NEWS

House Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman

For IMMEDIATE Release – February 22, 2012

Honoring Victims of Castro Regime: Ros-Lehtinen Commemorates Sacrifices of ‘Brothers to the Rescue’ Patriots, Orlando Zapata Tamayo

(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement today on the 16th anniversary of the downing of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft by the Cuban Air Force, and the 2nd anniversary of the death of prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo.  Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“This week, we are reminded of the courageous acts of Orlando Zapata Tamayo and the Brothers to the Rescue pilots, who gave their lives attempting to help the Cuban people.

“On February 23, we commemorate the two-year anniversary of the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who died in Castro’s gulag during his hunger strike in protest of the Castro tyranny.

“On February 24, we remember Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales, three American citizens and one U.S. resident who were murdered when their unarmed civilian aircraft were shot down by the Castro regime’s warplanes sixteen years ago.

“Orlando, Carlos, Armando, Mario, and Pablo are no longer with us, but their shared cause for a free Cuba lives on, and will one day be achieved.  When the Cuban regime finally falls and freedom and democracy flourish on the island, it will be due, in part, to the sacrifices which each of these brave individuals have made.

“These heroes paid the ultimate price on behalf of all those who suffer at the hand of the Castro regime.  Inspired by their sacrifice, we must also honor it by never easing pressure on the dictatorship or giving in to the regime’s apologists, and we must always stand with those struggling for freedom in Cuba.”

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