Jailed activist starves to death in Cuba

Jailed activist starves to death in Cuba
Published: Feb. 24, 2010 at 11:24 AM

CAMAGUEY, Cuba, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A 42-year-old activist starved to death
in a prison in Cuba's Camaguey Province after spending 83 days on a
hunger strike, his mother says.

Reina Luisa Tamayo said her son, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, began his
protest Dec. 3, 2009, in response to alleged abuses taking place at the
Cuban prison, El Nuevo Herald reported Tuesday.

"They have assassinated Orlando Zapata Tamayo. My son's death has been a
premediated murder,'' Reina Luisa Tamayo said of her son's death
Tuesday. "They managed to do what they wanted. They ended the life of a
fighter for human rights."

A crackdown on government opposition resulted in Orlando Zapata Tamayo
being arrested in 2003 on charges including contempt and public
disorder. Tamayo was involved with multiple dissident organizations
before being detained.

Amnesty International said in a release a full investigation be
conducted regarding the death of Tamayo, whose only reported survivors
are his mother and a stepfather.

"The tragic death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo is a terrible illustration of
the despair facing prisoners of conscience who see no hope of being
freed from their unfair and prolonged incarceration," said Gerardo
Ducos, a Caribbean researcher for Amnesty International.

Jailed activist starves to death in Cuba - UPI.com (24 February 2010)
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/02/24/Jailed-activist-starves-to-death-in-Cuba/UPI-14371267028649/