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URGENT: Life of Hunger Striking Cuban Political Prisoner in Danger
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Miami. July 29, 2008. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Cuban political prisoner Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta is in critical condition on his 12th day on hunger strike according to reports from family members of other prisoners who have joined him on strike. Herrera Acosta sewed his mouth shut on July 21, 2008 and has stated that he is willing to die as he continues to demand to be transferred to a prison in Guantánamo, home province.

Herrera Acosta is joined on hunger strike by fellow political prisoners Alfredo Rodolfo Domínguez Batista, Orlando Zapata Tamayo and Luis Mariano Delís Utria.

According to telephone statements given to the Cuban Democratic Directorate by Melba Santana Ariz, Domínguez Batista’s wife, and Reina Luisa Tamayo Dánger, Zapata Tamayo’s mother, the prisoners continue on hunger strike despite not receiving medical attention and their terrible states of health.

“[Juan Carlos] is in a very bad state of health. Three of the stitches with which he sewed his mouth shut are infected. He suffered a hypoglycemic attack on the 28th. He says he is going to let himself die, that he does not receive medical attention, that his blood pressure is very low,” stated a distraught Santana Ariz.

“When they say “strike,” they mean “strike”… We ask the world, and all people of goodwill to join the call not to allow the death of this worthy brother who is in that situation… We are willing to conduct sustained sit-ins, to do whatever needs to be done for this brother, but we cannot allow him to die,” stated Tamayo Dánger.

Cuban independent journalist Caridad Caballero Batista also reported that Herrera Acosta made the drastic decision to sew his mouth shut when authorities ignored his demands, despite the fact that fellow political prisoners Alfredo Rodolfo Domínguez Batista, Orlando Zapata Tamayo y Luis Mariano Delís Utria joined his protest on July 19. The prisoners supporting Herrera Acosta stated that they will not relent from their firm commitment, and that they are willing to continue the protest on to its final consequences since they will no longer tolerate violations of their rights.

Herrera Acosta was unjustly imprisoned during the March 2003 crackdown for his indpendent journalism. He began his hunger strike on July 18. Herrera Acosta, Domínguez Batista, Zapata Tamayo, and Delís Utria are currently being held at Holguín Provincial Prison.

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