In Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Cuba

A Call for Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Cuba.

Activists in Camagüey issue declaration of solidarity with hunger strikers

Declaration of Saratoga

May 6, 2013

People of Cuba, Camagüey, Cuba and compatriots all:

We are a group of nonviolent human rights and opposition pro-democracy activists that have gathered here today at the emblematic Saratoga neighborhood in the city of Camagüey, where after a sustained exchange and fruitful working meeting, we present to the world this historic declaration , in which we set out the following points of view:

1. Our most firm and unconditional support to our brothers of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) that in the east of the country are struggling between life and death on hunger strike. We hold publicly responsible the regime and its political police of the consequences for their lives and health that may result from their just demand for an arbitrarily imprisoned brother. Receive each and every one of the strikers and the members and officers of the iconic and courageous organization, the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), headed by well-known opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García our deepest solidarity and affection.
2. Those present took the opportunity to publicly call world attention to the unfortunate case of Nicolás Felipe González Menéndez and Arcelio López Rojas, in the prisons of Villa Clara and Camagüey respectively that might lose their lives in separate hunger strikes and that for different reasons are carrying out. The cases of Nicolás and Arcelio have the paradoxical, and for us unacceptable silence and indifference both of the media as well as a few activists in and out of Cuba, who for the simple reason are not recognized as political prisoners, they are denied coverage and monitoring.

Know those who are listening to us that we are gathered here today and each one of all the prisoners in Cuba, whether or not they have the status of political prisoners, whatever the causes for which they were imprisoned, have the right of solidarity for and with them. And for who lacks courage to do it, know that today convened here in Saratoga, openly and responsibly we are for all those in Cuba and elsewhere in the world who risk their lives in the just demand of their rights.

Although the commemoration of Mother's Day is still days away, we want to congratulate in advance the Cuban woman as mother, wife and woman. And especially in these moments that they have been at the forefront of the struggle in the Cuban resistance, confronting with courage and patriotism the totalitarian repression. On this occasion we want to congratulate several Cuban Marianas that during these days carry the truth of Cuba to different parts of the world and international forums such as: Berta Soler, Yoani Sánchez, Belkis Cantillo, Laura Labrada Pollán, for all of them on behalf of Cuba, many congratulations.

Those gathered here today and congregated here on this public balcony in Camagüey and in sight of military units are here confirming our sacred commitment to the nonviolent defense of human rights and democratic change especially united in action, as a basic component in any liberation process.
Gathered here in Saratoga, are members of the following organizations: Camagüey Human Rights Unit, National Civic Resistance Movement Pedro Luis Boitel, Women's Movement for Civil Rights Rosa Parks, and members of the Central Opposition Coalition, all affiliated to the Orlando Zapata Tamayo National Civic Resistance Front.

Compatriots, here we are in the residence of the provincial headquarters of the Human Rights Party of Cuba affiliated with the Andrei Sakharov Foundation, a pioneer flagship of our coalition of coalitions, here we are:

Yenni Barayobre Columbié
Daniel Miguel Jiménez
Elicardo Freire Jiménez
Santos Manuel Fernández Sánchez
Alexander Pérez Aguilar
Orlando Romaguer Peña
Orlando Gómez Echevarria
Julio Columbie Batista
Damaris Moya Portieles
Jorge Luis García Pérez Antúnez

Also the presence of Yris Tamara Pérez Aguilera on a convalescent bed recovering from ailments of the beating stands out and also the fear that we have that there may be a repressive event and she could be suppressed. Also inhabiting the residence is the activist and mother of opposition activist Santos Fernández Sánchez, Elida Sánchez Jiménez.

Original Spanish text available here and audio in the youtube clip below:

Jose Daniel Ferrer and more than 20 other activists on hunger strike

From Pedazos de la Isla:

A total of 26 member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), among them one of its leaders, former political prisoner Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, remain on hunger strike as a civic protest against the growing number of violent detentions of human rights activists and the increase of political prisoners. As of now, all the strikers hail from the Eastern region of the country.

The protest originated on Monday, April 15th, when a group of about 14 activists stood outside the Third Police Unit of Santiago de Cuba, demanding the release of dissident Luis Enrique Lozada, of UNPACU, who has been detained and on hunger strike in the mentioned unit since Tuesday, April 9th. His underage son, Enrique Lozada, as well as other relatives and brothers-in-struggle decided to carry out their own hunger strikes in solidarity.

On Tuesday, April 16th, a total of 24 dissidents of the same pro-freedom organization took the protest to the Cespedes Park of Santiago de Cuba, in front of the Cathedral of Santiago and the Communist Party of that area. Here is the video, courtesy of UNPACU, of the protest. One can also see various violent arrests of peaceful dissidents who tried to join the demonstration:


During the night of the 16th, monsignor Dionisio Garcia Ibanez, of Santiago, personally told Jose Daniel Ferrer that he would intercede for them, so that the political detainees, like Luis Enrique Lozada, be liberated.

Ferrer and the other hunger strikers returned to their homes, but they are still on strike. In this video, they explain their reasoning:


This 18th of April the UNPACU strikers are as follows: 11 in Palmarito de Cauto, 6 in San Luis and 9 in Santiago de Cuba, with a total of 26.

Meanwhile, on Twitter the young activist Anyer Antonio Blanco Rodriguez created the hashtag #huelgadehambreUNPACU (“hungerstrikeUNPACU”) to demonstrate solidarity with those carrying out the protest and the political prisoners. Blanco Rodriguez also published various messages informing that in diverse regions of the island there have been signs appearing with messages in favor of the strikers, while many public protests have been carried out, also in solidarity with the 26 dissidents which have put their own lives at risk for the freedom of others.

Amnesty International: Cuban authorities ‘responsible' for activist's death on hunger strike

"The responsibility for Wilman Villar Mendoza’s death in custody lies squarely with the Cuban authorities, who summarily judged and jailed him for exercising his right to freedom of expression."

- Javier Zúñiga, Special Adviser at Amnesty International, Fri, 20/01/2012

Another Cuban prisoner of conscience, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, died while on hunger strike in custody in February 2010. © Getty Images

20 January 2012

Cuban authorities ‘responsible' for activist's death on hunger strike

The death in custody of a Cuban prisoner of conscience after a hunger strike is a shocking reminder of the Raúl Castro government's intolerance for dissent, Amnesty International said today.

Wilman Villar Mendoza, 31, died this morning in Juan Bruno Zayas Hospital in the city of Santiago where he was transferred from prison on 13 January due to health problems allegedly arising from a hunger strike protesting at his unfair trial and imprisonment.

He was serving a four-year prison term on charges related to his participation in a public demonstration against the government.

“The responsibility for Wilman Villar Mendoza’s death in custody lies squarely with the Cuban authorities, who summarily judged and jailed him for exercising his right to freedom of expression,” said Javier Zúñiga, Special Adviser at Amnesty International.

“His tragic death highlights the depths of despair faced by the other prisoners of conscience still languishing in Cuban jails, who must be released immediately and unconditionally.”

“The Cuban authorities must stop the harassment, persecution, and imprisonment of peaceful demonstrators as well as political and human rights activists.”

On 14 November 2011, police arrested Mendoza and eight other members of the Cuban Patriotic Union dissident group in the eastern town of Contramaestre for taking part in a protest against the Cuban government.

While he was in detention, police intimidated Mendoza, telling him he would be disappeared or face imprisonment on criminal charges stemming from an earlier arrest if he did not stop his protests and leave the dissident group.

He was released after three days in police custody but was then summoned to Contramaestre Municipal Tribunal on 24 November. Judges tried him in private and refused to accept testimony from his wife or other defence witnesses.

The judges sentenced the activist to four years' imprisonment and immediately transferred him to Aguaderas prison, in the provincial capital Santiago. The same day, he began a hunger strike in protest at the ruling.

As Mendoza’s health deteriorated over recent days, members of the Cuban Patriotic Union and the Ladies in White opposition group organised a vigil outside the hospital. On 18 January, state security officials broke up the gathering and detained more than a dozen people.

Mendoza is not the first prisoner of conscience to die in Cuban custody.

Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a prisoner of conscience jailed after the “Black Spring” crackdown on opposition groups in March 2003, died in prison on 23 February 2010 after several weeks on hunger strike.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/cuban-authorities-responsible-activists-death-hunger-strike-2012-01-20