U.S. senators condemn beating

[Freddie Stubbs]

Several U.S. senators blasted the attack on Cuban dissident Martha Beatriz Roque and demanded that Cuba allow its citizens to exercise their rights.

BY OSCAR CORRAL
[email protected]

Pushed by a hotel lobby of a different kind, several U.S. senators -- including two who are considering running for president -- on Monday condemned Cuba for the ''beating and intimidation'' of well-known dissident Martha Beatriz Roque in late April.

The effort began in Coral Gables' Biltmore Hotel, where -- in separate visits -- many of the senators got word of the attack on Roque from activists including Ana Navarro, the former Nicaraguan ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, whose boyfriend, Gene Prescott, is the hotel's proprietor.

''It was all a matter of coincidence and really talking to them with the truth,'' Navarro said. ``When policy makers are faced with the truth, they take action.''

U.S. senators Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Bill Nelson of Florida led the charge to introduce a resolution Monday blasting the attack on Roque and demanding that Cuba allow its citizens to exercise their rights. Also listed as co-sponsors are potential presidential candidates Democrat Joseph Biden and Republican John McCain.

more: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/14532588.htm