Imprisoned dissident on hunger strike to protest four-year sentence has died
(20 Jan 2012) SHOTLIST 1. Formerly imprisoned Cuban dissident Hector Maseda walking inside home 2. Human Rights poster on wall reading (Spanish) "Freedom for Political Prisoners" 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Hector Maseda, Cuban Dissident and Ex-Political Prisoner : "Lamentably he trusted, evidently he trusted, that this attitude of his, of a strong and violent confrontation, would bring about a re-evaluation of his case by the Cuban authorities. Those of us who have been political prisoners and prisoners of conscience across these five decades, know that nothing softens the iron heart of tyrants." 4. Dissident Bertha Soler arranging furniture at the headquarters of the "Ladies in White" group 5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Bertha Soler, Founding member of Ladies in White dissident group: "Wilman chose this path of strike, but it turned out to be really fatal. The Cuban government doesn't care who dies. This is the second man to die during this revolution while in a hunger strike asking for elemental things, necessary things like respect for their rights." 6. Mid of Soler placing candle next to condolence book 7. Close condolence book, candle, and black ribbon STORYLINE Prominent Cuban government opponents said on Friday that an imprisoned dissident who went on a hunger strike to protest against his four-year sentence has died. Thirty-one-year-old Wilman Villar died Thursday night of pneumonia in the eastern city of Santiago, said dissident and ex-political prisoner Hector Maseda. Villar had been hospitalised for several days after pursuing his hunger strike for 50 days, he said. "Lamentably he trusted, evidently he trusted, that this attitude of his of a strong and violent confrontation would bring about a re-evaluation of his case by the Cuban authorities. Those of us whom have been political prisoners and prisoners of conscience across these five decades, know that nothing softens the iron heart of tyrants," said Maseda. Maseda is the widower of Laura Pollan, the founder of the Ladies in White dissident group. At his home in Havana, which continues to be the headquarters of the Ladies in White movement, founding member and new president, Bertha Soler, set-up a condolence book for visitors to sign along with a candle and black ribbon in remembrance of Villar. "The Cuban government doesn't care who dies. This is the second man to die during this revolution while in a hunger strike asking for elemental things, necessary things like respect for their rights," said Soler. In February it will be two years since prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo died after a prolonged hunger strike in which he was asking for better prison conditions. Villar was arrested November 12, convicted of disrespecting authority and resisting arrest, and sentenced to four years. He protested against his sentence by stopping eating. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
