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Cuban Resistance Activists March in Murdered Prisoner of Conscience’s Hometown During his Burial
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Orlando Zapata Tamayo's mother, Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger Says: “[Raúl Castro] is a cynic! I will not stand for him to send me messages.”

Prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo, murdered by the Castro regime on February 23, 2010.

Prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo, murdered by the Castro regime on February 23, 2010.

Holguín. February 25, 2010. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Human rights activists marched through the streets of Banes, Holguín crying “Freedom!” and “Long live Zapata Tamayo!” as they accompanied Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger, mother of murdered Cuban prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo, to her son’s burial at Sur La Güira Cemetery in Reparto Mariana Grajales. Zapata Tamayo’s remains were interred at approximately 7:30 AM Thursday, February 25, two days after he died, murdered by the Castro regime which refused to meet the demand of his over 80 day long hunger strike: a guarantee that his basic rights would be respected.

“I will not stand for Raúl Castro to send messages to this mother, because they murdered Orlando Zapata Tamayo in a premeditated fashion. He is a cynic! I will not stand for him to send messages now. The bruises, the marks of torture, the baton strikes, and the black marks of the beating he endured in Holguín pervade my son’s body,” stated Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger as she set out on the march to the cemetery.

Reina referred to the statement made by by dictator Raúl Castro on Wednesday, February 24, that he “regretted” Zapata Tamayo’s death, and that he had been neither tortured nor executed. She interpreted the statement as a message meant for her.

Activists set out from Reina Luisa’s home located at Carretera Embarcadero, house #6, amid a heavy State Security presence.

“This mother says: Raúl, Fidel, do not say a word to me! I would like to speak to them face-to-face to tell them they are cynics, they are shameless, they killed my son, they took him where they wanted him for his opposition to the regime, for his principles, for his valor. They took him there [to the grave], but it does not matter. His mother is still here; his family is still here, who will carry his peaceful struggle for human rights to completion. Zapata Tamayo’s watchword was to die for the freedom and democracy of the Cuban people and to live etermally in Cuba. May Orlando Zapata Tamayo rest in peace,” added Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger, her voice choked with emotion.

The activists arrived at Sur La Güira Cemetery at approximately 7:50 AM. Led by Reina, they shouted “Zapata Tamayo’s will be the example to follow until we achieve Cuba’s freedom! Orlando lives on in our hearts! Freedom for all Cuban political prisoners!” and sang the Cuban national anthem. At the burial’s conclusion, the activists deposited gladiolus flowers at Zapata Tamayo’s grave.

The Ladies in White, of which Reina is a member, are the wives, mothers, and daughters of 75 Cuban democracy activists and independent journalists arrested in the 2003 Black Spring crackdown. They march every Sunday carrying gladiolus flowers to demand their release.

“This February 23, 2010, Orlando Zapata Tamayo leapt into immortality. With his courage, he demonstrated that our people are engaged in a struggle and will continue the struggle until we achieve our freedom,” stated Daniel Mesa, a former political prisoner who served unjust imprisonment alongside Zapata Tamayo.

The Cuban Democratic Directorate once again condemns the murder of Cuban opposition activist Orlando Zapata Tamayo and denounces the Havana regime for committing this horrendous crime. We call for the solidarity of the world, of democratic countries and institutions, to support the resistance in Cuba.


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