To the Clinton Presidential Campaign:
(If you are not able to timely handle this request, please route this to the appropriate office to respond to such inquiries, & so advise.)
We represent the dozens of member groups that belong to the National Network On Cuba; an organization that supports normalization of relations with Cuba, demands a lifting of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, an end to all travel restrictions, and respect for Cuban sovereignty. We are writing to support and join Attorney Art Heitzer’s request for a response regarding Hillary Clinton’s assertion in the Miami debate on March 9, 2016 that the Cuban government “has disappeared and even killed people” for expressing their political views. Specifically, in attacking Sen. Sanders for having stated in 1985 that the Cuban revolution had brought not only healthcare and other benefits but also an accompanying revolution in values, Secretary Clinton stated:
“You know, if the values are that you oppress people, you disappear people, you imprison people or even kill people for expressing their opinions, for expressing freedom of speech, that is not the kind of revolution or values that I ever want to see anywhere,” Clinton said to loud cheers in the room. (Emphasis added, see e.g., http://www.npr.org/2016/03/09/469866027/watch-a-resurgent-sanders-looks-to-knock-down-clinton-in-tonights-debate)
We are aware of many instances in recent decades when journalists, as well as political, LGTB and indigenous activists have been “disappeared” or killed after expressing their political views, or just being part of an unfavored community, in other parts of Latin America including Mexico, Guatemala — and notably Honduras after the 2009 coup, mostly recently as highlighted by the assassination of indigenous and environmental activist Berta Caceres. The same is true in other regions, as this morning, NPR’s correspondent reported that 1,000’s of residents in Egypt have been been disappeared, tortured and killed (see “5 Years Later, Egypt Government Crackdown On Dissent Persists“), and Egypt continues to be one of the largest recipients of U.S. aid. You are clearly aware of the national movements of Black Lives Matter activists, generated by the persistent pattern of U.S. police authorities taking the lives of our citizens of color under very suspect circumstances. But aside from the speedy trials in 1959 of people accused of being killers or torturers under Batista, which have been widely criticized, we do not know of credible evidence to support Secretary Clinton’s assertions highlighted above, and not in the last 25 years.
We therefore request credible documentation for instances and individuals who have been “disappeared” or killed for expressing their political views in Cuba in the last 25 years. If this cannot be supplied, we respectfully request that Secretary. Clinton clarify and correct her assertion, consistent with the way that she and other candidates have corrected statements in which they “misspoke.” We further request a definitive response on this matter ASAP, but no later than March 24, 2016. After that date, we will circulate whatever response has or has not been received.
Thank you kindly for your consideration.
National Network On Cuba Co-Chairs
Nalda Vigezzi
Alicia Jrapko
Cheryl LaBash
Banbose Shango
Greg Klave
P.O. Box 22455, Oakland, CA 94609 Phone number: 617 254 9070 nnoc20012002@yahoo.com
