Chris Smith: “Mr. Speaker, since mid-March the Castro dictatorship has carried out a massive crackdown on human rights defenders…”

“Mr. Speaker, since mid-March the Castro dictatorship has carried out a massive crackdown on human rights defenders, independent journalists, and trade unionists and other brave and noble pro-democracy activists throughout Cuba. Not satisfied with the ongoing torture and mistreatment and incarceration of approximately 400 political prisoners, Castro has begun a new, ominous, and shameful attack on another 80 of the best and brightest and most courageous of Cuba. Now, as we meet here today, his people and his thugs are beating, victimizing, and sentencing to very long prison sentences those who are the cream of the crop in Cuba, who believe in freedom and democracy. Castro, with all eyes diverted on Iraq and the war in Iraq, is trying to silence dissent with violence, 'show' trials, and incarceration. This latest manifestation, Mr. Speaker, of cruelty by the Castro dictatorship is but another, but a highly significant other, reminder of the true character of this regime. It is cruel, brutal and an egregious violator of human rights. Mr. Speaker, Castro's brutal actions hopefully will serve as a wake-up call to those in the United States, especially those in the United States Congress who argue that it is time to lift the travel ban and sanctions against Cuba.”