PRESIDENT BUSH: "WE WILL LIBERATE CUBA"

Judicial Watch Clients Heartened by President's Commitment to Bring Down Castro

Families of Cuban Dissidents Meet with President for Over One Hour and Are Told "We Will Not Abandon You"

(Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and abuse, announced today that President George W. Bush told the families of imprisoned Cuban dissidents, "We will liberate Cuba." The families, Judicial Watch clients, met with President Bush, and other top officials, on Cuban Independence Day to demand that the administration take action against Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro, who recently launched a terror campaign against his citizens that includes prison sentences for peaceful dissidents and the firing squad murder of three freedom seekers.

During the historic, hour-long, White House meeting, that Judicial Watch helped set up for its clients, President Bush also vowed to the dissidents' families that "We will not abandon you."

Judicial Watch has pending lawsuits against Castro on behalf of these clients, both in United States federal courts and the Belgian Royal Court. During the White House visit, the dissidents' families asked the Bush Administration to take strong action against Castro who has murdered, imprisoned and abused the Cuban people for more than four decades.

Also attending the meeting were National Presidential Envoy for the Western Hemisphere Otto Reich, a member of the National Security Council, and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez. Judicial Watch applauds the President and these top officials for participating in this meeting, which it suggested and worked with The White House to arrange.

"The President spoke plainly and clearly. It is time for Castro to go," stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman.