2 resolutions condemn abuses of rights in Cuba

The Miami Herald March 11, 1999 2 resolutions condemn abuses of rights in Cuba

By FRANK DAVIES
Herald Staff Writer

             WASHINGTON -- Highlighting the plight of four dissidents in Cuba, leaders on
             both sides of Capitol Hill on Wednesday pushed two bipartisan resolutions
             condemning the Cuban government for human rights abuses.

             In the House, Miami Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen introduced a measure
             criticizing Cuba's ``great repression of internal dissent'' and calling on the Clinton
             administration to ``take all steps necessary'' to secure a resolution condemning
             Cuba's rights record at the upcoming U.N. Human Rights Commission meeting in
             Geneva.

             The House resolution is expected to pass in the next two weeks. It has the support
             of the GOP leadership, including International Relations Chairman Benjamin
             Gilman of New York, and Democrats like Peter Deutsch and Robert Wexler of
             South Florida, and Steve Rothman and Bob Menendez of New Jersey.

             At a news conference held by the Cuban American National Foundation, Deutsch
             said he spoke to Clinton this week during the President's trip to Central America
             and urged him to seek the indictment of Cuban President Fidel Castro for the
             shoot-down of Brothers to the Rescue pilots in 1996.

``The issue is at least on his radar screen,'' Deutsch said.

             Also supporting the House resolution -- and the U.S. embargo on Cuba -- was
             Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat and the son of Sen. Ted
             Kennedy.

             In the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, senators heard an impromptu debate
             on the embargo while conducting a hearing on a similar resolution condemning
             Cuba that is backed by Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., and Florida's two
             senators, Democrat Bob Graham and Republican Connie Mack.

e-mail: fdavies@krwashington.com