Cuban
political prisoners who have died
in hunger
strikes (1959-present)
Fidel Castro served only 18
months of a 15-year prison sentence for leading an attack on
the Moncada Army Barracks. Dictator, Fulgencio Batista caved
to public demands and freed all the attackers. During their
captivity, they had enjoyed privileges for political
prisoners -comfortable living conditions, visitors,
plentiful reading materials, and participation in group
sports. During the 51-year Castro regime political prisoners
have been subjected to very harsh conditions, hard labor,
and appalling treatment, including torture, lack of medical
attention, and even killings by guards. Many have resorted
to hunger strikes demanding humane treatment; sadly, some
have paid with their lives.
Roberto López
Chávez,
Age 25, died 12/11/1966 at Isla de Pinos Prison. In prison since
1961, he went on a 70-day hunger strike to protest prison
conditions after enduring a savage beating by prison guards. He
was moved to a punishment cell and denied drinking water, which
made his deteriorated condition worse. As he screamed for water,
several guards entered his cell and one of the guards urinated
over his open mouth as he lay on the floor. He died the next day
without receiving medical attention.
Luis
Álvarez Ríos,
Age 31, died 8/9/1967 at Príncipe Castle Prison in Havana. He
had been sentenced to 20 years of prison in summary trial for
“counterrevolutionary” activities. With fellow prisoners, they
went on hunger strike to demand to not be confined with
dangerous criminals. On the 11th day, prison authorities agreed
to negotiate and they ended the strike, but were not given
medical attention. Instead, they were served a heavy meal, which
doctors amongst the prisoners said was dangerous, as the body
needs to ingest food slowly after not eating. A group of
prisoners ate the food and Alvarez Ríos died almost immediately.
The family was allowed to hold a hurried 2-hour wake. 
Carmelo Cuadra
Hernández,
died 7/29/1969 in a Havana prison from a hunger strike, denied
medical care.
Pedro
Luis Boitel,
Age 34, 5/25/1972 at Príncipe Prison, Havana. Leader in the
struggle against the Batista regime who turned against the
Castro brothers for hijacking the democratic process, he was
sentenced to 10 years of prison for counter-revolutionary
activities. He was subjected to torture, beatings, many abuses,
and the extension of his sentence. He went on numerous hunger
strikes with several fellow prisoners to protest executions and
inhumane prison conditions and to demand rights as political
prisoners. The hunger strike that took his life on his 12th year
of incarceration lasted 53 days. Denied medical care even as his
condition became critical, he was ill treated by prison guards
as he lay dying. After his death, his widowed mother was
subjected to physical violence and isolated in her home by State
Security. When she was allowed to visit her son's alleged grave
with some women friends, an angry mob that threatened them with
violence awaited them and they were forced to leave without
praying.
Olegario Charlot
Spileta,
died 1/15/1973 at Boniato Prison, Santiago de
Cuba, without receiving medical attention during a hunger
strike.
Enrique García Cuevas,
died 5/23/1973 at Pretensado Provincial Prison, Las Villas.
He
went on a hunger strike at Manacas Prison of Las Villas to
protest the inhumane prison conditions, already very weak from
mal-nourishment and the hard labor he had been submitted to.
After 25 days on strike, he was transferred to another prison,
where he died without receiving medical attention.
Reinaldo Cordero Izquierdo,
died 5/21/1975 in a Pinar del Río prison.
After serving his
10 year sentence in its entirety, his sentence was arbitrarily
increased. During his last year of confinement, he had also been
severely tortured. He went on hunger strike, demanding a release
and died in his prison cell of complications, denied medical
care.
José Barrios
Pedré,
died on 9/22/1977 at Pre-tensado Provincial, Las Villas,
province during a hunger strike he started while being confined
to an extreme punishment cell ("celda tapiada").
Santiago Roche
Valle,
died 9/8/1985 at Kilo 7 Prison, Camaguey province, from
compli-cations after a hunger strike (heart failure), denied
medical attention.
Nicolás González Regueiro,
Age 42, died 9/16/1992 in Manacas Prison, Las Villas.
He
was serving a 4-year prison sentence for distributing enemy
propaganda when he developed a duodenal ulcer. He went on a
hunger strike to protest the lack of medicine and his internment
among common criminals.
Orlando
Zapata Tamayo, Age 42,
died 2/23/2010 after a hunger strike of over 80 days.
He had been designated prisoner of conscience by Amnesty
International. Incarcerated since 2003 and
sentenced to 3 years for contempt, disrespect, and public
disorder and his sentence was increased by 25 years for
"disobedience" as a result of his repeated protests against
prison conditions and his unjust incarceration. He had suffered
numerous beatings and torture by prison authorities and began a
hunger strike demanding his safety and to be recognized as a
prisoner of conscience. During the strike, he was
denied water for 18 days and instead minimally hydrated by IV,
which led to kidney failure. Later, he was held naked over a
powerful air conditioner, which provoked pneumonia. He was
transferred to a hospital just hours before his death.
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