Imprisoned Cuban dissident and independent journalist ends hunger strike
Cuban political prisoner Calixto Ramon Martinez ends hunger strike
Cuban political prisoner Calixto Ramon Martinez, on hunger strike since Nov. 10, ended his protest Thursday at the request of family members who traveled from eastern Cuba to Havana.
Martinez, a journalist with the CIHPRESS news agency, was arrested Sept. 16 when he went to the Havana airport to investigate why a donation of drugs and medical equipment had been ruined. Earlier, Martinez had been the journalist who broke the story about a cholera outbreak.
His colleagues and others have accused the Castro regime of arresting Martinez because of his work as a journalist.
Martinez started his hunger strike after prison guards tried to force him to wear the uniform of a common criminal, and to force the regime to release him.
By all accounts Thursday night, Martinez remains in jail.
But he is alive, which for now is a reason to celebrate.
For more, visit MartiNoticias, which has a report from CIHPRESS editor Roberto Guerra.
And lend your voice to the campaign to demand Martinez's release from by signing this petition.
Read what Committee to Protect Journalists has to say about Martinez.
In his own voice, listen to Martinez describe his imprisonment here.
Read more about Martinez here.
I oppose hunger strikes. They only get attention, briefly and to no great effect, if the person dies, and frankly, most Cubans don’t deserve anybody dying for their freedom. I’m not sure most Cubans deserve anybody doing much of anything for their freedom, unless they’re committed to being free themselves.