URGENT: Leading Opposition Activist Antúnez Hospitalized on 25th Day of Hunger Strike
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Placetas. March 13, 2009. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Former Cuban political prisoner and leading opposition activist Jorge Luis García Pérez, better known as “Antúnez,” was transported to Placetas General Hospital after suffering convulsions and losing consciousness. Antúnez and two fellow activists have been on hunger strike since February 17th of this year.

“First he was convulsing, he had a fever, a fixed gaze,” explained activist Carlos Michael Morales, who was at the site of the hunger strike, Calle Séptima del Sur #5, entre Paseo Martí y Primera del Este, in Placetas.

“We decided to bring him to Placetas General Hospital, where upon arrival they administered a 5 per cent dextrose solution intravenously, they performed blood tests on him and sent him to the intensive care ward. Now they say that he is fine, and we no that is not the case, that the hand of State Security is here, giving orders to the doctors here,” stated activist Donaida Pérez Paseiro, spokeswoman for the hunger strikers, in a telephone call from the hospital.

The activists held Raúl Castro’s government responsible for what may happen to Antúnez, and called for responses to the demands that motivated the hunger strikers to begin their protest.

“We call upon the worldwide democratic community, the European Union, the Catholic Church, the government of Spain, and all those who defend human rights to intercede for the sake of the life of Jorge Luis García Pérez ‘Antúnez.’ We hold Raúl Castro’s regime responsible for whatever may happen to our brother Antúnez, and this strike will not end until Raúl Castro responds to the just demands they are making,” stated Carlos Michael Morales during a telephone call to the Cuban Democratic Directorate.

The strike, begun on February 17 2009, demands of the Havana government that inhumane treatment end against prisoner Mario Pérez Aguilera, held at Santa Clara Provincial Prison; that citizen Caridad García Pérez be permitted to repair her home using her own means; and that the texts of the international human rights agreements signed by the Cuban government in February 2008, which the Cuban people do not know about, be published in Cuba.

The activists joining Antúnez in this protest are Iris Pérez Aguilera and Diosiris Santana Pérez.

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Directorio Democrático Cubano
P.O. Box 110235
Hialeah, Florida 33011
Tel. 305-220-2713
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In Memory of Mario Manuel de la Peña