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Amnesty International Calls for Urgent Action for Reina Tamayo Danger Miami. August 11, 2010. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Amnesty International has called for urgent action to support Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger, mother of murdered Cuban prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo. Please find below the text of Amnesty's Urgent Action Alert for Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger: URGENT ACTION MOTHER HARASSED FOR MARCHING FOR DEAD SON The mother of a Cuban prisoner of conscience who died after hunger striking has been repeatedly harassed and intimidated in an attempt to stop her from organizing marches to commemorate her son's death. The next march is planned for 15 August. Reina Luisa Tamayo is the mother of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a prisoner of conscience who died on 22 February 2010, having spent several weeks on hunger strike whilst in prison. Since her son's death, Reina Luisa Tamayo has organized weekly marches on Sundays in the town of Barnes, Holguin Province, Cuba, to honour her son's memory. Relatives and friends accompany Reina Luisa Tamayo on these weekly marches from her home to attend mass at the Nuestra Señora de la Caridad Church, in Barnes and from there to the cemetery where Orlando Zapata Tamayo is buried. Last Sunday, 8 August, the group reported that as soon as they tried to leave Reina Luisa Tamayo's house to start their march, they were confronted a few metres away from the house by hundreds of government supporters who blocked their way and beat some of the participants. They were pushed back to the house and followed into the house's garden. The participants tried twice more to leave the house and resume the march but they were again violently confronted by the government supporters, who stayed outside the house until late in the afternoon. According to Reina Luisa Tamayo, during all this time a police patrol was close to her house watching as the events unfolded and failing to intervene. The group have reported how prior to 8 August, they have also been confronted by government supporters and state security officials who have gathered around Reina Luisa Tamayo's house and prevented them from marching, sometimes preventing them from reaching the church, the cemetery, or both. They have also reported how state security officials and police officers have set up check points on the routes to Reina Luisa Tamayo's house on the day prior to the march to prevent people from reaching the house and joining the march. PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 22 SEPTEMBER 2010 TO: Head of State and Government Raúl Castro Ruz Presidente La Habana, Cuba Fax: +53 7 8333085 (via Foreign Ministry); +1 2127791697 (via Cuban Mission to UN) Email: cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN) Salutation: Su Excelencia/Your Excellency Interior Minister General Abelardo Coloma Ibarra Ministro del Interior y Prisiones Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana, Cuba Fax: +53 7 8333085 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs) +1 2127791697 (via Cuban Mission to UN) Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION MOTHER HARASSED FOR MARCHING FOR DEAD SON
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