IRI Chairman McCain Marks Anniversary of Cuban Crackdown

March 18, 2004

The following is the introduction by Sen. John McCain to "Dissenting Voices" an IRI-sponsored publication by the Cuban Democracy Directorate (Directorio) that documents the progress and activities of the civic resistance movement in Cuba:

"Castro and his regime cannot extinguish the flame of freedom and hope that burns in the hearts of Cubans, who will continue to peacefully seek liberty and justice - and will one day prevail."

I said these words shortly after Fidel Castro launched a brutal crackdown on Cuba's democracy movement on March 18, 2003. One year after the arrest and jailing of 88 peaceful dissidents, that statement is as true now as it was then.

Dissent in Cuba is alive and well. In the months since the crackdown the pro-democracy movement has conducted hundreds of acts of nonviolent civic resistance through newsletters, libraries and dialogue. Oswaldo Paya, long a voice of conscience for the Cuba democracy movement, made the list of finalists for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize.

In addition, Castro's exercise in Stalinist repression garnered condemnation from countless nations and international organizations, including the European Union and the United Nations Human Rights Commission. The arrests and long prison sentences left little doubt about the totalitarian character of Castro's regime.

Since then, international attention has alighted to other global conflicts and hotspots. But it is important that we never lose sight of the continued intimidation and repression exercised every day against Cuba's democracy and human rights activists by the Castro regime.

This newsletter contains a timeline that chronicles the progress and activities of the democracy resistance movement in the past few months. It is a reminder of the spirit, bravery and perseverance of the Cuban people -- and a challenge to continue to provide moral support to these courageous democrats.

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