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Critical ill health of dentist,
prisoner of conscience in Cuba
Coalition of Cuban-American
Women, August 2005.
My name is Rebeca Rodriguez Souto. I'm
the wife of the peaceful activist and prisoner
of conscience, Dr. Alfredo Manuel Pulido
Lopez, 44 years of age. My husband was summarily
tried and sentenced to serve 14 years in
prison for defending in Cuba something as
dignified as the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
Following this unjust conviction, Dr. Pulido
was transferred to the Prison of Combinado
del Este in Havana, more than 500 kms. away
from our home in the province of Camagüey.
During his first month in prison, he was
confined in the infamous "Corredor
de la Muerte" (Corridor or Hall of
Death) along with dangerous inmates condemned
to long prison terms. He was isolated, unable
to see the light of day, unaware if it was
night or day, receiving a poor and scanty
meal passed under his cell door as if he
were an assassin.
Subsequently, he was transferred within
the same prison to a maximum-security building
where he remained alone, isolated from his
family, receiving visits every three months
and conjugal visits every five months. It
was there where his present health problems
began and worsened; developing into his
current alarming state of ill health.
After a one-year confinement in Havana,
he was transferred to Camagüey to "Prison
Kilo 7 ", Destacamento 16, Cubículo
21, living alongside more than 100 common
prisoners, characterized by their brutal
acts of aggression and self-aggression.
My husband has expressed great concern on
numerous occasions as he finds himself imprisoned
together with murderers. This is unacceptable.
He has also conveyed the fact that he is
living a true hell, suffering humiliations
and being treated as a vulgar delinquent.
As his wife, I am very worried and fear
for his life. His health is in critical
condition and is progressively deteriorating.
That is how they (Cuban authorities) pretend
to silence the voice of an honest, simple,
hard workingman who is by far not a "mercenary",
as he is publicly portrayed.
Dr. Pulido has practiced as a dentist for
22 years. He is a good son, an exemplary
father and husband, loved and admired by
all those who know him, devoted to justice
and peace, and an advocate of brotherhood
and solidarity among humankind. He is a
Master Freemason who belongs to the Grand
Lodge of The Voice of the Master (Logia
La Voz del Maestro) in our city. He is increasingly
committed and loyal to ideals he will never
give up and is very grateful to all men
and women of good will in the world who
campaign for his release.
Therefore, as wife of Dr. Alfredo Pulido,
I will continue to struggle for the end
of our sufferings, for the union of our
family, between father and son, and for
his much longed-freedom. It is unjust to
condemn a man for his ideas, and all the
more unjust to confine a man in poor health.
But, we believe in God because He is Love
and also Justice.
ILLNESSES DR. PULIDO IS SUFFERING IN PRISON:
Chronic tonsillitis, Osteoporosis of the
Cervical Spine, Visual and Dental disturbances,
Unstable Blood Pressure, Bleeding Hemorrhoids,
Weight loss (20 pounds), Insomnia, Hepatic
Disorders, Hypoglycemia. He has chronic
and recurrent Migraines, so strong, he is
unable to read and write and the medical
personnel at the prison have ordered an
Electro-Encephalogram (EEG).
Rebeca Rodriguez Souto - Address: Palomino
#445, entre Linea y Primera, Repto. La Mascota,
Camaguey, Cuba. Tel: + 53-32-25-35-91
Information obtained
via telephone from Cuba. Recorded, transcribed
and translated to English/ Coalition of
Cuban-American Women/ LAIDA CARRO/
Tel: 305-662-5947 Fax: 305- 740-7323 Email:
Joseito76@aol.com
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