EU Parliament officials reacting to death of Cuban dissident
Following the death of Cuban dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo on Tuesday, officials of the European parliament expressed their condolence and reaffirmed the parliament's commitment to defend human rights around the world.
Orlando Zapato Tamayo, a Cuban dissident and prisoner of conscience, died in a hospital in Havana after a nearly three months lasting hunger strike. By refusing food, he wanted to protest against the jail conditions which for the first time in nearly 40 years ended for a Cuban activist deadly. Mr. Zapato has been imprisoned since 2003 when some 75 opposition activists had been arrested. After his initial sentence of three years in prison, he had to see his jail term being increased in several trials to 25 years due to charges of disorder and disobedience.
Although Cuba's president Raul Castro lamented the incident, he rejected any torture allegations of Mr. Zapato or any other detainees. In expectation of protests at Mr. Zapato's funeral, the security forces cracked down on about 30 activists and arrested them.
As a result of Mr. Zapato's case and the ongoing attempts of the Cuban authorities to choke off any political dissent, officials of the European parliament expressed their concerns about the developments in Cuba and emphasized the parliament's role as an active human rights defender.
In yesterday's meeting about the parliament's priorities for the UN Human Rights Council, which will take place in Geneva between 1 till 26 March, EPP MEP José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra referred to Mr. Zapato's death and underlined the arbitrariness, inhumanity and cruelty of his imprisonment. Furthermore, he challenged the integrity of upgrading relations with Cuba. In his press release, the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek pointed out that the parliament has a responsibility to raise its voice against human rights violations:
"[...] The European Parliament cannot remain silent while it receives numerous human rights appeals denouncing the repeated breaches. This does not help in building a good climate of relations and trust between the European Union and Cuba. We have to speak to our partners with a clear voice. We have to explain that our values: human rights, freedom and solidarity are values which must be respected at all times. The European Parliament will continue to remind the Cuban government about these important values."