Skip to main content

Quigley Calls for More than Just Release of Prisoners from Cuba

July 14, 2010
Speeches

Today, Congressman Quigley delivered the following remarks on the House floor:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we cannot be fooled by the Castro regime's announcement to release fifty-two political prisoners. That would be fifty-two 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 ten 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 fifty-two prisoners but what's to keep them from simply arresting hundreds more?

We cannot be fooled.

And above all, we cannot alter our sanctions or policies toward Cuba based on this one superficial gesture. I yield back.

House_Seal

Issues: Defense and Foreign Affairs