ms. soler and for members of the ladies in white received a soccer of prize for freedom by the european parliament in 2006. the castro brothers barred him from attending the awards ceremony. she and her husband have remained in cuba since his release rejecting an offer of immigration from spain to continue their struggle for human rights and democracy in cuba. i would also note that the ladies in light of the nominated in a joint request to the peace prize committee along with another afro-cuban medical doctor who has been tortured horrifically as well. he testified as you know by way of a phone hookup and told us do not, do not and the embargo get the conditions first. get human rights and durable human rights at that before the embargo is lifted and he said it even though there was great risk to themselves and articulating it. the europeans have been trading with cuba for decades with no emulator is in whatsoever and the lifeline frankly to a dictatorship which russia provided and then venezu

we'll begin with our second witness, ms. soler, if you could proceed. >> honorable congressman smith distinguished members of the subcommittee subcommittee. above all i want to thank you for listening to me. and also to thank you, thank all of the people and organizations who have made it possible for me to testify on the human rights situation in my country, cuba. we are presently living through a particularly defining moment for the future of our country. in the wake of the recent announced reestablishment of the diplomatic relations between cuba and the united states. i am appearing here as the leader in the ladies in white. a group of woman activists who support change towards democracy in our country through non violent means. inspired by the example of women such as rosa parks and coretta king among others. who with courage and determination blazed path for full enjoyment of civil rights in this great nation. now 50 years after the event in alabama and testifying before a subcommittee whose mandate includes global human righ

garcia, ms. soler, ms. fonseca, bienvenidos.ng spanish] [speaking spanish] you have my full admiration, my full respect for what you're doing in the fight that you were waging. an example, not only for your country but for my countrymen as well. and 80 that i can do to help you in this sacred fight, i am willing and enthusiastic to do so. i'm so sad sometimes brokenhearted for your suffering and your injuries. and i can't imagine what it would be like. [speaking spanish] and so i want to tell you whole heartedly how much i support what you are doing. [speaking spanish] >> mr. clawson, thank you so very, very much. if you would like to respond, ms. bass does have a plane to catch and ask if she could -- >> yes, thinking mr. chair. and thank the witnesses for the testimony. i have a couple of questions. i sit on the board of the national endowment for democracy come and there's about 27 organizations that are funded to help with activists in cuba. some of the organizations are funded in cuba, some are funded in miami. and i just w

ms. fonseca. go to the youtube and look at her videos. to find out how respected and how well the people who just dare speak out for freedom are treated. ask berta soler about what happens when you just walk peacefully with a flower in your hand going to church and asking for freedom of their relatives. ask her how the cuban people are treated. so at a time when during the state of the union our president spoke about cuba -- and by the way for the first time in my recollection did i see a president speak in the state of the union about cuba and not even mention -- not even mention human rights. not even mention democracy. not even mention. not even give lip service to elections in cuba. i am grateful to you, mr. chairman for bringing these heros, the future leaders. them and others, the future leaders of cuba to this the united states congress to testify. because again, at a time when the president, when our president has decided to ignore the repression, the arrests, heck, even sending of arms to north korea from the castro regime, this house, as it always has will continue to stand with you, with the future leaders of cuba. with the people of cuba a