Canadian senator seeks to condemn the illegitimacy of the Cuban regime
The historic motion on Cuba presented by Senator Housakos in the Senate of Canada on March 24 as reported by the following organizations and news sites: Panamerican Foundation for Democracy, Diario de las Américas, Martí Noticias & Periodico Cubano. English translation by Democratic Spaces
Canadian senator seeks to condemn "the illegality of the Cuban regime".
March 27, 2022
Editorial Staff Televisión Martí
El senador del Partido Conservador de Canadá, Leo Housakos, el 24 de marzo de 2022.
Canadian Senator and interim opposition leader Leo Housakos introduced a motion in Canada's Parliament calling for a change in policy toward the Cuban regime.
In an 18-minute speech delivered on March 24, Housakos urged Canadian lawmakers and the Canadian Executive to denounce the systematic human rights violations in Cuba and recognize opposition groups on the island.
"The speech was historic, probably the longest ever delivered in Canada's Parliament in support of democracy in Cuba," said activist Michael Lima, director of the NGO Democratic Spaces and promoter of the objectives of the Parliamentary Transatlantic Forum.
In addition, the senator is the first legislator from Canada to be part "of the global initiative in support of freedom in Cuba...because in November 2021 he joined the Parliamentary Transatlantic Forum," Lima told Radio Martí.
"What is important," commented Lima, "is that the senator has broken the silence of the Canadian government on the violations occurring in Cuba, in this extensive speech."
Canadian Senators denounce illegitimacy of Cuban regime
March 26, 2022 - 08:03 am
Editorial Staff Diario de las Americas
The motion presented in the Canadian Senate asks its government to call on the Cuban regime to guarantee the right of the people to demonstrate without being repressed.
Senator Leo Housakos presented before the Senate of Canada a motion calling on the Canadian government to denounce the illegitimacy of the Cuban regime, to recognize the opposition and civil society as valid interlocutors.
The motion also asks the Canadian government to call on the Cuban regime to guarantee the right of the people to demonstrate peacefully without fear of reprisals or repudiation.
The Cuban regime is holding more than 700 political prisoners in the context of the July 11, 2021 protests. Thousands of Cubans took to the streets demanding food and freedom. The Castro regime has sentenced with long sentences citizens who joined peaceful demonstrations in some 40 locations in Cuba, demanding political change on the island.
The regime's response to the protests has been repression. One protester was killed by the dictatorship's armed forces.
"I am presenting this motion as part of the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum, a global initiative with legislators from Europe and the Americas in solidarity with the struggle of the people of Cuba for their right to live in democracy," Senator Housakos said.
The motion was seconded by Senators Denise Batters and David Mark Wells and will remain in the Senate until adjourned. Senator Housakos indicated that different Senators will rise each week in support of the motion.
Other MPs, such as Michael Chong, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Conservative Party of Canada, supported the motion. After the reading in the Legislative Chamber, Senator Housakos met with Michael Lima Cuadra, promoter of the organization "Cuba Decide" and of the objectives of the FPT. The meeting was also attended by other members of the Cuban-Canadian community.
The FTP was founded in the city of Miami in November 2021 at the initiative of the promoters of Cuba Decide and brings together parliamentarians from the Americas and Europe.
Canada's Parliament demands Justin Trudeau to change his policies towards Cuba
Through a motion, they also ask for a recognition of opposition groups
By Periodico Cubano & CubaNoticias360
Published on 27 March, 2022
Senator Leo Housakos introduced a motion in favor of human rights and the opposition in Cuba. (Photo: Canadian Senate)
Through a motion, a recognition to opposition groups is also requested.
Canada's Parliament demands Justin Trudeau to change his policies towards Cuba
Senator Leo Housakos presented a motion in favor of human rights and the opposition in Cuba. (Photo: Canadian Senate)
Canadian Senator Leo Housakos presented a motion in the Canadian Parliament to demand the government of Justin Trudeau to implement a change of policies towards Cuba and also to denounce human rights violations in the Antillean nation.
In his 18-minute speech, the interim leader of the opposition in the legislature endorsed the idea of recognizing opposition groups on the island as valid interlocutors. The motion also defends the right to peaceful demonstration on the Island.
The initiative received the support of parliamentarians such as Michael Chong, Denise Batters and David Mark Wells, as well as Candice Bergen, who is currently the interim leader of the Conservative Party.
Sharing the video of Housakos' intervention, Rosa María Payá, activist of the Cuba Decide platform, said that the presentation of the motion is a sign that the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum is bearing fruit.
This forum is made up of legislators from the European Parliament and also from the congresses of Spain, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States, in addition to civil society organizations and Cuban exiles.
The purpose of this organization is to influence governments to support the Cuban people in their demand for freedom, to stop financing the communist regime and to apply sanctions to those responsible for serious human rights violations.
Activist Michel Lima, director of the NGO Democratic Spaces, told Radio Television Marti that the Canadian congressman made a historic speech and, he added, it is probably the longest speech ever made in support of the Cuban people in the aforementioned parliament.
"What is important, is that the senator has broken the silence of the Canadian government on the violations occurring in Cuba, in this extensive speech," said Lima, who is a promoter of the objectives of that forum.
In September 2021, the senator told the U.S. broadcaster that the Canadian government should exert strong pressure on Castroism to weaken it so that the Cuban people can remove it from power.
He also called it disturbing that Trudeau's Liberal administration has not expressed an open rejection of the brutal repression against the mass demonstrations that took place last July.
"I have the privilege of knowing a number of Canadians of Cuban descent in Ottawa who are very concerned about what is happening to their friends and family back home," the senator said in that interview.