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The Cuban artist and political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has begun a new hunger strike that is initially set to last until April 6, amid rising tensions and reports regarding his situation in prison.
According to information shared on social media by activist Anamely Ramos, Otero Alcántara began a partial fast of 12 hours daily on March 26, which he planned to conclude on March 31. However, he decided to escalate the protest and will only consume water.
The decision is believed to be motivated by recent death threats against him and the fear that the authorities may extend his sentence beyond the five years of imprisonment, which must be fully served in July of this year.
The activist, one of the most visible figures of the dissent movement in Cuba, has conducted multiple hunger strikes both inside and outside of prison, some of which have had serious consequences for his health, including partial facial paralysis in the past.
According to sources close to him, Otero Alcántara's physical condition is fragile, which heightens concerns about the risks associated with this new protest.
Considered a symbol of resistance against the Cuban regime, his case has sparked numerous denunciations from international organizations and activists, who demand his release and greater guarantees for his safety.
The new strike reignites alarms about the situation of political prisoners on the Island and the use of such extreme actions as a form of resistance against what they denounce as systematic abuses of power.
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