By: Daniel Nardini
While in the United States, Cuban political dissident Guillermo Farinas talked to Fox News about what things are like for him and those he knows. He gave a bleak view of how political and religious dissidents are treated in Cuba. Farinas is no stranger to how the Cuban government treats those who simply disagree. When he first voiced his opposition to the Cuban government in the 1990’s, he was imprisoned for three years. When he voiced his discontent a second time he was imprisoned for five years, and then when he did not stop his acts of dissent he was jailed for seven years.
In order to bring attention to his plight to not only fellow Cubans but the world, he staged 24 hunger strikes—more than any other individual in Cuba. The last one Farinas did was for 134 days and it almost killed him. Cuban prisons for political and religious dissidents are quite horrid. The prisons are overcrowded and filthy, food is unclean and virtually inedible, and torture is common. Under these conditions, many prisoners have been known to be maimed for life or die. How Farinas has survived for so long is no small act of courage on his part.
Of course, one should ask why the Cuban government gave Farinas a passport and visa to leave Cuba in the first place? Although the Cuban government will state that it is because of the change in the rules “allowing” Cubans to be able to travel outside of Cuba, I firmly believe that the Cuban government wants Farinas to leave and never return. Well, Farinas has stated that he will return to Cuba. Personally, I would fully understand why he could, and maybe should, stay in the United States. The Cuban government may not let him live next time. But I have to have admiration for Guillermo Farinas for wanting to face the worst the Cuban government may throw at him.
On Guillermo Farinas
By: Daniel Nardini
In order to bring attention to his plight to not only fellow Cubans but the world, he staged 24 hunger strikes—more than any other individual in Cuba. The last one Farinas did was for 134 days and it almost killed him. Cuban prisons for political and religious dissidents are quite horrid. The prisons are overcrowded and filthy, food is unclean and virtually inedible, and torture is common. Under these conditions, many prisoners have been known to be maimed for life or die. How Farinas has survived for so long is no small act of courage on his part.
Of course, one should ask why the Cuban government gave Farinas a passport and visa to leave Cuba in the first place? Although the Cuban government will state that it is because of the change in the rules “allowing” Cubans to be able to travel outside of Cuba, I firmly believe that the Cuban government wants Farinas to leave and never return. Well, Farinas has stated that he will return to Cuba. Personally, I would fully understand why he could, and maybe should, stay in the United States. The Cuban government may not let him live next time. But I have to have admiration for Guillermo Farinas for wanting to face the worst the Cuban government may throw at him.