LA CURRA DE CUBA

June 15, 2010

Chairman Collin Peterson
Committee on Agriculture
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Peterson:

We are former Cuban political prisoners, who have spent a combined 3,551 years in Castro’s gulag. We are living testimony of the unspeakable tortures, cruelty and deprivations of the military dictatorship of the Castro brothers.

You recently released a statement concerning H.R. 4645 claiming that, "…people who oppose this bill are not speaking on behalf of the Cuban people, regardless of what they say." Not only is your statement untrue, but also profoundly insulting to us. We are a community that is comprised of victims of the Castro dictatorship. Mr. Peterson, we are "Cuban people" and we wholeheartedly oppose your bill.

Your statement is all the more offensive when you take into account that the Cuban-American community has four Members that we elect to the U.S. House of Representatives and all four oppose your legislation as well. How dare you profess to know more about the Cuban people, or our plight, than the Members who are elected by us and the family members of Cubans from the island? You have every right to try to advance your agricultural agenda. However, you are not entitled to question our community, which is full of Castro’s victims -- who have suffered brutality that you could not even fathom -- and whose relatives on the island continue to be the victims of that dictatorship’s daily repression.

You have consistently demonstrated a lack of sensitivity to the suffering of our people and an apparent lack of awareness regarding the important leverage that U.S. sanctions represents to our struggle for Cuba’s freedom. You recently stated, "None of us support the Cuban Government’s detainment of political prisoners. However, these policies we have in place today have done nothing to remove the regime or to improve the situation for political prisoners." Nonetheless, you have never taken the time to meet with any of us, nor have you ever invited us to testify before your committee. If you had, you would not be able to ignore the fact that every dollar your legislation seeks to place in the coffers of the Castro regime will only be used to further repress the Cuban people. Should this legislation pass, Mr. Peterson, we trust that you will be prepared to assume the responsibility for the increased bloodshed it will cause the people of Cuba.

Mr. Peterson, you owe us, our community and our elected Representatives an immediate apology for your offensive statement. Though you may disagree with our views, we hope you will not continue to impugn us for our suffering, deeply held beliefs and tragic experiences.

Sincerely,

Ignacio Cuesta Valle, 29 years in prison
Antonio López Muñoz, 28 years in prison
Dasio René Hernández Peña, 28 years in prison
Dr. Alberto Fibla, 28 years in prison
Pastor Macurán, 28 years in prison
Roberto Martin Perez, 28 years in prison
Roberto Perdomo, 28 years in prison
Teodoro González, 28 years in prison
José L. Lajas, 27 years in prison
Miguel A. Alvarez Cardentey, 27 years in prison
Aldo Chaviano, 26 years in prison
Eleno Oviedo, 26 years in prison
Pablo Prieto, 26 years in prison
Ramón Méndez Pimentel, 26 years in prison
Ramon Conte, 26 years in prison
Víctor M. Cantón, 26 years in prison
Alberto Grau, 25 years in prison
Angel L. Argüelles, 25 years in prison
Felipe Alonso, 25 years in prison
Orlando R. Molina, 25 years in prison
Osvaldo Figueroa, 25 years in prison
Ricardo Montero Duque, 25 years in prison
Angel Pardo Mazorra, 24 years in prision
Ramón San Román, 24 years in prison
Reinaldo Figueroa, 24 years in prison
Alberto Jané, 23 years in prison
Armando Yong, 23 years in prison
Oscar Rodríguez Terrero, 23 years in prison
Reinaldo López Lima, 23 years in prison
Armando Valladares, 22 years in prison
Basilio Guzmán, 22 years in prison
Carlos Pons, 22 years in prison
Efraín Llerena, 22 years in prison
Ernesto Díaz, 22 years in prison
Eugenio Silva, 22 years in prison
José A. Lamas, 22 years in prison
Silvino Rodriguez Barrientos, 22 years in prison
Abel Nieves, 21 years in prison
Bruno Salas, 21 years in prison
J. René Ramos, 21 years in prson
José J. Santana, 21 years in prison
Roberto Ascue, 21 years in prison
Adalberto Sánchez Zamora, 20 years in prison
Alfredo Mustelier Nuevo, 20 years in prison
Angel de Fana, 20 years in prison
Geovani Perera, 20 years in prison
Huber Matos, 20 años in prison
Jaime Costa, 20 years in prison
Julio R. Sosa, 20 years in prison
Lázaro Guerra, 20 years in prison
Olvildo Praderas Montero, 20 years in prison
Roger Reyes, 20 years in prison
Ana Lázara Rodríguez, 19 años in prison
Angel Alfonso Alemán, 19 years in prison
Edelmiro Delgado, 19 years in prison
Eduardo del Juan Machado, 19 years in prison
Ereido Cruz, 19 years in prison
Gustavo Gallardo, 19 years in prison
José M. del Pino, 19 years in prison
Luis Zúñiga, 19 years in prison
Marcelo Morgado, 19 years in prison
Raimundo J. Solís, 19 years in prison
Alejandro Moreno, 18 years in prison
Aurelio Candelario, 18 years in prison
Daniel Gómez, 18 years in prison
Eddie Artze, 18 years in prision
Eduardo Piedra, 18 years in prison
Humberto Hernández, 18 years in prison
Joaquín, Chanying, 18 years in prison
José F. Pérez Sánchez, 18 years in prison
Juan Prieto, 18 years in prison
Martín Hernández, 18 years in prison
Miriam Ortega, 18 years in prison
Rafael Rodriguez, 28 years in prison
Raúl Pérez Coloma, 18 years in prison
Roberto Gesni, 18 years in prison
Rubén Gonzalo García, 18 years in prison
Servando Infante, 18 years in prison
Arsenio Parodi, 17 years in prison
Fidelina Fernández, 17 years in prison
Georgina Cid, 17 years in prison
José A. Núñez, 17 years in prison
Marío e. Atía, 17 years in prison
Orlando Castro, 17 years in prison
René Cruz, 17 years in prison
Roberto Jiménez, 17 years in prison
Roberto Rivero Gómez, 17 years in prison
Angel Lucena, 16 years in prison
Antonio García Rivero, 16 years in prison
Caridad Roque, 16 years in prison
Evaristo Sotolongo, 16 years in prison
Francisco Javier Denis, 16 years in prison
Jesús Rodríguez Beruvides, 16 years in prison
José Carreño, 16 years in prison
Luis González Infante, 16 years in prison
Manuel Barba, 16 years in prison
Mario Fajardo, 16 years in prison
Mercedes Peña, 16 years in prison
Pedro Fuentes Cid, 16 years in prison
Raúl García, 16 years in prison
Agustín Robaina, 15 years in prison
Alberto Montes, 15 years in prison
Angel Cuadra, 15 years in prison
Angel M. García, 15 years in prison
Arelis Rodríguez San Román, 15 years in prison
Carlos Calvo, 15 years in prison
Delio Blanco, 15 years in prison
Edel Ravelo, 15 years in prison
Francisco Cruz, 15 years in prison
Gerardo RodríguezSan Román, 15 years in prison
José Chirino, 15 years in prison
Juan Ramón Díaz, 15 years in prison
Luis J. Chirino, 15 years in prison
Mario Cruz Martínez, 15 years in prison
Nin Amaro, 15 years in prison
Orlando Martínez Paz, 15 years in prison
Ramón González, 15 years in prison
Ramón "Rino" Puig, 15 years in prison
Raul Arteaga, 15 years in prison
Rodolfo Rodríguez San Román, 15 years in prison
Rudesindo Rodríguez Blanco, 15 years in prison
Tebelio Rodriguez San Román, 15 years in prison
Teresa Bastanzuri, 15 years in prison
Enrique Cepero, 14 years in prison
Elio Cuencio, 14 years in prison
Germán González, 14 years in prison
Jorge Dulzaides, 14 years in prison
Omelio Rodriguez, 14 years in prison
Angel Reyes, 13 years in prison
Arbelio Marín, 13 years in prison
Bernardo Ricardo, 13 years in prison
Eduardo J. Cano, 13 years in prison
Eleuterio Martínez, 13 years in prison
Heriberto Castillo, 13 years in prison
Jorge Guzmán Chaple, 13 years in prison
Alicia del Busto, 12 years in prison
Angel García, 12 years in prison
Aniceto Cuestra, 12 years in prison
Celedonio Invierno, 12 years in prison
Feliciano Mohamed, 12 years in prision
Jorge Luis Delgado, 12 years in prison
Jorge Valdés Páez, 12 years in prison
Jorge Portuondo Jorge, 12 years in prison
José A. Jiménez, 12 years in prison
José A. Lima, 12 years in prison
Juan Besu, 12 years in prison
José Luis Gallareta, 12 years in prison
Juan Casas, 12 years in prison
Juan Valdés de Armas, 12 years in prison
Juan Medina Plata, 12 years in prison
Medardi M. Salcedo, 12 years in prison
Pablo Castro, 12 years in prison
Rafael Marques, 12 years in prison
Reinaldo Aquit, 12 years in prison
Jesús González Martínez, 11 years in prison
Edgardo Llompart, 11 years in prison
Alberto Abreu, 10 years in prison
Armando Loco, 10 years in prison
Aurelio Vázquez, 10 years in prison
Candelario L. Puentes, 10 years in prison
Emilio González, 10 years in prison
Enrique Pérez García, 10 years in prison
Enrique Ruano, 10 years in prison
Héctor Sánchez, 10 years in prison
Fermín Amador Chamizo, 10 years in prison
Fernando Arias, 10 years in prision
Fr. Miguel Angel Loredo, OFM, 10 years in prison
Frank Pérez, 10 years in prison
Gladys Ruisánchez, 10 years in prison
Gloria Argudín, 10 years in prison
Guillermo Rodríguez, 10 years in prison
Idalberto Sánchez Vidal, 10 years in prison
Irma Fernández Llorca, 10 years in prision
Jesús Pérez, 10 years in prison
José A. Gutiérrez-Solana, 10 years in prison
José Bello, 10 years in prison
Julio Cepero, 10 years in prison
Lionel Rodríguez, 10 years in prison
Manuel Amaro, 10 years in prision
Manuel Jiménez, 10 years in prison
Mariano Rodríguez, 10 years in prison
Mireya Muro Morales, 10 years in prison
Nelson Rodríguez, 10 years in prison
Oneida Fernández, 10 years in prison
Pedro Juan López Díaz, 10 years in prison
Raúl Martínez, 10 years in prison
Regino García, 10 years in prison
Renan Yanes, 10 years in prison
Ramón Couto, 10 years in prison
René Piedra, 10 years in prison
Reinaldo Morales, 10 years in prison
Roberto Gessne, 10 years in prison
Rodolfo Masó, 10 years in prison
Sigfredo López, 10 years in prison
Teresa Pérez-Pous, 10 years in prison
Tony Artiles, 10 years in prison
Vicente Gener, 10 years in prison
Víctor M. Hernández, 10 years in prison
Virgilio Morera, 10 years in prison
Arturo Estévez, 9 years in prison
Berta Cantón, 9 years in prison
Casimiro López Periu, 9 years in prison
Domingo Martínez, 9 years in prison
Efraín Taquechel, 9 years in prison
Elías Gonzalo García, 9 years in prison
Eugenio Llamera, 9 years in prison
Gabriel Aztengo, 9 years in prison
Gerardo Rodriguez Capote, 9 years in prison
Gregorio Ariosa, 9 years in prison
Jorge Fernández Rodríguez, 9 years in prison
José R. Toledo, 9 years in prison
Luis Masón, 9 years in prison
Marcos González, 9 years in prison
Maria Elena Pujols, 9 years in prison
Miguel Hernández Falero, 9 years in prison
Nelly Rojas, 9 years in prison
Orlando López Periu, 9 years in prison
Raúl Martínez, 9 years in prison
Tomás Benito Paz, 9 years in prison
Juan Alborta Saldo, 9 years in prison
Adolfo González García, 8 years in prison
Enrique Ruano, 8 years in prison
Pedro Corzo, 8 years in prison
Servando Mesa, 8 years in prison
Angel Nicasio Bueno, 7 years in prison
Elías Gonzalo, 7 years in prison
Hernán Reyes, 7 years in prison
Alfredo García Menocal, 6 years in prison
Jorge Cruz, 6 years in prision
Elba González, 6 years in prison
Elda Torres, 6 years in prison
Emelina Núñez, 6 years in prison
Idelfonso Pérez, 6 years in prison
Ino Martell Casuso, 6 years in prison
José Luis Fernández, 6 years in prison
Ana María Rojas, 5 years in prison
Carmelo Zamora, 5 years in prison
Carmen Voloso, 5 years in prison
Dionisio Gonzalo López, 5 years in prison
Dr. Tomás Barrios, 5 years in prison
Eduardo "Eddy" Arango, 5 years in prison
José Albertini, 5 years in prison
Maritza Lugo, 5 years in prison
Miguel Tatte, 5 years in prison
Roberto Ruíz, 5 years in prison
Agustín de Jesús Lastre Barroso, 4 years in prison
Carmen Arias, 4 years in prision
Emiliano Reinoso, 4 years in prison
Ignacio R. Barrios, 4 years in prison
Juan Hernández Pujols, 4 years in prison
Gladys Campanería, 3 years in prision
Iliana Curra, 3 years in prison
Pedro Morales, 3 years in prision
Alvin Ross, 2 years in prison
Sergio Llanes, 2 years in prison
Vicente Echerri, 2 years in prison

c.c: The. Hon. Ileana Ros-Lethinen
The Hon. Lincoln Díaz-Balart
The Hon. Mario Dïaz-Balart
The. Hon. Albio Sires