Activists and opposition organizations reported on Sunday the murder of Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, a Cuban political prisoner serving a sentence at the Combinado del Este prison in Havana.
Ana Belkis Ferrer, through José Daniel Ferrer's account on the social media platform X, reported that Guillén, a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), promoter of Cuba Decide, and participant in the protests of July 11, was allegedly a victim of murder.
According to reports shared on social media, Guillén, 30 years old, was allegedly murdered under circumstances that have not been clarified by the authorities.
"Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas has been vilified and murdered while confined in the Combinado del Este prison," he noted.
Belkis expressed her outrage by asking, “How much longer will those criminals, tyrants, drug traffickers, and terrorists remain unpunished?” demanding justice for the victims of repression in Cuba.
Additionally, he also reiterated the demand for freedom for all those detained for political reasons in the country, including José Daniel Ferrer, leader of UNPACU, who remains in prison under conditions described as inhumane.
Opposition leader Rosa María Payá, head of the Cuba Decide movement, condemned the murder of Guillén on the social media platform X, calling the Cuban regime “a government of murderers, a cruel and torturous dictatorship,” and stated, “They beat him to death!”
"He was 30 years old, a political prisoner for protesting on July 11, and a promoter of Cuba Decide," he noted.
Additionally, he pointed to the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas as the individuals responsible for the young Cuban.
In 2023, the young protester from the 11J spent over a year and a half in prison, with no date set for his trial or any announcement regarding the prosecution's request.
His mother, Dania María Esplugas, filed a second Habeas Corpus with the Provincial Court of Havana demanding his immediate release, after the first request was dismissed in January by the State Security chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice.
Guillén's case has been cited by opponents as an example of the legal violations committed by the Cuban regime in cases related to the social unrest of July 11.
Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, coordinator of the Human Rights Center, emphasized that the government does not even uphold the principles of its own socialist legality in these processes.
Guillén, 27 years old and a resident of Old Havana, was violently arrested at his home on July 17, 2021, by State Security agents after having shared on social media videos documenting his participation in the protests of July 11.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights condemned the death of political prisoner Luis Barrios Díaz last November, attributed to alleged negligence and irregularities by the prison authorities. Barrios had been detained since the protests on July 11, 2021.
Barrios, 37, died at the La Covadonga Hospital in Havana due to respiratory complications.
Barrios had been exhibiting concerning symptoms since August. He was admitted to the infirmary of the 1580 prison in San Miguel del Padrón and later transferred to the aforementioned hospital for specialized care.
Nonetheless, despite medical warnings, the authorities decided to return him to prison, citing a lack of resources for transportation and hospital supervision.
In October, political prisoner Gerardo Díaz Alonso, 35 years old, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for participating in the July 2021 protests in the city of Cárdenas, Matanzas, died of a heart attack.
Díaz Alonso, who was also the father of two children, was detained in the Canaleta high-security prison in Ciego de Ávila, as reported on Facebook by Aylín Sardiña Fernández.
The protester from La Güinera and political prisoner of the 11J, Yosandri Mulet Almarales, died in August as a result of the severe injuries sustained during a suicide attempt that left him in a precarious state between life and death for several days.
This was confirmed by the Cuban Prisons Documentation Center, a non-governmental organization that reported on August 22 the second and final suicide attempt of the political prisoner, made during a work detail outside the correctional facility where he was serving forced labor.
The non-governmental organization Cubalex, which specializes in monitoring human rights in Cuba and providing free legal assistance on the island, published a report on repression in the country during the first half of 2024, which resulted in 26 deaths while in custody.
The conditions in Cuban prisons remain alarming, with evidence of torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, and a severe lack of medical care contributing to deaths in custody.
The figure is even more striking when considered over the past two years, during which there have been 56 deaths of individuals who were in the custody of the country's authorities, with death being the final outcome in these cases.
Currently, the Cuban regime has imprisoned 554 people for participating in the anti-government protests of July 2021 in dozens of cities and towns across Cuba, the largest recorded protests in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Murder of Manuel de Jesús Guillén and Repression in Cuba
Who was Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas?
Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas was a Cuban political prisoner, a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), and a promoter of Cuba Decide. He participated in the protests on July 11, 2021, and was held in the Combinado del Este prison in Havana. His murder under unclear circumstances reported by the authorities has sparked outrage and denunciations from activists and Cuban opponents.
What is known about the conditions of political prisoners in Cuba?
The conditions of political prisoners in Cuba are alarming, with reports of torture, cruel and inhumane treatment, and a lack of adequate medical attention. Reports indicate that Cuban prisons suffer from severe shortages of food and hygiene products, contributing to a deplorable state of health among detainees. Activists and international organizations have called for improvements in prison conditions and the release of political prisoners.
How has the international community reacted to the repression in Cuba?
The international community has expressed concern over the repression in Cuba, with calls from political figures and human rights organizations for an end to arbitrary detentions and the release of political prisoners. The U.S. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs and Members of the European Parliament have demanded sanctions and concrete actions against the Cuban government.
What is the current situation of José Daniel Ferrer, leader of UNPACU?
José Daniel Ferrer, leader of UNPACU, remains imprisoned under conditions that have been reported as cruel and inhumane. He has been subjected to beatings and is in a deteriorating state of health, prompting concerns from his family and the international community. Despite this, Ferrer remains committed to the fight for freedom and human rights in Cuba.
What have the families of political prisoners reported about the treatment they receive?
Family members of political prisoners in Cuba have reported the inhumane treatment and degrading conditions to which their loved ones are subjected. Cases of physical and psychological torture, lack of medical care, and severe restrictions on contact with their families have been reported, exacerbating their health and well-being. These complaints aim to generate international pressure to improve the conditions of the prisoners and to achieve their release.
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