PRESS RELEASE

March 18, 2013

On The Ten Year Anniversary of the Black Spring, We Are Reminded of the Gross Human Rights Violations Orchestrated by the Castro Regime, Ros-Lehtinen Says

(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, released the following statement today regarding the tenth anniversary of the 2003 Black Spring crackdown in Cuba where 75 dissidents were unjustly imprisoned. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“Today, we remember the 75 innocent activists who were unjustly arrested ten years ago in an island-wide, violent crackdown on opposition voices by the Castro regime. These brave and freedom-loving individuals, like so many before them and since then, were exercising their freedom of speech, only to find this basic human right snatched from them by the heavy and oppressive hand of Castro’s state security agents.

“Sadly, ten years after this brutal crackdown, little has changed in Cuba in regards to the denial of rights but the opposition is more united than ever. The Ladies in White continue to be beaten, harassed, and temporary detained by the Castro agents just for marching in peace to church. The lives of the Cuban people are constantly in danger as the violent crackdown on the island continues illustrated by an increase in detentions in 2012 compared to 2011.

“On the tenth anniversary of the ‘Black Spring’, free and democratic nations are reminded of their obligation to support and encourage the peaceful opposition movement that seeks to bring real change and freedom to the Cuban people. We must clearly communicate to the pro-democracy leaders in Cuba that we stand with them in solidarity and they are not alone. Their movement is increasing everyday and I commend the courageous individuals who speak out against the abuses of the regime.”

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