Albio Sires: “the funding that has been provided over the past 10 years to support the pro-democracy movement in Cuba has been…”

“the funding that has been provided over the past 10 years to support the pro-democracy movement in Cuba has been working. U.S. assistance has provided books, newsletters and other informational material to the people of Cuba, as well as over 385,000 pounds of medicine, food and clothing. According to a USAID report, U.S. assistance has also funded journalism correspondence courses for more than 200 Cubans, and the publication of about 23,000 reports by independent Cuban journalists about conditions and events in Cuba. Although the Cuban regime restricts nearly all political dissent, and denies its citizens the basic rights of free expression, association and assembly, our funding and assistance has allowed the pro-democracy and civil resistance movement in Cuba to dramatically increase in recent years. As evidenced in this chart, from just 2004 to 2005 there was a 54 percent increase in the number of civil resistance actions reported on the island. Some of these civil resistance acts include citizens unwilling to cooperate with regime officials in repressing pro-democracy activities, and citizens boycotting regime control meetings and mass gatherings. By supporting this amendment, the pro-democracy movement in Cuba can continue to organize, communicate their vision for the future of the Cuban people, and prepare to assume the role in the process of democratic transition.”