Political prisoner ends hunger strike
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Authorities promise extra penal license

Santiago de Cuba, March 1st, 2006 – The Cuban political prisoner, José Gabriel “Pepín” Ramón Castillo, who was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, ceased the hunger strike which he began on February 13th.

According to a letter written to his wife, Blanca Rosa Echavarría, security officials, Diorkis Suarez y Ramiro Tamayo, assured him that his situation would improve, “According to them my problem is on it’s way to being solved and they gave me a series of elements that indicate this is true. I decided to finish my hunger strike and place myself at the disposition of the hospital authorities at this hospital,” affirmed Pepín in his letter.

The prisoner of conscience had initiated his hunger strike in order to be given an extra penal license due to his grave health conditions.

José Gabriel Ramón Castillo is director of the Culture and Democracy Independent Institute, an organization that promotes human rights and civil education for the Cuban people. He was arrested on March 18th, 2003, and condemned to prison the following April as part of the group of 75 dissidents who were arrested in the oppressive crackdown.

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Directorio Democrático Cubano
P.O. Box 110235
Hialeah, Florida 33011
Tel. 305-220-2713
info@directorio.org

In Memory of Mario Manuel de la Peña