Mayo Hernández tries to
take his life, sees death as the only way
out
Reporters
Without Borders,
October 14, 2005.
Reporters Without Borders today voiced
deep concern about the condition of imprisoned
journalist Mario Enrique Mayo Hernández
after his wife and mother reported that
he tried to commit suicide twice and is
still determined to end his life. He has
been detained since March 2003 and is serving
a 20-year prison sentence.
"Mayo cannot take any more, physically
and mentally, nor can his family,"
the press freedom organisation said. "Does
death offer the only relief in Cuban prisons,
as exiled journalist Raúl Rivero
asked last week when fellow journalist Victor
Rolando Arroyo Carmona was on hunger strike?
We call on the Cuban authorities to free
Mayo and all of the other 22 imprisoned
journalists at once."
After many hours of wait and uncertainty,
Mayo's wife and mother were able to see
him in Kilo 7 prison in Camagüey for
about 30 minutes on 12 October. His wife,
Maidelin Guerra, told Reporters Without
Borders that he very debilitated, both physically
and psychologically, and is determined to
take his life.
"He has written 'Innocent. Freedom'
in large letters on his body with razor
or a nail or something else he found, on
his stomach, arms and face," Guerra
said. "He told us he would continue
to write these words on himself until there
was no more room and then he would commit
suicide. He kept repeating to us, 'I shouldn't
be here. I've done nothing.' He cannot stand
it any more."
Guerra added that the prison officials
are "paving the way" by already
disclaiming any responsibility in the event
of Mayo's death in prison. She said he should
be receiving treatment but she had no way
of verifying it. Mayo tried to take his
life twice already by hanging himself with
sheets or wire.
Guerra also told Reporters Without Borders
that Alfredo Manuel Pulido López,
another journalist held at Kilo 7 prison,
is confined to his bed. He is suffering
from acute depression and migraines for
which he needs to undergo tests. Arrested
in the black spring of 2003 like Mayo, he
is serving a 14-year prison sentence.
Meanwhile, Oscar Mario González,
who was arrested on 22 July, was hospitalised
on 11 October. His wife, Mirta Wong, explained
that during her most recent visits, he was
suffering from memory loss and had difficulty
putting sentences together. González
is awaiting trial on charges that carry
a possible 20-year prison sentence.
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