Summary

The House International Relations Committee holds a hearing on the downing of two US civilian planes by the Cuban government Relatives of the “Shot Down” victims are scheduled to testify

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 347150
Story Slug House Hearing / Downing Of Two US Planes By Cuba (1996)
Location Washington, DC
Format TVD
Date 02/29/1996
Archive Time 4:27
TRT 5:10
Supers 1) Peter Tarnoff, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs 2) Marlene Alejandre, daughter of Armando Alejandre 3) Michael de la Pena, Brother of Mario de la Pena 4) Representative Chris Smith, R-NJ 5) Edilfa Pera, Cousin of Pablo Morales
Video Description Sound from hearing, testimony
Description The House International Relations Committee holds a hearing on the downing of two US civilian planes by the Cuban government Relatives of the “Shot Down” victims are scheduled to testify
Script (SUGGESTED TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO) 00:00 Our actions to take us seriously But I think if he's ultimately faced with a challenge to his control in the form of Concilio or the brothers, or a myriad of other activities, which he would regard as regime threatening on the one hand, and a very strong reaction from the United States on the other, or a strong reaction from the international community on the other Even if the international community were to rally to the United States position on Cuba and on sanctions and embargoes towards Cuba, he would choose to retain control, and I'm convinced that he will always make that choice, and I assume that's what was reflected in his decision that led to the tragic events of last Saturday 00:50 Well, my father, because I could go on and on, I was very proud of him, and it hurts me very much to think that maybe he did not realize it As he talked about his work with the rafters in the Bahamas, he sounded like a little boy who had just learned how to tie his shoe laces or ride a bicycle He always told me he was a conscience of the exile community, and until now, I never really understood what he meant 01:17 Now I don't have a daddy anymore I 01:37 although I am thankful that he died quickly, that He died a happy man doing what he thought was right, and that he is now close to the Cuba He so loved, I feel we cannot allow, we cannot allow the Cuban government to get away with murdering him and his three companions I ask you to not let my father's death be in vain Ask you not to let this atrocity go unpunished I walk away with from this experience, with the thought that my father and his three companions died as heroes, I ask you to help us realize their goals and help give Carlos Pablo Mario and my father the farewell they deserve I urge you to do this 02:15 The reckless and illegal actions of the Cuban government has not only taken my brother away, 02:22 but it has destroyed a bright and extraordinary piece of America's future 02:28 You represent our people 02:31 Our founding fathers gave you the duty to give expression of the people of these United States of America, 02:38 as a citizen of this great nation, as a brother of a young man who could have been the pride of any American family 02:46 May I urge you to pass a joint resolution incorporating the voice of we, the people of the United States and condemning this heinous act of cold blooded murder as another badge of infamy in the criminal record of Fidel Castro 03:05 wells found themselves being retaliated against it by this dictatorship, the Burton helms language will become law 03:15 You know, for once, I think it is put in perspective that if you trade with this dictatorship You are complicit with it, and we want nothing to do with you And the bravery of the brothers to the rescue is inspiring And again, I have nothing but contempt for our own administration for coddling this dictator as they have coddled dictatorships in Beijing, in North Korea and in other places around the world where dictatorships have flourished and but this from being so close and having so many people in fear, why has the United States always chosen to pursue human justice somewhere, somewhere else, Other than in its own backyard? 04:00 As Americans, we need to ask ourselves how long we will allow this to continue We need to search our conscience and ask why our foreign policy has failed to bring any fundamental and meaningful changes in Cuba 04:18 Why do we pretend that recent changes in you It's a pleasure to to present an outstanding member of the Florida congressional delegation and one of the key authors and proponents of the helms Burton bill, without whose help, none of that would have been possible No, just that I'm certainly here to to listen and to get more information And I've certainly learned from the short time I've been here, from my colleagues who have just previously a 04:55 Cuban United 04:58 States 04:59 that 05:00 As a conservation, 05:02 Mr Chairman, 05:04 Steve, all of your statements and specifically letters that you have addressed to him, and I know that they will be favorably
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Keywords

Brothers to the rescue
shoot down
shot down
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