Political prisoner is beaten for demanding telephone

Press Releases

From Cuba

Articles

Human Rights

Media Coverage

» Press Releases

Political prisoner is beaten for demanding telephone
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta beaten after trying to communicate with his family

Jose Daniel Ferrer Acosta

August 29th, 2006, Camagüey, Cuba - Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta, a Cuban political prisoner, was beaten on Tuesday, August 29th by prison guards identifying themselves as Nelson Doménech and Michael Zúñiga at the Kilo 8 Prison in Camagüey, resulting in bruises throughout his entire body and swelling in one of his eyes.

Herrera Acosta has been on a hunger strike since June 8 in response to the continuous harassment suffered from common prisoners directed by their re-educator Jordán Escalona González, for lack of communication caused by the letters written to families and friends that never arrive, the continuous interference with telephone calls, and the theft of his belongings.

“The confiscations are constant and they are going to continue…I don’t know what is going to happen to me and where they are going to take me. I will tell you that if they violate what is mine, keep demanding the phone and don’t allow my correspondence to arrive, then I will continue to protest even though this may lead to my death. But I will not continue under this humiliation,” stated Herrera Acosta from Kilo 8 prison in Camagüey.

Herrera Acosta continued: “They will not take pleasure in the harm they’ve done me. With me Fidel Castro will not get his pleasures through my suffering. I will always protest…if they take away the telephone I will denounce and protest even if they beat me to death. I will continue with the same posture refusing solid food, and simply taking liquids. I will continue like this until my demands are heard throughout the world. I deserve to be together with my family. I deserve to be with all my brothers in liberty. At least that is my promise.”

Send by E-mail | Printable Version

About the author