atrocities of the dictatorship. all while putting forth new ideas for the transition to democracy. "Whereas there are still extraordinary obstacles to overcome such as the continued repression by the totalitarian dictatorship. extremely limited access to the Internet and texting capabilities. and a lack of a coherent message of solidarity from the international community. "Whereas the dictatorship is fearful of the growth of the prodemocracy movement. "Whereas the message of the movement is coherent and clear in demanding freedom for all Cuban political prisoners. beginning with those are gravely ill inside the prisons. freedom of expression. and fair multiparty elections with international supervision. "Whereas this common position of the Cuban prodemocracy movement requires recognition. dissemination. and solidarity on the part of the international community. "Whereas now more than ever the Cuban prodemocracy movement requires that the democratic community take concrete steps to demonstrate its solidarity. "Now. therefore it is resolved by the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies that it condemns the brutality of the Cuban regime against Cuban political prisoners. expresses its full support for the Cuban prodemocracy movement. honors Cuban prodemocracy fighters such as the martyr Orlando Zapata Tamayo and express its admiration for the efforts of other heroes such as Guillermo Farinas. calls for the immediate release of all Cuban political prisoners and free multiparty elections in Cuba. and calls on the democratic community to take concrete steps in demonstrating their solidarity with the Cuban prodemocracy movement by providing humanitarian and technological assistance to the prodemocracy movement. urging foreign diplomatic posts in Havana to strengthen contacts with prodemocracy activists on the island. encouraging foreign dignitaries to visit Cuba for the sole purpose of meeting with prodemocracy activists. and looking for opportunities to reiterate and support the common position of the Cuban prodemocracy movement in the international community." This action by the Parliamentary Forum of the Community of Democracies deserves commendation. Those heroes in the gulag who are suffering today are the leaders of Cuba tomorrow. and they deserve our support.