A crowd of about 50 people protested in the Cuban city of Santa Clara to denounce recent beatings of political prisoner Carlos Luis Diaz Fernandez, according to a story posted at Payo Libre.
The dissidents had gathered outside the Jóvenes de Villa Clara prison about 6 a.m., while Marilyn Díaz Fernández, an independent journalist, and her husband Lazaro González Adam went inside to visit Carlos. When they emerged about six hours later, they told the crowd that Carlos was routinely being beaten, and prison authorities offered no assurances that the rough treatment would stop, according to the story, by independent journalist Yoel Espinosa Medrano.
The couple then went to offices of state-run Radio CMHW, to ask the "journalists" there to report on conditions at the prison, just like they have reported on the American-run prisons at Abu Grahib and Guántanamo. Radio station employees forced the couple out onto the street.
That's when the crowd sat down in the middle of the street and began shouting anti-government slogans:
"Stop torturing the prisoners!"
"Long live human rights!"
"Down with the dictatorship!"
Almost immediately, the protestors were surrounded by about 80 paramilitary thugs from a "rapid response brigade," who responded with insults and threats, and rocks, cans, wet paper and plastic glasses, too.
The police arrived, gathered up the protestors and took them by bus to a jail, from where they were then taken back to their homes.
Carlos Luis Diaz Fernandez has been imprisoned since 1992, when he was convicted for trying to leave the country illegally. He is serving prison sentences totaling 18 years.
Marti Noticias has more.
Recent Comments