Dissident rapper Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, detained since last 26th of March in Bayamo, is one step away from becoming a new political prisoner in Cuba. Remon, also an active member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), was transferred this Monday, April 15th, from a police unit to the Municipal Prison of Bayamo, known as “Las Mangas”, according to his aunt Jaqueline Garcia Jaenz, member of the Ladies in White.
“Angel’s transfer to ‘Las Mangas’ occurred during afternoon hours of Monday, April 15th, and he continues there under accusations of the supposed crime of ‘attempt’“, explained Garcia Jaenz to this blog.
In Cuba, when a detained activist is transferred from a police unit to a prison, it usually means that they will be sentenced to years behind bars, whether there is a trial or not.
“Authorities did not allow his wife to see him this past Monday during the transfer“, said Garcia, but she added that she had information that his health was slowly recuperating, after a 16-day hunger strike.
Angel Yunier, who is father of a recently born girl, has been under constant harassment and persecution by the political police. His home in Bayamo has been attacked with tar and stones by State organized mobs, while he has been arrested time after time to keep him from handing out pro-freedom literature and from chatting with everyday people about the civic struggle for freedom in the country.
He is secretary of UNPACU in Bayamo and, as an independent musician (his artist name is ‘El Critico de Arte’), the music which his group makes- ‘The Unwanted Children’ (‘Los Hijos Que Nadie Quiso’) – is completely censored on the island.
Remon, his aunt Jaqueline Garcia and another three relatives have been accused of “attempt” and “resistance” after police agents beat them all and attacked them with tear gas on March 26th. Just days before, the musician had been detained as well. When he returned to his home, Remon painted anti-government messages on the walls of his house, which provoked further repression on behalf of the State.
Bárbara Arzuaga, Angel Yunier’s mother, has asked for international solidarity so that her son won’t be sent to prison for being a dissident.
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