Political prisoner reaches 62 days on hunger strike

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Political prisoner reaches 62 days on hunger strike
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

“I will not yield, under any circumstance”

Santiago de Cuba. 31 August 2010. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Cuban political prisoner Julián Antonio Monés Borrero affirmed on Tuesday, August 31^st that he remains on hunger strike until he is granted the certification of conditional release he has a right to according to the Castro regime's prison regulations, which he has demanded since July 1^st.

“Until I am given the official document personally, and I can read it, sign it, keep the original and submit a copy….I will not yield”, declared Monés Borrero by telephone to the Cuban Democratic Directorate from the Juan Bruno Zayas Surgical Hospital in Santiago de Cuba.

According to the unjustly imprisoned activist, on August 18^th he received a visit by a high ranking delegation from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), who asked him to end his protest. The individuals who were present in that delegation were the brigade general Marcos Hernández, chief of jails and prisons of the national MININT, coronel Lázaro Díaz, and lieutenant coronel Luis Manuel Cuesta Freda. Also responsible for his case are the MININT delegate coronel Miguel Reyes, and coronel Calzadilla, chief of Counter Intelligence for the Guantanamo province.

“They showed me a document stating that as of the morning of September 3^rd I am free, and will be driven by an automobile to my home with my wife and family members in Baracoa, my birthplace,” stated Monés Borrero.

“However, until then I will continue my hunger strike,” pointed out the activist.

The human rights defender described the seriousness of his health situation. He currently has a blood pressure of 60 over 40. His weight has decreased from 73.5 to 44.6 kilograms. His pulse is 63, and has lost equilibrium to the extent of needing a wheelchair, although he spends most of the time lying down. Monés Borrero suffers from strong pains in his right leg and right lung, needing analgesic injections to calm them.

“I will not yield under any circumstance. I know my health is poor. I know I am bringing death closer every day, and that death surrounds me each night, of that I am certain,” affirmed Monés Borrero.

The political prisoner repeated his plea to the International Red Cross and the General Secretary for the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, that they might intercede on his behalf and his immediate freedom.

On July 17th Monés Borrero was transferred from Aguadadores Prison, where he remained in a punishment cell under military watch, to the Boniato Provincial Prison.

Julián Antonio Monés Borrero is a delegate for the Miguel Valdés Tamayo Human Rights Movement. He is a native of Baracoa, and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in 2008 after wearing a white t-shirt with the word “CAMBIO”, meaning “CHANGE”.

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