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Cuban
dissidents continue hunger strike
Prima
News. Russia,
November 3, 2003.
Cuba, Havana. At least three of political
prisoners in Holguin prison in the east
of the country continue the hunger strike
they began on 18 October: Adolfo Fernandez
Sainz, journalists Mario Enrike Mayo and
Ivan Hernandez Carillo.
17 October Ivan Hernandez Carillo who suffers
from high blood pressure, asked to see a
doctor. The prison guards refused his request.
On the same day he began to criticise Cuban
authorities. He was placed in solitary cell
and went on hunger strike. Next day when
the news reached other inmates, they joined
him.
Apart from Ivan Hernandez, there are six
other political prisoners in Holguin prison;
they are journalists and active members
of the opposition: Angel Moya Acosta, Antonio
Diaz Sanchez, Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique,
Ivan Hernandez Carillo, Alfredo Dominguez
Batista, Mario Enrike Mayo and PRIMA correspondent
Adolfo Fernandez Sainz. The prison authorities
told the prisoners' relatives that the conflict
had been resolved on 22 October and the
hunger strike was over. Later it turned
out that the prison guards had lied.
Human rights organisations Committee in
Defence of Journalists and Reporters sans
Frontiers expressed concern about the condition
of journalists on hunger strike. Adolfo
Fernandez Sainz, Mario Enrike Mayo and Ivan
Hernandez Carillo were sentenced to 15,
20 and 25 years in prison respectively in
March 2003 for their work as journalists.
PRIMA News Agency [2003-11-01-Cuba-20]
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