Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “one year ago today, July 16, 1997, four of the most distinguished and respected leaders of the pro-democracy movement…”

“one year ago today, July 16, 1997, four of the most distinguished and respected leaders of the pro-democracy movement inside Cuba were picked up in their homes by the political police and thrown into Castro's prisons. Economist Marta Beatriz Roque, Social Democratic Party President Vladimiro Roca, former university professor Felix Bonne, and attorney Rene Gomez Manzano have languished in Castro's prisons for 1 year without Castro even having decided what to charge them with. Yesterday, in an open letter to the foreign press and Diplomatic Corps, Vladimiro Roca asked for ``a fair and public trial'' for himself and the three other dissident leaders. The letter, distributed by his wife, states, ``We wish to draw public attention to our situation, and to demand a fair and public trial in the presence of the foreign press and any diplomats accredited in Cuba who may wish to attend, in proceedings both transparent and above board.'' Mr. Speaker, in what constitutes an embarrassment to mankind, there is a conspiracy of silence regarding the suffering of Cuba, but the Congress of the United States of America will continue to stand on the side of the Cuban people and against the tyranny that oppresses them until Cuba is free.”