Letter to the Congressional Black Caucus

To: Director Hillary O. Shelton

We are hereby calling your attention to the matter of the Cuban political prisoners currently in the Cuban government’s jails.

Recently, Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo died after an eighty six days long hunger strike. Water was suppressed by the top leadership of the government for eighteen days of the hunger strike. The resulting agony caused by the lack of water was indescribable and instrumental to his eventual death

Fifteen days ago, another opponent, Guillermo Fariñas Hernandez, located in the central province of the island, began a hunger strike including fluid intake refusal.

Zapata Tamayo died demanding the cessation of abuse, and beatings. He also demanded respect of his human rights and that of his fellow inmates. 

In a gesture of solidarity with his fellow political prisoners Fariñas Hernández, a former political prisoner now on parole, is demanding that the Cuban government provide medical attention to 26 political prisoners who are critically ill.  Those prisoners lives are increasingly endangered, every day that passes, by the lack of medical care.  He is also demanding the abolishment of the government’s policy of repression, to which all political prisoners are subjected.

We are bringing the matter of Fariñas Hernández to your attention, to request that you raise your voices and communicate your concerns to the Cuban government regarding Fariñas Hernández likely loss of life, similar to the unfortunately lost of his life by Zapata Tamayo.

We address the Congressional Black Caucus in particular, because both Zapata and Fariñas are Afro-Cubans. They both have been non-violent members of the opposition.  They both have been imprisoned solely for disagreeing with the government.  They both have proclaimed, via nonviolent civil disobedience, the violation the people’s fundamental human rights by the Cuban government.

We are hereby asking your support and solidarity with the case of Fariñas, with the same dedication and conviction that you and your organization once offered to Nelson Mandela when he experienced similar oppression.
Please, give us an answer when you receive this letter. Thank you!

 Signed by Cuban exile organizations:

 Union por Cuba Libre; Ex-Club; Junta Patriotica; Cuba Independiente y Democratica; Agenda Cuba; Liga Civica Martiana; Presidio Politico Historico; American Misil Crisis Veteran Association; Brigada 2506; Mov. 30 de Noviembre; Partido Protagonista del Pueblo; Asociación Proyecto Historico Cubano; Asoc. de Alzados y Colaboradores de Cuba; Comité Internacional del Presidio Politico Cubano; Coordinadora Internacional de Ex prisioneros Politicos Cubanos; Consejo Nacional del Presidio Politico Cubano; Fundacion Lawton de Derechos Humanos; La Septima Provincia; Union de Ex Presos Politicos Zona Ne EE:UU; Movimiento de Recuperacion Revolucionaria.

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