On Day of Solidarity with the Cuban People, President Bush Recognizes
and Calls For the Release of Political Prisoners of the Regime
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, President Bush honored the Cuban
people with the inaugural Day of Solidarity with the people of Cuba. He
also issued a Presidential Proclamation to commemorate those who are
suffering in Cuba for their beliefs, especially Cuba's prisoners of
conscience. The President reiterated that the United States stands with
the brave Cubans who are struggling to make their nation democratic,
prosperous, and just. President Bush also called for the release of all
political prisoners being held in Cuba.
Today, President Bush called on the Cuban regime to make meaningful
changes to improve the life for the Cuban people. Cuban rulers should
allow their citizens to speak freely in public, watch movies and
documentaries produced by Cuban artists who are free to express
themselves, and open up access to the Internet.
* Since Raul Castro is allowing Cubans to own mobile phones for the
first time, President Bush announced that the U.S. is changing its
regulations to allow Americans to send mobile phones to family members
in Cuba. If Raul Castro is serious about his so-called reforms, he will
allow these phones to reach the Cuban people.
* President Bush repeated his offer to license U.S.
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based groups to provide
computers and internet to the Cuban people – if Cuban rulers will end
their restrictions on Internet access.
* Today, President Bush also called on Cuban leaders to make major
economic reforms. These reforms must open up Cuba's inefficient
state-run markets, give families real choices about what they buy, and
institute a free enterprise system that allows ordinary people to
benefit from their talents and hard work. Only when they have an economy
that makes prosperity possible will Cubans see any real improvements in
their daily lives.
The United States Is Reaching Out To The Cuban People
Since 2001, the United States has dramatically stepped up our efforts to
promote freedom and democracy in Cuba. Since 2001, the United States has
provided $366 million in such assistance. The United States has
substantially increased efforts to get uncensored information to the
Cuban people, primarily through Radio and TV Martí, which now broadcast
from aircraft and via satellite television as well as on a variety of AM
and shortwave frequencies. Today, Cuba remains stuck beneath the
personal tyranny of Fidel and Raul Castro, and Cubans' political
freedoms have been denied. Families have been torn apart, the economy is
in shambles, and Cuban society is crumbling after years of the Castros'
neglect.
Real Change In Cuba Requires Political Freedom
Despite the Cuban government's signature in February 2008 of the
International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the regime
has not attempted even cosmetic changes on civil and political rights.
Political dissidents continue to be harassed, detained, and beaten, and
more than 200 prisoners of conscience still suffer in Castro's tropical
gulag.
* The United States challenges the Government of Cuba to honor its
international human rights commitments by immediately stopping the abuse
of its political dissidents, releasing all of its political prisoners,
and stopping attacks on independent civil society activists. Systematic
brutality and abuse occur in Cuban prisons – abuses that violate the
ICCPR as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Today, Events Around The World Will Shine A Spotlight On Political
Prisoners In Cuba
The Day of Solidarity occurs during a period when Cubans all over the
island commemorate Cuban patriots who have suffered at the hands of the
regime for the cause of freedom and human rights. It coincides with a
period in Cuban history that marks Cuban Independence Day (May 20), the
death of José Martí (May 19, 1895), and the death of Pedro Luis Boitel
(May 25, 1972).
* This day is a chance to honor the culture and history of Cuba and
reflect on the continued oppression of the Cuban people. The United
States continues to reach out to the Cuban people, yet life in Cuba will
not fundamentally change until the Cuban government does.
While the Cuban regime isolates itself, the Cuban people continue to act
with dignity, honor, and courage. Today, President Bush recognized the
courage of several political prisoners still serving in Cuba:
* Luis Enrique Ferrer García, a peaceful pro-democracy activist,
was the Coordinator of the Christian Liberation Movement in the province
of Las Tunas. He was arrested and sentenced to 28 years for collecting
signatures for his organization's Varela Project that is a
constitutionally-based civic initiative calling for a referendum on
democratic reforms and respect for basic freedom. His prison conditions
are harsh.
* Oscar Elias Biscet is a doctor and advocate of non-violence who
has led a movement in favor of human rights. For this, Dr. Biscet serves
a 25-year sentence under harsh conditions. He was once in solitary
confinement for over seven months. He is in poor health and is allowed
very few visitors.
* Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso was arrested for writing things that the
Cuban authorities did not like and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
* Jose Luis Garcia Paneque was sentenced to 24 years in prison for
daring to speak the truth about the regime.
* Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero was arrested and is serving time
inside a Cuban prison, charged with crimes against the state after
defending the human rights of his countrymen.
* Normando Hernandez, a writer and independent journalist, was
arrested in March 2003 and sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment for
reporting on the conditions of state-run services in Cuba and for
criticizing the government's management of issues.
* Ariel and Guido Sigler Amaya are two brothers and pro-democracy
activists arrested during the Cuba's March 2003 "Black Spring" crackdown
on dissidents and sentenced to 25 and 20 years of prison, respectively.
Their brother Miguel, in the audience today, was also sentenced and
imprisoned the same time, but later released.
* Every Sunday, Cuba's Damas de Blanco, or "Ladies in White," march
in silent protest, demanding the release of their husbands. A few weeks
ago, when about a dozen of these women held a peaceful sit-in at a
public park, they were dragged from the area by a large pro-regime mob.
One of the abused "Damas" was Berta Soler, whose husband, Juan Angel
Moya Acosta, is serving a 20-year sentence.
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