Bill Summary
This resolution calls for the immediate release of Jose Daniel Ferrer, a Cuban democracy and human rights activist who has been imprisoned for his work in promoting political pluralism and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. It also recognizes Ferrer's contributions and commends his efforts, along with those of the organization he founded, the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), in promoting human rights and democratic principles in Cuba. The legislation also condemns the arbitrary imprisonment of Ferrer and other UNPACU members, and calls for their immediate release and access to medical care and human rights organizations. This resolution is in line with other international efforts to advocate for Ferrer's release and bring attention to the human rights violations in Cuba.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect Jose Daniel Ferrer directly, as it calls for his immediate release and acknowledges his activism and dedication to promoting democracy and human rights in Cuba.
2. It could also affect his family and loved ones, as they have been permitted to visit him only twice since his imprisonment and have reported evidence of physical abuse and mistreatment.
3. The legislation could also affect other political prisoners and members of UNPACU who have been arbitrarily imprisoned, as it calls for their immediate and unconditional release.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 774 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 774
Calling for the immediate release of Cuban democracy activist Jose
Daniel Ferrer and commending the efforts of Jose Daniel Ferrer to
promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 19, 2019
Mr. Diaz-Balart (for himself, Mr. Sires, Mr. McCaul, Ms. Wasserman
Schultz, Mr. Rooney of Florida, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Calling for the immediate release of Cuban democracy activist Jose
Daniel Ferrer and commending the efforts of Jose Daniel Ferrer to
promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia is a Cuban democracy and human rights activist
who has dedicated his life to promoting greater political pluralism and
respect for fundamental freedoms in Cuba;
Whereas Mr. Ferrer was born in Cuba on July 29, 1970, in the province of
Santiago de Cuba;
Whereas, in the late 1990s, Mr. Ferrer joined the Christian Liberation Movement
(MCL), a peaceful political movement led by late Cuban activist Oswaldo
Paya;
Whereas, through coordination with the MCL, Mr. Ferrer helped lead the Varela
Project, an initiative to collect the signatures of citizens to petition
the Government of Cuba for democratic reforms and protections for
freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly;
Whereas, in March 2003, as part of a series of sweeping arrests of 75 democracy
activists, Mr. Ferrer was arrested by Cuban authorities for his work on
the Varela Project and sentenced to 25 years in prison;
Whereas, in March 2004, Amnesty International declared the group of 75 democracy
activists, including Mr. Ferrer, to be prisoners of conscience and
called for their immediate and unconditional release;
Whereas, in 2009, Mr. Ferrer was honored with the Democracy Award given annually
by the National Endowment for Democracy;
Whereas, in March 2011, as part of an agreement brokered by the Catholic Church,
Mr. Ferrer refused to abandon his homeland and was released from prison
to remain in Cuba;
Whereas, in August 2011, Mr. Ferrer founded the Patriotic Union of Cuba
(UNPACU), a nonviolent political movement dedicated to promoting human
rights, democratic principles, and fundamental freedoms in Cuba;
Whereas, on June 7, 2012, Mr. Ferrer testified via digital video conference at a
hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
Whereas, since he was released from jail in March 2011, Mr. Ferrer has been
frequently harassed, regularly surveilled, and repeatedly jailed by
Cuban authorities for his role in UNPACU;
Whereas, on October 1, 2019, Mr. Ferrer was imprisoned arbitrarily by Cuban
authorities for his leadership of UNPACU and outspoken advocacy for
human rights and democratic principles in Cuba;
Whereas, on October 1, 2019, Cuban authorities detained 3 other members of
UNPACU, Fernando Gonzalez Vailant, Jose Pupo Chaveco, and Roilan Zarraga
Ferrer;
Whereas a letter from Mr. Ferrer was smuggled out of prison stating that he had
been tortured, mistreated, and denied proper medical attention, and that
his life was put in danger while in detention;
Whereas the family of Mr. Ferrer has been permitted to visit him only twice
since he was imprisoned arbitrarily on October 1, 2019, and the wife of
Mr. Ferrer reported that she saw evidence that he had been physically
abused and mistreated; and
Whereas, on November 28, 2019, the European Parliament approved a resolution
condemning the arbitrary detention of Mr. Ferrer and calling for his
immediate release: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the arbitrary imprisonment of leading Cuban
democracy and human rights activist Jose Daniel Ferrer and
calls for his immediate and unconditional release;
(2) calls for Mr. Ferrer to have immediate access to
medical care and international human rights organizations so
that they may assess prison conditions and document evidence of
torture;
(3) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of
all members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and all
political prisoners that have been arbitrarily imprisoned;
(4) commends Mr. Ferrer for his unwavering commitment to
advance democratic principles, human rights, and fundamental
freedoms in Cuba; and
(5) recognizes the important contributions of UNPACU and
all of its members for their efforts to promote greater respect
for democratic principles, human rights, and fundamental
freedoms in Cuba.
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