Louisiana Legislature Adopts Cuba Human Rights and Democracy Resolution
On Wednesday, May 11th, 2005, the Louisiana Senate unanimously adopted a
historic Cuba Human Rights Resolution, sponsored by Senator Jay Dardenne
from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This resolution is an unprecedented
declaration of solidarity and support for Cuba's dissident movement,
prisoners of conscience and for a rapid transition to a democratic, civil
society in Cuba.
The resolution denounces the systematic abuses of the Castro regime against
the Cuban people, including the denial of basic human rights and the regime'
s ongoing violations of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. The document also notes that Cuba ranks 149th out of 155 by the
Heritage Foundation/Wall Street Journal's Index of Economic Freedom.
Most importantly, the resolution endorses and supports the May 20th Assembly
to Promote a Civil Society in Cuba and all those individuals working
peacefully for democratic change on the island. Among those recognized
include Martha Beatriz Roque, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, Oswaldo Paya,
Vladimiro Roca, and all members of the "Ladies in White".
In summary, the resolution demands that the Cuban regime promote, develop,
and implement democratic institutions for the Cuban people, a free press,
and a respect for those universal human rights, freedoms and individual
liberties.
Immediately following passage of the resolution, a press conference was held
which was attended by local media and approximately 75 local Cuban exiles,
Cuban Americans and their families and supporters. Many of those in
attendance were themselves once political prisoners or family members of
political prisoners. The purpose of the press conference, presided over by
Marta McCarron, a local Cuban exile and long time school teacher in Baton
Rouge, was to thank Senator Dardenne for his courage and leadership in
sponsoring the resolution, to raise awareness of the current atrocities
being committed by the Cuban regime, and to promote the brave efforts by
Cuba's emerging opposition movement.
Highlighting the press conference was a first hand accounting by Omar Lopez
Montenegro, a former Cuban political prisoner and leading dissident, of the
daily repression faced by members of Cuba's opposition movement and the
emerging success of their efforts to promote the development of a civil
society. Mr. Montenegro recently headed up a delegation from the Cuban
American National Foundation that successfully lobbied the United Nations
Human Rights Commission to condemn the Cuban regime's human rights record.
The event was punctuated by a dramatic tele-conference with a member of the
"Ladies in White" direct from Cuba. The crowd joined in thanking her for
her brave resistance and roared their solidarity over the phone with shouts
of Viva Cuba Libre! and "Adelante Damas en Blanco". The press conference
ended with an emotional singing of the Cuban national anthem by the many
Louisiana Cubans in attendance.
Nemo J. Viso
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Apoyemos todos unidos a la Asamblea para Promover la Sociedad Civil en Cuba
la cual tendrá lugar el próximo 20 de mayo de 2005 en la Habana, Cuba. Desde
cualquier rincón del mundo hagamos patente nuestra solidaridad y ayúdenos a
divulgar su Sitio en Internet: www.asambleasociedadcivilcuba.info
¡HAGAMOS HISTORIA, CUBANOS!
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