Father's Day conference call to Cuba

Commerce Secretary placed a Father's Day called this Sunday to dissidents in Cuba.

“Today I had the distinct privilege to speak with some of Cuba’s leading dissidents in Havana who continue to struggle every day living in repression under Raul Castro’s communist regime. I have the utmost respect and admiration for their continued efforts on behalf of freedom for political prisoners and democracy in Cuba, and assured them of President’s Bush’s continued support," he said in a statement.

“We must never forget that the Cuban people are suffering terribly under a brutally repressive regime. It is important that the United States continues to support the dissidents’ efforts for change until the hundreds of political prisoners are released, and human rights are restored.”

His office said members of the Ladies in White and other unnamed dissidents participated in the call. Gutierrez is the co-chair of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba.

-Frances Robles