Frank Pallone: “last week I stood before this House and spoke of the opening stages in Castro's outright assault on human rights and…”

“last week I stood before this House and spoke of the opening stages in Castro's outright assault on human rights and democracy. I spoke of Castro's decision to arrest over 80 nonviolent human rights advocates, pro-democracy leaders and independent journalists, in what has become a campaign by the regime to silence all voices of opposition on the island. Hoping that his actions would be overshadowed by the situation in Iraq, Castro has declared war on his own people. Among those arrested include signers and supporters of a joint statement from the Cuban dissident community to the European Union, promoters of the Varela Project, members of the independent press, owners of independent libraries, and members of Cuba's independent civil society. When I last spoke on this situation, it was feared that those arrested would be prosecuted under a much-criticized 1999 Cuban law that makes it a crime to publish subversive materials provided by the U.S. Government, and that carries with it a harsh prison sentence. Those fears, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, have become a reality, as Castro has begun the trial of many of the detainees, seeking sentences that range from 12 years to decades and even requesting life in prison for some. Furthermore, the prisoners have been refused access to their wives and families, have been allowed little or no legal defense, and have even been denied the ability to read the State's case against them.”