[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 489 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 489
Commending the actions of Cuban human rights and democracy activist
Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, and all pro-democracy and human rights
activists, in demanding fundamental civil liberties in Cuba and
speaking out against Cuba's brutal, totalitarian Communist regime.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 12 (legislative day, January 10), 2022
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Braun, and Mr. Rubio) submitted
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commending the actions of Cuban human rights and democracy activist
Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, and all pro-democracy and human rights
activists, in demanding fundamental civil liberties in Cuba and
speaking out against Cuba's brutal, totalitarian Communist regime.
Whereas on July 11, 2021, protestors in more than 40 cities marched in the
streets of Cuba to exercise their fundamental right to peacefully
assemble and express their opposition to the Cuban regime, resulting in
the largest anti-government demonstration on the island in decades;
Whereas the Cuban protestors, in a clear message--
(1) called for an end to communism, censorship, and oppression in Cuba;
and
(2) demanded basic human rights and their God-given freedom;
Whereas during the July 2021 protests, in a crude and savage effort to silence
the Cuban people, the Communist party--
(1) deployed a wave of terror throughout Cuba by unleashing its secret
police and military forces on the peaceful protestors;
(2) harassed and threatened men, women, and children, some of whom were
in their homes;
(3) abducted and tortured civil society leaders; and
(4) detained more than 1,300 Cubans, according to media reports;
Whereas Felix Navarro Rodriguez, a renowned pro-democracy activist who was
arrested during the ``Black Spring'' of 2003, is the President of the
Pedro Luis Boitel Abraham Democracy Party, and is a member of the
Executive Secretariat of the Democratic Action Unity Table (MUAD), was
arrested, then charged with the alleged crime of ``attack and public
disorder'', after merely appearing at a police unit in Cuba to inquire
about the status of members of his group who were detained during the
July 11 protest;
Whereas in August 2021, Felix Navarro Rodriguez, in protest of his unlawful
arrest, the terrible conditions in which he was being held and the
cruelty he suffered in prison, went on a hunger strike for 30 days,
remains isolated, is in a delicate state of health, and is restricted
from communicating with his family;
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba
(UNPACU), is a Cuban human rights and democracy activist, who has worked
incessantly to promote fundamental civil liberties for the Cuban people;
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, who was born in Santiago de Cuba on July 29,
1970, has dedicated most of his adult life in peaceful protest against
Cuba's brutal and totalitarian Communist dictatorship to ensure that
Cubans are allowed to have a voice in matters concerning their own
country;
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia was among the hundreds of activists who were
unlawfully detained by the Cuban regime and has been unjustly imprisoned
in isolation for nearly 180 days, where he has been subjected to
physical and psychological torture by the brutal Communist Cuban regime;
Whereas according to Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia's family, his health is dire, he
is suffering from severe headaches, mouth bleeding, malnutrition, bouts
of coughing, and the inability to sleep, all of which was caused by the
cruel torture and inhumane treatment he received from the Cuban regime;
Whereas a host of other pro-democracy activists have been imprisoned solely for
peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, including
Ciro Alexis Casanovas Perez, Loreto Hernandez Garcia and wife, Donaida
Perez Paseiro, Didier Eduardo Almagro Toledo, Nidia Bienes Paseiro,
Demis Valdes Sarduy, Misael Diaz Paseiro, Arianna Lopez Roque, twin
sisters Lisdani Rodriguez Isaac and Lisdiani Rodriguez Isaac, and Ivan
Hernandez Carrillo;
Whereas during the week of Christmas 2021, many of these peaceful demonstrators
were convicted on charges of sedition and sentenced to decades in prison
just for demanding basic human rights; and
Whereas the totalitarian regime is terrified of brave and courageous leaders who
stand resolute in fighting for a free Cuba, and will persecute, kidnap,
torture, or kill anyone who stands up against their tyranny:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the repression of Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia
and all brave Cuban activists, and demands their immediate and
unconditional release from prison;
(2) condemns the brutal torture and inhumane treatment of
Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia by the Cuban regime and calls for an
immediate humanitarian medical visit by an independent human
rights organization to him and to all political prisoners who
have been unjustly and illegally detained by the Cuban regime
since July 11, 2021;
(3) condemns Cuba's brutal totalitarian Communist
dictatorship and demands an end to the suffering of the Cuban
people and the impunity of the Cuban regime's human rights
abusers;
(4) calls for the international community to stand with the
Cuban people and against Cuba's totalitarian Communist regime
for infringing on the freedom of thought, will, expression,
assembly, and prosperity of the Cuban people; and
(5) commends the courage of the pro-democracy movement and
all freedom activists in Cuba for risking everything to bring
freedom to the Cuban people.
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