Police round up the usual suspects, on Christmas Day

Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a political prisoner, has been on hunger strike since 3 Dec. Over the past few days Cuban police have been arresting activists who gathered in soidarity with him

According to Jorge Luis García Pérez, a former political prisoner, police began moving against activists on Christmas Day in Banes, Palma Soriano, Antilla, San Germán. They warned them that they would face severe punishment should they attempt to travel to Holguín to join an ongoing protest at the home of another activist Caridad Caballero Batista.

Tamayo, 42, is from Santiago de Cuba and a builder by trade.Arrested in 2002 he was accused of "Contempt" and tried on 18 May 2004. He was sentenced to 3 years in jail.

This week members of a pro government group gathered for an act of "repudiation", a stage managed event which is described in the video, below, by Antúnez .