This resolution calls for the release of, and provision of medical attention to, Cuban political prisoner Silverio Portal Contreras, and it condemns the politically motivated imprisonment of dissidents in Cuba. Further, it calls for the release of all who have been arbitrarily detained due to their advocacy for human rights and democracy, and it urges the lifting of all legal restrictions that limit the freedoms of expression and association in Cuba.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1172 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1172
Calling for the release of Cuban political prisoner Silverio Portal
Contreras.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 1, 2020
Ms. Mucarsel-Powell (for herself, Ms. Shalala, Ms. Wasserman Schultz,
Mr. Sires, Mr. Soto, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Crist, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Mr.
Mast, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Kind, Mr. Schneider,
Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. Payne, and Ms. Wilson of Florida) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Calling for the release of Cuban political prisoner Silverio Portal
Contreras.
Whereas Silverio Portal Contreras is a 57-year-old, Afro-Cuban, social activist
who has supported various movements in Cuba that advocate for freedom
and democracy, including the Ladies in White;
Whereas Mr. Portal Contreras was arrested in June of 2016 in Havana for
participating in a public protest regarding the Cuban Government's
failure to repair dilapidated buildings that placed the public at risk
for harm, and for shouting ``down with Fidel Castro, down with Raul'';
Whereas, in June of 2018, as a result of his participation in this protest, Mr.
Portal Contreras was prosecuted by authorities for ``contempt'', a
charge that is frequently used to criminalize criticism of public
officials in Cuba, and for ``public disorder'';
Whereas, in July of 2018, Mr. Portal Contreras was sentenced to four years in
prison after a closed-door trial;
Whereas the health of Mr. Portal Contreras has rapidly and severely deteriorated
since being imprisoned as a result of inadequate medical care, as well
as instances of willful neglect and even intentional harm directed
toward Mr. Portal Contreras by security officials;
Whereas shortly after being imprisoned, Mr. Portal Contreras suffered a seizure
that rendered him unconscious after having repeatedly requested medical
attention that was denied for over four hours;
Whereas as a result of poor medical attention and a failure of prison officials
to address his needs, Mr. Portal Contreras's life has been placed in
danger while in prison and he has suffered several transient ischemic
attacks (TIAs) that have caused paralysis on the left side of his body;
Whereas Mr. Portal Contreras has been the subject of threats and physical
attacks while in prison, including in May of 2020 when Mr. Portal
Contreras was reportedly left blinded in one eye following an attack he
suffered at the hands of security personnel;
Whereas Mr. Portal Contreras' petitions requesting that he be released due to
his deteriorating health were denied by the Government, with one court
ruling that ``his current state of health is compatible with the
penitentiary regime'';
Whereas Lucinda Gonzalez Gomez, the spouse of Mr. Portal Contreras, has had no
contact with Mr. Portal Contreras since June of 2020 and has been
refused information about his health status from Cuban authorities in
violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment
of Prisoners;
Whereas Amnesty International has designated Mr. Portal Contreras a ``Prisoner
of Conscience'', who has been deprived of his liberty solely for
peacefully exercising his basic rights, and has called for his immediate
and unconditional release;
Whereas, on November 29, 2019, the European Parliament adopted a resolution
recognizing Mr. Portal Contreras as a political prisoner persecuted and
arbitrarily detained in Cuba, and called on Cuban authorities to
immediately release ``all political prisoners and those arbitrarily
detained solely on the grounds of exercising their freedom of expression
and assembly''; and
Whereas, on July 18, 2020, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights adopted
a resolution in which it granted precautionary measures on behalf of Mr.
Portal Contreras and urged Cuban authorities to protect the life and
liberties of Mr. Portal Contreras: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of
political prisoner Silverio Portal Contreras and the provision
of urgently needed medical attention;
(2) condemns the politically motivated imprisonment of
dissidents in Cuba and calls for the release of all those who
have been arbitrarily detained due to their advocacy for human
rights and democracy; and
(3) urges the lifting of all legal restrictions that impose
limitations on the exercise of freedom of expression and
association in Cuba.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security and Trade.
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