Renowned economist Marta Beatriz Roque, one of 75 intellectuals imprisoned by Fidel Castro, was allowed to slowly bleed to death in a deplorable, rat-infested jail cell despite calls by the international community for her care and release. Judicial Watch has rallied support from Italian Vice Prime Minister Gianfranco, whose attempts to intervene on Ms. Roque’s behalf have thus far been rebuffed by the Cuban government.

“Judicial Watch is committed to building international pressure to punish Fidel Castro for his violent crimes,” said JW Chairman Larry Klayman. “No nation can afford to sit on the sidelines while Castro continues to violate humanity again and again.”

Facing an economic crisis that threatens Castro’s stranglehold on Cuban citizens, the Cuban dictator has relied more heavily of late on tactics of terror. Those attempting to flee the island prison have been executed by firing squad. Those who dare oppose the Communist regime serve lengthy prison sentences in inhumane jail cells. Ms. Roque was serving a 20-year sentence for speaking out against Castro.

Judicial Watch is leading the international community in opposition to Fidel Castro in an attempt to bring him to justice. JW has filed legal actions in Brussels, Belgium and in the United States. Furthermore, JW Chairman Larry Klayman recently concluded a European tour, organized by the State Department, in an effort to rally the international community to confront Castro. Prior to this private diplomatic mission, JW orchestrated a meeting between its Cuban American clients and President Bush, during which the President promised to help their cause for freedom.

After JW pressured the Bush State Department, spokesman Richard Boucher issued a statement condemning Castro for his inhumane treatment of Ms. Baroque and calling for the release of the other 74 jailed dissidents.

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U.S. Government Sends 12 Freedom-Seeking Cubans Back to Castro

Despite pleas from Judicial Watch and others, the U.S. government condemned 12 freedom-seeking Cuban dissidents to persecution by sending them back to Castro’s island prison. The U.S. Coast Guard had intercepted a total of 19 dissidents at sea in late July, arranging political asylum for 7 of them while “repatriating” the other 12. All of the individuals are members of the renowned dissident group “Feb. 24 Movement,” formed to protest the Castro-ordered shoot down of “Brothers to the Rescue” planes by Cuban Migs in 1996.

“In the wake of the rash of executions and jailings in Cuba, the U.S. government knows full well what will happen to these individuals,” said JW Chairman Larry Klayman. “There is something very wrong with a policy that condemns freedom-seekers to torture and possible death.”

Judicial Watch attempted to secure political asylum for the 19 dissidents by working with the U.S. government and officials from other countries, such as Panama, and continues everyday to fight for the release of all those jailed for opposing Castro.

Castro Targets JW, Praises Janet Reno in Communist Newspaper

Sometimes the effectiveness of an organization can be measured by the indignation of its opponents. If this is indeed true, then JW recently earned high marks for its efforts to punish Fidel Castro.

Castro recently took aim at JW in Cuba’s state-run official newspaper, Granma, publishing a lengthy article entitled, “Who Threatens Danny Glover? Judicial Watch Or the New Inquisition,” referring to JW’s criticism of Castro supporter and actor Danny Glover. The article also goes on to mention JW’s legal actions on behalf of Jose Basulto, founder of the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue, and blasts JW for its lawsuit against Castro friend and authoritarian Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

While Castro reserved most of his venom for JW, he had nothing but nice things to say about former Clinton Attorney General Janet Reno, who forced the return of Elian Gonzalez to Cuba. JW has been outspoken in its criticism of the Clinton administration and the Bush administration for coddling Castro.

Sidebars:

Just weeks after Castro executed three men for attempting to flee Cuba, actor and MCI spokesman Danny Glover signed an anti-American document entitled, “To the Conscience of the World,” which supported Castro and his regime. JW called upon MCI to fire the actor or face a boycott from freedom-loving Americans of its products and services.

Vice President Attempts to Skirt Justice

Vice President Cheney is attempting to avoid accountability in two separate cases filed by Judicial Watch.

On July 29, a federal judge heard arguments as to whether or not a lawsuit involving Vice President Cheney, former Chairman of Halliburton, should move forward. JW’s complaint alleges that Halliburton and its auditors made accounting changes to artificially inflate the company’s value, similar to Enron. Halliburton CEO David Lesar has said the Vice President knew about the accounting change while he served as the company’s chief executive.

On August 8th, the Bush Justice Department asked a federal appeals court to reconsider the decision to continue JW’s case against the Vice President’s Energy Task Force. A three-judge panel ruled in July that the Bush administration failed to prove that JW’s case represents an unconstitutional intrusion into the innerworkings of the presidency and ordered the case to move forward.