Cuban hunger strikers need your support (UPDATED)

See update below.

The plight of four Cuban political prisoners on hunger strike at the Holguín Provincial Prison — Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Alfredo Domínguez Batista, Luis Mariano Deliz Utria and Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta — is capturing the attention and support of dissidents across the island.

Meanwhile, most of the rest of the world doesn't have a clue as the health of the prisoners suffers because of their protest.

Early this morning, 14 dissidents, including former political prisoner Jorge Luis García Pérez “Antúnez," arrived in Holguín to stand vigil outside the prison, according to a dispatch from Martha Beatriz Roque, herself a former prisoner. They worry that the dictatorship's continued refusal to acknowledge the hunger strikers' demands — better living conditions and greater respect for their human rights — may eventually cost them their lives.

"We are very concerned about the lives of these four men," said former political prisoner Joaquin Lazaro Alonso Roman. "We know that the government's brutality towards them is merciless. We are appealing to all men of goodwill to join the call of these men who are demanding nothing more than their rights, which are constantly violated by the prison authorities."

Who are those "men of goodwill" willing to stand up on behalf of these four brave men suffering in Holguín? Who is willing to stand up to the tyranny in Havana and do whatever they can to save their lives?

Is that you, Arlen Specter?

Is that you, John Parke Wright?

Is that you, Jorge Gonzalez?

Is that you, reading this from the comfort of your home or office?

There are at least 14 people in Holguín doing whatever they can.

"We are here to support our brother Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta and the other three brothers who have joined this hunger strike demanding respect for their rights," Antúnez said. "It does not matter to us here whether they repress us, or whether they beat us. What matters to us is the situation of our brothers on strike, especially Juan Carlos Herrera Acosta,” who has been transferred to a prison hospital.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world couldn't give a damn. Type in "Cuban political prisoners" and "hunger strike" into Google News, and you get nothing in return, except ignorance and indifference.

Ignorance and indifference. Two of the Castro dictatorship's greatest allies in its 50-year campaign to vanquish the rights of free men and women.

But Juan, Orlando, Alfredo and Luis will not be vanquished, even if their protests cost them their lives. They know what they are doing, and have accepted their cup willingly. They suffer not just for themselves, but for a nation held captive. Victory may not be theirs, but it will come for those for whom they suffer.

Just, please, do not let them suffer or, God forbid, die in the shadows, in the silence. Share this story with those around you: THERE ARE FOUR MEN ON HUNGER STRIKE DEMANDING THE RIGHTS THE REST OF US TOO OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED. THEY ARE STANDING UP TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S WORST TYRANNIES, AND THEY DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT. You may have to shout it just like that, just to make sure they hear you!

And then shout it again!

You are called by God and your commitment to freedom — if you really have such a commitment — to do nothing less.

UPDATED, 11:15 p.m. EDT Just as I was posting this entry, I read the latest dispatch from Cuban independent journalist/activist Belinda Salas Tápanes, who reports a Castroite goon squad broke up the vigil and forced most of them to leave Holguín.

Ever-more reason not to remain silent.