UPDATE ON THE SITUATION OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS IN SANTA CLARA, CUBA

December 17, 1997.

By the DIRECTORIO REVOLUCIONARIO DEMOCRATICO CUBANO

Santa Clara, Dec. 16, 1997.- Daula Carpio Matas, the provisonal delegate of the Pro-Human Rights Party in Villa Clara, was arrested by agents of the political police from Havana in her residence in the city of Santa Clara 64 days after beginning her hunger strike. The agents transferred her to the women's prison Guamajal in that province, This information was provided from Santa Clara by the activist Marilis Blasquez, who found herself inside the home of Carpio Matas when the arrest occurred.

Lilian Meneses, one of the hunger strikers, pleaded to accompany Carpio Matas, who was under the protection of a medical certificate because of her grave physical deterioration throughout the hunger strike, and she was permitted, stated Blasquez to members of the Directorio Revolucionario Democratico Cubano.

At the time of the arrest activists of the PPDH Israel Feliciano, Arelis Fleites, Josi Antonio Alvarado y el Presidente del Movimiento Cubano Reflexisn, Librado Linares. They told the authorities that they should take Daula to the hospital, and police answered that they would. Nonetheless, Lilian Meneses, who accompanied Daula to the place, said that when she became aware that she was being taken to the prison she protested and the officials said that in the prison there was a doctor who could attend her. Shortly afterwards she was left at the outskirts of the city.

Josi Antonio Alvarado, another of the hunger strikers, stated that, "now we will continue this strike until the end," quoted Blasquez. The seven activists of the Pro- Human Rights Party have been on a hunger strike since October 9 for the arbitrary detention of Carpio Matas and the later trial and sanction of various activists of this organization which defends human rights in Cuba. There concrete demands are:

1. Lessening the repressive sanctions in this case, especially for those who find themselves arbitrarily arrested, they are: Daula Carpio Matas, Roxana Carpio Matas, in the women's prison of Guamajal; Jose Manuel Yera Benitez, in the prison Las Grimas; Ivan Lema Romero and Vicente Garcia Ramos, both in the prison La Pendiente.

2. That the charges imposed by the Castroite tribunals of association to cause delinquency "Asociacion para Delinquir" be dropped, given their unquestionable status as human rights activists for the Cuban people.

Given in the city of Miami on the 17 day of December 1997

Send letters or post cards to these brothers and sisters expressing your solidarity and support to:

Felicia Machado Matas
Padre Chao #254 entre Carretera Central y Ciclon
Santa Clara, CUBA

Write to your families and friends in Cuba to let them know the case of these hunger strikers and asking them to do what they can to help or spread the news about this case.

You can make a difference. For more information call Directorio Revolucionario Democratico Cubano at 305-264-2917

Information Provided by the Directorio Revolucionario Democratico Cubano
http://www.netside.net/~director
Translated by the FREE CUBA Foundation
http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/