Antúnez arrested again

Former Cuban political prisoner Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" was arrested and briefly detained Monday. (Photo: Cuban Democratic Directorate)

Cuban human rights activist Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" was back in jail late Monday, only hours after being released after he and his wife were arrested earlier in the day. His family was in "fear for his life," according to a note posted at Net for Cuba.

More than 17 years in jail did not break Antúnez of his passion for a free Cuba — his guards were not able to break him physically or spiritually — so as soon as he was out, he resumed his activism. Since then, he has become well familiar with the "catch, threaten and release" tactics of the dictatorship.

The security forces have made habit of trying to block Antúnez from leading and/or participating in public acts of opposition to the Castro regime. In a pattern that has become too familiar under the temporary dictatorship of Raúl "Little Brother" Castro, the police arrest Antúnez, they order him to stop and threaten him with much worse if he doesn't and then they release him.

It happened again Monday morning on a Villa Clara highway, as Antúnez, his wife Iris Pérez Aguilera and another activist, Blas Fortún Martínez tried to drive to a ceremony in Sancti Spíritus commemorating the 155th birthday of José Martí. They had been warned earlier that others trying to make it to Sancti Spíritus were being stopped and detained, so it's likely they understood the risk they were taking.

Even before they could leave Antúnez's hometown of Placetas, their vehicle was surrounded by three police cars, forcing them to stop, according to a report by the Cuban Democratic Directorate.

Antúnez and his wife were forced to abandon the car, and police drove them back to their home. Fortún was driven away in a different police car, and his whereabouts were unknown, according to the Directorate.

Before being released, the officers warned Antúnez and his wife they would be arrested again if they tried to resume their prior plans.

Antúnez's response?

"I don't make compromises with anyone, and less with my adversaries."

Later, Antúnez was arrested again.