State Caves before Former Political Prisoner’s Hunger Strike
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Antúnez Demanded Restoration of Rights to Housing

Former Political Prisoner Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez" and activist Guillermo Pérez Llera in Placetas, Villa Clara. (Directorio)

Placetas, July 9, 2007. Jorge Luís García Pérez “Antúnez,” a former Cuban political prisoner, successfully concluded his week-long hunger strike on July 9 as State authorities agreed to hand over a house to him. Antúnez began the strike on Tuesday July 3, and proceeded to stage a sit-in at the Placetas Municipal Housing Authority on Primera del Norte Street between 2 and 3 Oeste.

Antúnez declared his hunger strike with a demand for the restoration of the home he occupied with his mother when he was arrested in March 1990. The property was taken over by local Committee for the Defense of the Revolution members after his mother’s death in 1992. Opposition activists from various parts of the Island stood in solidarity with Antúnez before the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power. Members of the community in general also showed their support for the activist.

The order handing over the house on 7th Sur No. 5 between Paseo Martí and 1st del Este, Placetas, Villa Clara came through in the morning hours, signed by State Security Officer Julio González Águila.

According to Antúnez, the success of his demands demonstrates the importance of nonviolent civic struggle. “To all Cubans listening to me: […] when one demands his rights with firmness and conviction and is willing to run every kind of risk, it is possible to succeed. This is an example,” he said via telephone on Radio República.

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Directorio Democrático Cubano
P.O. Box 110235
Hialeah, Florida 33011
Tel. 305-220-2713
info@directorio.org

In Memory of Mario Manuel de la Peña