24 February 2010

CUBA: Jailed Dissident Dies After 85-Day Hunger Strike.

MIAMI HERALD/   Jailed dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo, 42, a plumber and bricklayer from Holguin Province, died after an 85-day hunger strike. He was the first in nearly 40 years to starve himself to death protesting against the government. He was protesting abuses and beatings by guards at the Kilo 7 prison in Camagüey. He was arrested in 2003 during a crackdown with 74 other dissidents. At his death, he was facing 36 years in prison.