Prison Cell of Dr. Oscar Elias BiscetJames Cason, Chief of Mission, U.S. Interests SectionRemarks at a Reception at Chief of Mission Cason's Residence Havana, Cuba September 8, 2004 Let me switch gears for a moment to talk about a very important component of our mission here--that is the defense of human rights. In his recent interview with Prensa Latina, Mr. Ricardo Alarcón Quesada, President of the National Assembly of Peoples Power, made an attempt to define our goals.
According to Mr. Alarcón, this simple foot soldier before you is devoted to "deceive and subvert." But I fear that he has not correctly ascertained what we are dedicated to doing. On the contrary, we are determined to continue search for the best means to do the opposite; that is, to bring to light the actions of the Cuban government against its own people and to help all Cubans live a life where the most basic rights as a human being are protected. I am pleased that today we can share a few moments of friendship, although I recognize that not all can enjoy this freedom. We will never forget that hundreds of political prisoners exist in this country, one of the highest numbers in the world. Today, we inaugurate a reproduction of an isolation prison cell, based on a description made clandestinely by Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet sent from the "Cinco y Medio" prison in Pinar del Rio. Elsa Morejon, Dr. Biscet’s wife who is with us here today, furnished this description. We take this opportunity to put to the test the old saying, "A picture is worth more than 1,000 words." I imagine that all of you would prefer seeing for yourselves the sad realty a political prisoner, represented by this reproduction of an isolation prison cell, instead of having to listen to 1,000 words of "deception and subversion" from the lips of a "fourth-rate" bureaucrat. I appreciate the attendance of every one of you here tonight, and I invite you to see the reproduction of the prison cell of Dr. Elias Biscet. [See photo at right.] [Translated from the Spanish.]
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