The U.S. Congressman and the Member of the Governing Council of the Parliamentary Forum for Democracy (PFD) M. Diaz-Balart's letter to the PFD Members

Dear Members of the Parliamentary Forum,

As those who share a strong commitment to human rights and democracy, I wanted to ensure that you were aware of the egregious human rights abuses occurring against independent artists, journalists, and other activists struggling for freedom in Cuba.  I also respectfully request that you join me in standing with Cuba’s courageous pro-democracy movement and condemning the campaign of oppression currently being waged against them.    

Over the past few weeks, repression in Cuba has increased considerably.  The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation reports that repression in Cuba has included 1,052 political arrests.  Well-known activists such as Jose Daniel Ferrer of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), Guillermo Farinas, winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov award, and Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, were harassed by Castro’s thugs and detained or placed on house arrest.  And just yesterday, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez “Antunez,” leader of the Orlando Zapata Tamayo National Front for Civic Resistance and Civic Disobedience, was arrested, taken to a secret location, and the contents of his home removed.  His whereabouts remain unknown.

The harassment against pro-democracy and human rights activists in Cuba must end.  Please join me in vigorously condemning the Castro dictatorship’s brutal repression and urging other members of the international community to stand in solidarity with Cuba’s courageous pro-democracy movement.   These brave human rights activists, who have risked everything to win their freedom, must know that others across the globe stand in solidarity with their noble cause.

Sincerely,
Mario Diaz-Balart
Governing Council Member