10 April 2003
Powell Urges an End to Repression in Cuba
(Calls on Fidel Castro to release jailed dissidents) (220)
Secretary of State Colin Powell, describing the Cuban government's
recent crackdown on dissidents as "the most significant act of
political repression in decades" by Cuba, issued a formal statement
April 10 urging Cuban President Fidel Castro to "end this despicable
repression" and free the jailed dissidents.
Following is the text of Powell's statement:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 10, 2003
STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN L. POWELL
End the Repression in Cuba
In recent days, the Cuban government has undertaken the most
significant act of political repression in decades. Nearly 80
representatives of a growing and truly independent civil society have
been arrested, convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms in
summary, secret trials. Their only crime was seeking basic human
rights and freedoms.
We call on Castro to end this despicable repression and free these
prisoners of conscience. The United States and the international
community will be unrelenting in our insistence that Cubans who seek
peaceful change be permitted to do so. We are working with our
partners on the Human Rights Commission in Geneva to develop a
resolution that condemns Cuba's abysmal human rights performance in
the strongest possible terms.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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