500 Cuban Dissidents Send Letter in Support of Sanctions Policy

WASHINGTON, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, nearly 500 pro-democracy leaders from within Cuba have sent a letter to the House Agriculture Committee in OPPOSITION to Chairman Collin Peterson's legislation, H.R. 4645, which seeks to ease tourism-travel and trade sanctions towards the Castro regime.

In the letter, these courageous leaders state, "Congressmen/Congresswomen, the cause of liberty, and firm opposition to the oppressive totalitarian dictatorship in Havana, is so sacred that it is above all economic and mercantilist interests."

They proceed to stress, "the below signatories believe that the freedom of Cuba will not arrive by means of the pocket-book nor the lips of libidinous tourists, who are aseptic to the pain of the Cuban family... For that reason we suggest that you maintain a firm and coherent policy of pressure and condemnation against the tyranny in Havana."

Please note that these leaders are risking long prison terms for simply drafting and signing this document, as the Castro regime's draconian laws stringently punish any expression of support for U.S. policy.

Amongst the signatories are:

Jorge Luis Garcia Perez "Antunez," a young Afro-Cuban pro-democracy leader, who spent nearly half his life (17 years) as a political prisoner.

Reina Luis Tamayo, member of the Ladies in White and mother of Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who died in February pursuant to an 85-day hunger strike.

Ariel Sigler Amaya, Cuban political prisoner who was released this past weekend.  Ariel was imprisoned in 2003 for heading the Independent Alternative Option Movement.  At the time of his imprisonment, he was a 250-pound former amateur boxer.  He was released a 106-pound paraplegic.

Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, former political prisoner and head of the Cuban Youth for Democracy Movement.

A full text of the letter is available at www.capitolhillcubans.com.

SOURCE Cuba Democracy Advocates