Time in a Cuban prison likely will be hazardous to your health. No matter how many years you have to serve, yours, in fact — especially if you are a political prisoner, like Dr. José García Paneque — is a virtual death sentence brought on by the poor food and other living conditions and the cruel indifference of your captors.
Garcia may not die soon, but there is no denying that his more than 5 years in prison has been compounded by a terrible torture taking a toll on his body. He is literally wasting away, suffering the effects — stomach pains and chronic diarrhea — of malabsorption syndome, a common affliction in Cuban jails brought on by poor nutrition. Garcia's mother recently reported that her son has suffered a relapse and his weight is down to 52 kilograms, or less than 115 pounds.
"The cubicle where is he being held is causing him claustrophobia," said Moralinda Paneque. "It is upsetting for his nerves. When he calls, it is to learn about his children and his case, hoping that now with a new president of the United States, the Cuban government discusses and grants a national amnesty to those who are unjustly imprisoned and are branded as terrorists and employees of the United States, which is a lie."
Garcia, an independent journalist, was arrested during "the black spring" of 2003, and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
"The cubicle where he is, he is causing claustrophobia. It is upsetting a lot of nerves and when I called, is to know their children and what they know of his case, hoping now that with the new U.S. president is the Cuban Government to discuss and give a national amnesty those who are unjustly imprisoned and are branded as terrorists and employees of the U.S. government, which is a lie, "concludes the beloved mother.
Garcia, an independent journalist, was arrested during the "black spring" of 2003, and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Read more about him here.
Recent Comments