Amnesty demands change after death of Cuban prisoner of conscience on hunger strike

Orlando Zapata Tamayo was arrested in
March 2003 and in May 2004 he was sentenced to three years in prison
for "disrespect", "public disorder" and "resistance".

He was
subsequently tried several times on further charges of "disobedience"
and "disorder in a penal establishment", the last time in May 2009, and
was serving a total sentence of 36 years at the time of his death.

"Faced
with a prolonged prison sentence, the fact that Orlando Zapata Tamayo
felt he had no other avenue available to him but to starve himself in
protest is a terrible indictment of the continuing repression of
political dissidents in Cuba," said Gerardo Ducos

"The death of
Orlando Zapata also underlines the urgent need for Cuba to invite
international human rights experts to visit the country to verify
respect for human rights, in particular obligations in the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

Orlando Zapata Tamayo was one of 55 prisoners of conscience who have been adopted by Amnesty International in Cuba.

The
majority were among the 75 people arrested as part of the massive March
2003 crackdown by authorities against political activists. With no
independent judiciary in Cuba, trials are often summary and fall
grossly short of international fair trial standards. Once sentenced the
chances of appeal are virtually nil.