we are going to start off with normando hernandez. i'm going to have to ask you as you go through your presentation to pause at times to give the interpreter a chance to interpret and so the transcript can be developed and so senator rubio may fully understand and for the members who have staff here will know what you're saying as well. it will take a little bit of time but we look forward to your testimony and we thank you for your willingness to come ford. with that, mr. hernandez, we're going to start with you. if you can summarize your testimony around five minutes or so, we'll be a little flexible here, we don't always get these opportunities and then all of your testimony will be included in the record. with that -- [ speaking spanish ] >> honorary chairman hernandez, honorary member marco julio and members of the subcommittee. good morning. thank you very much for inviting me to testify. my name is normandeau hernandez and i am a journalist and an expolitical prisoner from cuba, member of the group of '75. when arrest, the topi

my name is normando hernandez, and i am an ex prisoner from cuba, member of 75.n the topic of this hearing i did nothing but rejoice to show the world the cubans are not alone on the road to freedom. to be against the totalitarian regime of the castro brothers. it is to be in favor of the civil society. i am still learning english, so please, allow me to continue in spanish. .. . >> independent civil society and u.s. is self created groups established without authorization from the government to defend their interest in this state. >> e-speaking spanish. >> this includes as the dissidents, peaceful opposition, human-rights movement, professional and intellectual associations. >> [speaking spanish] >> translator: besieged of the civil society planted january 28 to with the human rights under the direction of a small group of intellectuals. >> [speaking spanish] >> translator: since the creation of the group for human rights have advocated for their human rights and announce a flagrant violation on the island. >> [speaking spanish] >> translator: and the profound e