PRESS RELEASE

January 30, 2013

Stand in Solidarity with the Ladies in White for Their Dedication to Promoting Human Rights and Freedom in Cuba By Supporting Nobel Peace Prize Nomination, Ros-Lehtinen Says

 (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement on nominating the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) for the Nobel Peace Prize:

“It is an honor to be able to show our solidarity with the Ladies in White for their hard work on promoting human rights and freedom in Cuba by nominating them for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. We must continue to support these brave women as they have dedicated their lives in the hopes of one day seeing Cuba freed from the hands of the oppressive Castro regime.

The Ladies in White have time and again displayed their bravery by conducting peaceful protests and marches against the Cuban tyranny that has plagued the island for over fifty years. In response to the Ladies in White non-violent demonstrations, Castro’s security forces have beaten, intimidated, threatened, and imprisoned these courageous individuals as a means to try and silence these pro-democracy activists. In fact, in the last year we have seen a dramatic increase on the crackdown of dissident groups through arrests and violent attacks by Castro’s thugs.

 Despite the efforts of the Cuban dictatorship, the Ladies in White will not be silenced and their voices will continue to be heard. Through this effort of nominating them for the 2013 Nobel Peace, responsible nations can focus worldwide attention on the plight of the Cuban people and promote the fundamental freedoms that have been denied to the citizens on the island for so long.”

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