The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which is part of the Organization of American States, has intervened with the Cuban government on behalf of political prisoner Mario Alberto Pérez Aguilera, who reportedly is near death because of a hunger strike he started Sept. 5.
Pérez Aguilera, who is serving a 10-year sentenced handed down in 2006, started the hunger strike to protest how his human rights were being abused in prison.
The IACHR asked the Cuban government to keep it informed about what was doing to protect Pérez Aguilera's rights.
I am not sure of the practical effect of this — especially when it comes almost simultaneously with a United Nations vote condemning the United States embargo against Cuba — but it is encouraging to see an international agency like the IACHR step up on behalf of an individual political prisoner.
There needs to be more of that.
Read my profile of Pérez Aguilera, here.
UPDATED, Oct. 30, 2009 — Three activists were arrested and detained for about 6 hours at a Havana police station after they went to State Security headquarters and demanded information about Pérez's whereabouts.
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