Ramon Saul Sanchez during his hunger strike to protest the alleged abuse of Cubans in the Bahamas.Photo: Alan Diaz/AP
A CUBAN exile group in Miami has intensified its protest campaign to stop what they claim are human rights abuses of immigrants held in the Bahamas.
The campaign includes two activists from the Miami-based “Democracy Movement” on hunger strike, demonstrations in front of the Bahamas consulate and plans to mobilise vessels with posters on the alleged
violations to be seen by cruise ship passengers in the port of Miami.
Ramon Saul Sanchez, campaign leader, who has been on a hunger strike for six days, told the Associated Press the “abuses” in the Bahamas had “reached the point of torture.”
Fred Mitchell, Foreign Minister, has said there is no evidence to support claims that any detainee had been abused or mistreated. If there was evidence otherwise it would be investigated, he said.
Alexis Sanchez and Jesus Gomez, another activist on hunger strike, said they are in communication with Cubans detained in the Bahamas who allege they have been beaten in the Detention Centre and Fox Hill prison.
Yesterday they were pictured listening to a phone call from Osmani de la Cruz, one of the Cubans detained.
The hunger strikes are in a white tent in Miami – with signs hanging around them decrying the Bahamas and asking the country to “please respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
The tent was in the centre of Miami yesterday morning, but was moved in the afternoon to Little Havana – with the aim of showing tourists and the government here that activists had community support.
Sanchez has lost 5.5 kilos since the hunger strike began. He is 58 years old.
Gomez, 44, has lost nine kilos since he started fasting 13 days ago.
A doctor visits them every other day, or when they ask for it, to control their health.
Comments
John 11 years, 3 months ago
They say when life dishes you up a basket of lemons, make lemonade. So when the sea washes Cubans on your shores let them make cigars and sell them The Bahamas need to stop panicking at every criticism or negative comment made against this country ad work on the positive. Right now every taxi driver working the sea ports should be selling tours to visit the detention center no really to enter the compound but just to drive to it. Persons detained there can be allow to handcraft small trinkets even roll cigars even (Cuba hand made cigars rolled in the Bahamas), these items can in turn be sold to tourists that visit the site, at a booth set up at the security fence. The money can go into a slush fun for the general up of the center and some can even go towards purchasing personal items and toiletries for detainees who participate. A web sit can also be established to accept donations for persons who want to contribute towards the maintenance of the detainees or even sponsorship. his will be much more effective than any statement or rebuttal the government can offer against the false statements the Cuban Americans are making in Miami. Tourists who visit can return home and say the allegations are not so. They have visited the place and have interacted with the detainees This is a way to increase the Cuban American Tourist product.
John 11 years, 3 months ago
I really hate using tis site when it doesn't properly capture and what you write doesn't make sense,,,hmmm
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