Ros-Lehtinen Condemns Arrest of ‘Ladies in White’ by Cuban Regime

House Foreign Affairs Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican

For Immediate Release
March 17, 2010

Contact: Brad Goehner, (202) 226-8467

Alex Cruz, (202) 225-8200

(WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today condemned the reported arrest of at least 30 members of the “Ladies in White” group by the Cuban regime. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“The Cuban tyranny has demonstrated it is willing to sink to new lows by going after the mothers, daughters, and wives of Cuban prisoners of conscience, known collectively as the ‘Ladies in White.’

“Today, these courageous women were led in their peaceful march by Reyna Luisa Tamayo, whose son, Orlando, died a few weeks ago at the hands of the Cuban regime. Their purpose? To mark the 7th anniversary of the Black Spring crackdown.

“Seven years ago this week, 75 human rights and democracy activists were thrown into prison by the dictatorship. Most continue to languish in squalid jail cells and endure unspeakable suffering at the hands of their oppressors.

“And today, the Cuban tyranny marked this anniversary by targeting their family. It is outrageous that a peaceful march by the Ladies in White would induce such a vicious response. The regime is even attempting to deny the people of Cuba the right to mourn the loss of their loved ones.

“When will the world admit the full brutality of the butchers in Havana? When will the world hear the cries of the Cuban people and help stop romanticizing the shameless acts of their tormentors?

“It is high time that responsible nations stand up for freedom and the rights of the Cuban people.”