PRESS RELEASES The Cuban American National Foundation January 6, 2017
Cuban Human Rights Defender 27 Days on Hunger Strike
Vladimir Martín Castellanos,
For Immediate Release
Miami, FL. January 6, 2017- The Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) is deeply concerned about the health of Vladimir Martín Castellanos, who started a hunger strike on December 10th to demand that law enforcement authorities allow him to exercise his right to travel freely to the town of Puerto Padre, Las Tunas, where he has plans to establish himself legally with his wife.
While making travel arrangements, Vladimir has been arrested by police in more than a dozen occasions, upon which he has been forcefully returned to his city of origin in Santiago de Cuba, without any explanation.
On January 4th, authorities made an official statement assuring Vladimir that his demands had been met and that he should resume eating. Unconvinced, he told officials he would not eat until he had successfully moved to Las Tunas. After resuming travel arrangements headed for Las Tunas he was once again arrested and returned by force to Santiago de Cuba.
After 27 days on a hunger strike, Vladimir has refrained from drinking water or liquids until his demand to travel and move freely have been satisfied. Vladimir is an activist of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), whose organization has experienced exceptionally high levels of repression in the past several months.
There is no restriction under the Cuban law for a citizen to reside anywhere within national territory. As such, CANF denounces the government’s unlawful restriction of movement and brings attention to the deteriorating health of Vladimir Martín Castellanos as he continues to defend his right.
For more information contact:
Adolfo Fernandez
Tel: 786-709-0382
Email: AFernandez@canf.org
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