Political prisoner from the 11J protests, Andy García, has been on a hunger strike for 11 days; his parents are holding a vigil outside the prison

The parents of political prisoner Andy García Lorenzo, who has been on a hunger strike for 11 days in protest of the violation of his rights, stood outside the Guamajal prison in Santa Clara this Sunday, demanding a response from the authorities.

"My parents are currently outside of the prison," announced Roxana García Lorenzo, Andy's sister, on Facebook. "Their reasons are clear, but the authorities and State Security continue to provide no response," she emphasized.

"We demand answers. We demand that the regime act immediately. This is not a matter of pride; it's a matter of life or death. If anything happens to Andy, you will be responsible," Roxana warned.

García initiated the hunger strike to demand the return of personal letters confiscated by the prison authorities.

His mother, Tayri Lorenzo Prado, reaffirmed her commitment to continue demanding respect for her son's rights: “We will keep raising our voices for our son Andy García Libre. They will not silence us. Return his belongings now; time is running out for everyone.”

In a series of posts in recent hours, the mother has not stopped her demands to the regime: “State Security, I want my son Andy Dunier García Lorenzo alive, read carefully, alive!” (…) “Murderers, don't let him die, return his belongings already. What are you waiting for? Time is running out for his life, but for you too. TIC, TAC.”

The day before, the mother managed to speak with the medical staff in charge of her son, Roxana revealed. “Although they claim to have the necessary materials, they have not carried out any medical tests, leaving us uncertain about his true state of health. All we know is that he still has not eaten,” she wrote.

García has about seven months left to serve his four-year prison sentence imposed by the regime for participating in the historic protests of July 11, 2021, in Santa Clara, Villa Clara.

During more than three years of confinement, the young man has been a victim of systematic violations of his human rights, and he has also been denied parole and sentence reduction. In November 2022, his sister reported that García was being subjected to psychological torture, beatings, and mistreatment in the labor camp where he was detained.

In a previous visit to the prison, his mother described him as "extremely thin, with sunken eyes and difficulty breathing." "Andy could hardly speak; he had to do it very slowly because he no longer had any strength," Lorenzo recounted, affected by her son's fragile state.

The family fears for his life and has recalled that during a previous hunger strike, he was beaten and subjected to inhumane treatment by the prison guards.

The case of Andy García Lorenzo has been closely monitored by international organizations, which have condemned the human rights violations against him and other political prisoners in Cuba, including those reported by Human Rights Watch in October 2022.

The family has also been subjected to acts of repudiation and harassment by the regime's repressors. Over the years, they have held the Cuban regime and State Security accountable for any physical or psychological harm that García may suffer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Andy García’s Hunger Strike and the Situation of Political Prisoners in Cuba