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NEWS
Directorio Democrático Cubano
Cuban political
prisoner beaten then placed in solitary confinement
By Cuban Democratic Directorate
 His
sister makes an urgent plea for his life
PLACETAS, CUBA – November 6 ( Cuban Democratic Directorate/
Puenteinfocubamiami .org) - In an urgent call for solidarity from
Placetas, Villa Clara, Bertha Antúnez, the sister of Jorge Luis García
Pérez Antúnez, a Cuban political prisoner, calls on all former
presidents and parliamentarians present at the XVI Ibero-American Summit
in Montevideo. She calls attention to the situation of her brother, who
was the victim of a brutal beating on October 29th, has received
numerous death threats, and is currently on a hunger strike.
"My brother was attacked by another prisoner named Lázaro Núñez Victoria
who was directed by authorities. He broke one of my brother's teeth, and
destroyed his lower lip… he is currently on a hunger strike since
October 30th, and says he will not quit until he is given the
opportunity to denounce the situation that he suffers in prison," stated
Bertha Antúnez from Placetas. "The next day, a re-educator named Lazaro,
entered Jorge Luis cell and attempted to provoke him, though he did not
achieve this."
The political prisoner's sister added that another re-educator, with
last name Medina, entered the cell to make them believe that they were
going to punish Núñez Victoria, who responded to the supposed threat
with fury, saying "now I am going to kill him, I am not responsible for
what happens to Antunez." The sequence of events culminated in the
entrance of a high official, who took Antunez to a solitary confinement
cell.
Antúnez is currently serving a 17 year prison sentence in the Kilo 7
Prison, of which only five months remain, thus Antúnez has received a
death threat. "My family and I are worried because the regime is
provoking a situation that does not exist. They want to make it seem as
if there is a problem among prisoners, and that is not the case, this is
something prepared by the regime."
Bertha Antúnez makes an urgent plea to the participants of the XVI Ibero-American
Summit and to the international community. The text is reproduced below.
Plea for help
Placetas, Cuba, October 31, 2006
To the former president of the Republic of Uruguay, Mr. Luis Alberto
Lacalle
To the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba
To the participants of the XVI IberoAmerican Summit
My name is Bertha Antúnez Pernet, of legal age, of sound mind, of Cuban
nationality, and sister of political prisoner Jorge Luis García Pérez
Antúnez, who by this means ask the political figures attending the Ibero-American
Summit for immediate help in preventing the death of my brother.
The Castro brothers' regime has imprisoned him since March 15, 1990 with
a 17 year sentence, and denies all his basic rights, including adequate
medical attention for his health problems. The only crime my brother has
committed is to act in accordance with his ideas and to maintain them.
He has always done this in a peaceful manner, since he has never
endangered or hurt anyone. His struggle for democracy has always focused
on denouncing human rights violations in Cuba and its prisons before the
world.
The reason why I ask for your help with such urgency and anguish is
because Jorge Luis has been threatened by government authorities that he
will not leave the prison alive, with only five months remaining in his
sentence. My greatest fear is that they have been trying to carry this
out in some way. Until now, these murder attempts have failed, and I
shall mention two examples of the dangers my brother faces.
In February 2005, under the orders of Captain Vladimir Méndez Maboa,
Chief of Confrontations with the Opposition in Villa Clara province, a
man drew near my brother, another supposed prisoner, with orders to
strike a precise blow on his head with an iron chair. The regime did not
attain their desired outcome thanks to other prisoners, so they
transferred my brother to Kilo 7 prison in Camagüey province, a region
that has been the site of so many crimes and abuses. It is no
coincidence that Kilo 8 maximum security prison is in this same
province, where many confirm the existence of underground cells, and
where horrific acts of terror and abuse have been carried out, and one
day will come to light publicly. A testimony to this effect can be
offered by Húber Matos, a former political prisoner who is now exiled in
the United States.
Recently, in Kilo 7 prison, my brother has been the victim of beatings
at the hands of military authorities. On October 29th, with the
complicity of State Security, my brother was beaten once again by
another prisoner while he was alone. This beating was so vicious that
the attacker broke one of my brother's teeth and destroyed his lower
lip. He also reiterated the death threats.
It is no secret that the people who attack political prisoners are
instruments of the regime, so I ask for your intercession on behalf of
my brother's life and those of so many men and women in Cuba who are
serving sentences for political reasons, while constantly exposed to
danger and abuse.
The Castro brothers' dictatorship will not hesitate to commit a new
crime, and will not allow Jorge Luis, a young black man, to face them
with the truth, and much less to continue to promote a non-cooperation
campaign against the system.
Sincerely and awaiting your assistance I remain yours; God bless you
all, and God bless the XVI Ibero-American Summit.
Bertha Antúnez Pernet
7 of Sur #3, between Paseo Martí
and Primera del Este,
Placetas, Villa Clara
Cuba.
Given for diffusion to the Information Bridge Cuba Miami by the Cuban
Democratic Directorate on the 2nd day of November, 2006.
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