Carney: "Unfortunately, These Arrests Provide a Stark Demonstration of the Climate of Repression in Cuba"
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney today released the following statement regarding the recent arrest of Cuban, pro-democracy activists.
We condemn the arrest of nearly 50 pro-democracy
activists by the Cuban government during funeral ceremonies for Oswaldo Paya
this week. Some of those arrested were reportedly beaten at the time of
their detention. The fact that this occurred while hundreds of people
gathered peacefully to commemorate the life of one of Cuba’s foremost human
rights advocates only underscores the importance of Paya’s struggle on behalf
of the Cuban people. Unfortunately, these arrests provide a stark
demonstration of the climate of repression in Cuba, as demonstrated by the June
9 arrest of Jorge Luis Garcia Perez following his testimony to a U.S. Senate
Subcommittee regarding rights abuses in Cuba, and by hundreds of other arbitrary
detentions in recent months.
We call on the Cuban government to respect
internationally recognized fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech,
rather than arresting their citizens for peacefully exercising these universal
rights that are protected and promoted by governments throughout the
world. We look forward to the day when the Cuban people can live in the
free society Oswaldo Paya worked so hard to bring about throughout his
lifetime.
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