Cuba Hunger Strikes Stir Ire Protests Bring International Criticism of Island;

[naaman fletcher]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703625304575116112160647160.html

SÃO PAULO, Brazil—Back-to-back hunger strikes by Cuban dissidents have brought international condemnation to the island's communist government and stirred political turmoil for some leaders friendly to Cuba.

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On Thursday, the European Parliament voted to condemn Cuba for the "avoidable and cruel" death of Orlando Zapata, a 42-year-old laborer who died Feb. 23 after an 86-day strike for better jail conditions. The statement also decried the "alarming state" of Guillermo Fariñas, a dissident journalist who stopped eating after Mr. Zapata's death, to press for the release of 26 ill political prisoners.

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Mr. Fariñas, a veteran of Cuba's military campaign in Angola, has previously gone on hunger strikes to protest the lack of freedom in Cuba. In 2006, he went on a seven-month hunger strike to protest the lack of Internet access.

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[Wilms]

1. Yes, it was "avoidable and cruel".

Zapata was cruel to his loved ones, and the whole thing could have been avoided if he would have eaten a meal.

[naaman fletcher]

2. It also could have been avoided if Castro didn't put him in jail for political dissent reasons.

But I guess that doesn't bother you really.

[Wilms]

9. Pardon?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x32666#32696

[protocol rv]

3. Sorry Wilms, but it'll keep going

He could have eaten a meal, but he chose to sacrifice his life in the quest for freedom. Maybe this is a little detail which escapes you: they seek freedom from a communist dictatorship. I repeat: they seek freedom from a commmunist dictatorship. Dictatorship, tyrannny, abuses. They want to end it. Get it?

[Billy Burnett]

4. Turns out that there are plenty in the US prison system that do the same thing.

I posted some links in the "Cuba has some of the lowest crime rates in the world." thread. Being that it is US that is badgering Cuba (and funding many of the badgers), it's kind of hypocritical.

Ivan, I know that you don't live in the US, so there's no need to remind me.

[protocol rv]

5. Sorry, but it's not the same at all

The Cuban prisoners we're discussing are political prisoners, not common criminals. The number of political prisoners in the USA is quite low, I would imagine less than a dozen or two.

Also, it seem you used an interesting yardstick, if the US does it, it's OK? I believe it's time you abandon such a self-centered meassure. Certain behaviors are not OK because the US practices such behaviors. We who condemn human rights abuses do so with a clear understanding that abuses are widespread everywhere. And in this case, we happen to be discussing human rights abuses by the Cuban regime.

I suggest it's better to be even-handed, and avoid the arrogance so many of you Americans display, the implication being that somehow you guys are perfect, and if you do it, it's fine. You lose a lot of moral authority when you use such a measure, and it discredits you.

Since this is a Latin American blog, we discuss Latin American issues. If you link me to a blog where there's active discussion of human rights abuses by the USA, the British, the Israelis, the Chinese, or anybody else you care to mention, I'd love to participate. I have stones to throw at human rights abusers of all sorts.

[Billy Burnett]

6. LOL.

2+2=5

Hey Ivan, I'm not an American. But do continue. You're funny.

[Wilms]

7. Well I suppose a convicted bomber would want you to think he's a political prisoner.

I guess you missed this informative post.

Tribute to Armando Valladares, bless his martryed heart: Human Rights as Theatre --then and now
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=405&topic_id=32607&mesg_id=32683

Judi Lynn is like a virus scanner that crushes bugs you get on the internet. :hi:

[Billy Burnett]

10. Well, Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada are freedom fighters.

Heroes, along with Valladares.




www.freethefive.org

[Wilms]

8. .