Cuban human rights activist Jose Luis Garcia Perez (Antunez) at his Placetas, Cuba's home before the hunger strike he began on February 17, 2009. |
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Black Cuban Activist in Hunger Strike
Black Cuban activist José Luis García Pérez (Antúnez) has been in hunger strike since February 17, 2009 in support of Cuban political prisoners. Antúnez's hunger strike is taking place at his home in the Cuban city of Placetas, in the Sancti Spiritus province. Cuban political police officers have taken over Placetas and have denied foreign reporters access to Antúnez.
Antúnez's home was attacked in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday March 25th by State Security agents, according to the Cuban Democratic Directorate. The human rights activist has been in the house along with other Cuban members of the pro-democracy movement.
“At around 2:30 in the morning, we were awoken by fasting activists Carlos Michael Morales, Diosiris Santana Pérez and Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena who alerted us that State Security officers were releasing gas inside the home. Iris and I were in a room in the back of the home. When we went to the living room, I smelled a strong odor of gas and felt myself become short of breath. When Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera tried to communicate with Santa Claran activist Idania Yánez Contreras, we spotted the Chief of the Confrontation Unit Idel, better known as “Railroad Spike,” training a flashlight on Iris through the blinds and carrying a strange device in his other hand shaped like a spray bottle. Activist Ernesto Mederos Arrozarena relates that he felt how they sprayed through the window to release the gas,” stated Antúnez in a telephone statement to the Cuban Democratic Directorate.
According to Antúnez, this is not the only repressive
measure being taken against the protestors. Later the same morning, the
exterior surfaces of the home were defaced with obscene phrases painted
on in tar and on signs.
“We hold the high command of State Security here in Villa Clara responsible
for these attempts on our lives and physical wellbeing. Remember that here
among us activists there are people who suffer from heart conditions, as
in my case, people who suffer from serious respiratory problems, and they
are making attempts on our lives,” stated Antúnez.
The activist also pointed out that Héctor de la Fe Freire, Chief
of Confrontation for State Security in Villa Clara province is in charge
of the operation against his home, and that he was sent from Havana to
repress the opposition movement in Central Cuba.
On February 25th, the hunger strikers decided to shift to a liquid fast and
to continue their protest. During the past week, State Security has maintained
a perimeter around the home, blocking any attempt by supporters to visit
and offer solidarity.
Numerous opposition activists and Cubans not associated with the opposition
movement have been detained as a result, including Ciro Díaz, who
plays guitar in the underground punk rock band Porno para Ricardo, and photographer
Claudio Fuentes on March 23.
The strike, begun on February 17 2009, demands of the Havana government
that inhumane treatment end against prisoner Mario Pérez Aguilera, held
at Santa Clara Provincial Prison; that Cuban citizen Caridad García
Pérez be permitted to repair her home using her own means; and that
the texts of the international human rights agreements signed by the Cuban
government in February 2008, which the Cuban people do not know about, be
published in Cuba. Joining Antúnez in this protest are fellow activists
Iris Pérez Aguilera and Diosiris Santana Pérez.
Last January, the Cuban government celebrated its 50th anniversary in power
after a 1959 revolution that soon became a Communist regime supported by
the now-defunct Soviet Union, amid the Cold War.
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