Cuba Archive - Case 2773

Case ID: 2773

Title: N/A

First name: Orlando

Last name: Zapata Tamayo

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 42

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Day:15 / Month:5 / Year:1967

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:23 / Month:2 / Year:2010

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: Banes

Last known province-TOD: Holguín

Last known province current: Holguín

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: Hermanos Amejeiras Hospital

Location of death - city: Havana

Location of death province - at TOD: Ciudad de La Habana

Location of death province - current: Ciudad de La Habana

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: Yes

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: 3 years, in prison increased to 25 more years.

Arrest or detention at time of death: Yes

Date of arrest: Day:18 / Month:3 / Year:2003

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: Havana

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Prison authorities

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Human rights' activist and brickmason designated prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. Died after an 82-day hunger strike, his health further deteriorated by cruel treatments by prison authorities. He had been imprisoned in the maximum security prison of Guanajay, Havana, from December 6, 2002 to March 7, 2003, accused of "disrespect, disobedience and public disorder." 13 days after his release he was again arrested for participating in a fast with former political prisoners during the Spring 2003 nation-wide clampdown on dissidents. The following May 18th he was sentenced to 3 years of prison for "contempt, public disorder, and disobedience." In prison, his sentence was increased in successive secret trials to 36 years for disobedience for repeatedly protesting his ill treatment and prison conditions. He suffered numerous beatings and tortures, prompting him to go on hunger strike to demand respect for his personal safety and recognition as a prisoner of conscience. He was transferred to a prison in Holguin and was denied water, which led to very deteriorated health and kidney failure. Sent to the hospital, he was held naked over a powerful air conditioner, which provoked a pneumonia. After over 81 days in hunger strike, he was admitted to Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital in Havana in critical condition and began receiving fluids intravenously, but died that day. During his nearly 7 years of incarceration, he had been transferred to 7 different prisons, far from his family, often without their knowledge. Over one hundred persons were detained all over Cuba to prevent them from attending Zapata's funeral in his home town of Banes on February 25, 2010.
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Activista de derechos humanos y albañil de profesión, designado preso de conciencia por Amnistía Internacional. Murió después de una huelga de hambre de 82 días, su salud se deterioró aún más por los tratos crueles de las autoridades penitenciarias. Estuvo preso en el penal de máxima seguridad de Guanajay, La Habana, del 6 de diciembre de 2002 al 7 de marzo de 2003, acusado de "falta de respeto, desobediencia y desorden público". 13 días después de su liberación, fue arrestado nuevamente por participar en un ayuno con ex presos políticos durante la represión nacional contra los disidentes en la primavera de 2003. El 18 de mayo siguiente fue condenado a 3 años de prisión por "desacato, desorden público y desobediencia". En prisión, su sentencia fue aumentada en sucesivos juicios secretos a 36 años por desobediencia por protestar repetidamente por sus malos tratos y condiciones de prisión. Sufrió numerosas golpizas y torturas, lo que lo llevó a hacer una huelga de hambre para exigir respeto por su seguridad personal y reconocimiento como preso de conciencia. Fue trasladado a una cárcel de Holguín y se le negó el agua, lo que le provocó un muy deteriorado estado de salud e insuficiencia renal. Enviado al hospital, lo mantuvieron desnudo sobre un potente aire acondicionado, lo que provocó una neumonía. Después de más de 81 días en huelga de hambre, fue ingresado en el hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras de La Habana en estado crítico y comenzó a recibir líquidos por vía intravenosa, pero murió ese mismo día. Durante sus casi 7 años de encarcelamiento, lo habían trasladado a 7 cárceles diferentes, lejos de su familia, a menudo sin su conocimiento. Más de un centenar de personas fueron detenidas en toda Cuba para impedirles asistir al funeral de Zapata en su ciudad natal de Banes el 25 de febrero de 2010.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Hunger strike

Occupations: - Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Prisoner / Detainee: Political cause

Affiliations: - Consejo Nacional de Resistencia Cívil - Movimiento Alternativa Republicana - "La Peña del Parque Central"

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - Orlando Zapata Tamayo