The NGO Justicia 11J reported this Tuesday that “at least four people convicted for the social outbreak” of the 11 July 2021 (11J) in Cuba have died in prison after the island’s largest anti-government protests in decades.
The Mexico-based organization indicated in a statement on the occasion of International Human Rights Day that the last victim was the activist Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, 29 years oldwho died on November 30 while serving a six-year sentence in the Combinado del Este (Havana).
“His death in unclear circumstances “by a reliable and independent investigation, confirms the alerts issued by this organization, and others, in relation to the serious danger that political prisoners face in Cuba,” wrote Justicia 11J.
The official version speaks of suicide, while relatives of the activist consider that it was a beating that resulted in death by prison officials. The NGO assures that it has had access to images of the young man’s body and that he presents “signs of torture.”
As is usual in this type of events, the Cuban regime has not reported on the matter and the official media has not reported on the events.
The relatives of the opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, also apprehended on July 11, 2021, reported in November that he was “brutally beaten,” which led to an exchange of accusations between Cuban and United States authorities.
In the opinion of Justice 11J, the four deaths of people convicted for the 11J demonstrations (Luis Barrios, Yosandri Mulet, Gerardo Díaz and Manuel de Jesús Guillén) “are attributable to the Cuban regime”, both by action and by omission.
According to the registry of this NGO, one of those that has a more detailed database of prisoners for political reasons in Cuba, a total of 554 participants in the 11J protests remain in jailof the at least 1,586 who were arrested on that day and the subsequent ones.
In addition, the organization adds, 107 people arrested for protests in the last three years – including 77 from 11J – have left the country into exile.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all people deprived of liberty for political and political reasons.” We ask the international community to pressure the Cuban Communist Party regime to allow access to its prisons, where multiple human rights violations occur.”claimed the NGO.
The Cuban regime denies the existence of political prisoners on the island and accuses opponents of being “mercenaries” of the United States.
(With information from AFP and EFE)
