"The Bush administration condemns the recent wave of repression launched against the Cuban people by Fidel Castro and his regime. The dictator has detained dozens of grassroots democracy leaders - arrests that are part of a well-documented pattern of behavior by Castro and his security forces. Their impunity serves only to mask their fears - fear of the truth, fear of free expression, fear of the Cuban people's thirst for liberty, and fear of their own inevitable collapse.

This Administration is committed to helping the Cuban people break free from tyranny, and we remain gravely concerned for those being detained. We call upon the Cuban regime to release those brave prisoners of conscience and end systemic human rights abuses once and for all."

--Secretary Mel Martinez
U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development
May 20, 2003