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Don't Be Fooled by Release of Political Prisoners by Cuba

Floor Speech

Date: July 14, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Foreign Affairs

Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we cannot be fooled by the Castro regime's announcement to release 52 political prisoners. That would be 52 out of approximately 5,000.

The release of these prisoners, held only because they disagree with the government, would be good news if they were actually being released, but only five to 10 prisoners will be released immediately. The rest will be let go over the next three to four months. Why does it take months to release a group of prisoners when it only took one night to arrest them? We cannot be fooled.

The Castro regime has released prisoners many times before in exchange for lesser sanctions, but these temporary releases never result in permanent reforms.

The regime is unilaterally releasing 52 prisoners, but what is to keep them from simply arresting hundreds more? We cannot be fooled. And above all, we cannot alter our sanctions or policies towards Cuba based on this one superficial gesture.


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