02/25/10—Cuban Dissident's Death Symptomatic Of Deep Rot In Cuba
Mississauga, ON—CLAC is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners in Cuba, including 10 independent trade unionists, following the death of Orlando Zapata, a political prisoner since 2003.
“The Cuban government should make the courageous move of releasing them immediately and without condition," says Brian Dijkema, CLAC international representative. CLAC was responsible for bringing Cuban dissident Pedro Pablo Alvarez Ramos to Canada last spring to speak with Peter Kent, minister of state for foreign affairs of the Americas.
"When Pedro Pablo spoke with Minister Kent last year, he made it clear that prison conditions were horrendous" says Dijkema. "He spoke of abuse by guards and fellow prisoners, severe lack of nutrition, and a complete absence of sanitation. Such conditions leave the prisoners—who are there for no reason other than wanting to exercise basic rights and freedoms—desperate and without hope.”
CLAC also calls for Prime Minister Harper to personally take a role in seeking the prisoners' release. "We know that Minister Kent's meeting last November with Cuban officials resulted in tremendous good will from the Cuban government," says Dijkema. "Now is the time for our government to cash in on that good will in support of human rights."
CLAC has been seeking the release of over 200 political prisoners in Cuba since 2004 when 12 independent trade unionists were arrested in the spring of 2003.