A group of more than half a hundred intellectuals and academics of Latin America, USA and Europe has signed a manifesto claiming to the Cuban government the liberation of the artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, leader of the San Isidro movement (MSI) and one of the symbols of
The citizen rebellion against the Castro Revolution.
Otero celebrates 21 days on hunger strike in Guanajey’s high security prison, after a closure of almost seven months.
The renowned artist suffered an illegal detention for the repressive forces when 11-J, historical day of the popular rebellion against the dictatorship, was addressed to one of the marches called on the Habanero Malecon.
“Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has sent us to all a message from jail: he refuses to be expelled from his country, he wants to be liberated to his house. It requires being treated in accordance with international human rights standards and Cuban legislation itself,
That forces the release after six months of detention without trial, “he collects the manifesto, signed among others by artists Tania Bruguera, Coco Fusco and Hamlet Lavastida and the Intellectuals Ivan of the Nut and Manuel Cuesta Morúa.
They also support the family initiative and friends of the prisoner.
The Cuban State has denied the petition of Otero Alcántara to wait for the trial at home because “it is a risk to Cuban society”, something that the signatories define as “a spurious accusation from which no evidence was provided.” Is a hostage
of a government acting with impunity.
The only way to avoid his death is that the international community is one with one voice and requires it to be treated in accordance with international human rights standards, “the manifesto continues, who emphasizes that this initiative does not invisilize hundreds of Cubans and
Cuban “who before and above all after 11-J remain in prison or judicial processes, for the only fact of demanding their right to have rights.”
The Cuban regime has broken historical records after the repression of recent months.
According to the investigations of the Prisoners Defenders Organization (PD), there are 932 political prisoners who currently fill their prisons, 794 from the persecution of 11-J.
“Since the beginning of the Razia More than 5,000 people were arrested and more than 1,500 processed. The regime recognizes that it has prosecuted 115 accused between 16 and 20 years and 55 between 16 and 18 years old (minors)”, warns PD
.
Cuba leads the continental ranking of political prisoners, followed by Venezuela (242 prisoners) and Nicaragua (180).
The manifesto requests all foreign diplomats in Cuba and religious leaders who convey their message to the authorities, also to the European Parliament.
“Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has devoted his life and the art of him to the Cuban people, they should not have to sacrifice the life of him, the Cuban government can not be allowed to steal him from him,” sentences the signatories.
