Cuban journalist fasts for free internet

[Rik Panganiban <rikp@earthlink.net>]

Here is an article on Cuban journalist Guillermo Fariñas, who has been on a hunger strike for free internet access in Cuba.

(NOTE: When I was in Cuba, internet access in cybercafes was closer to $6 an hour.  Still too expensive for Cuban citizens, but not $3,50 a minute as claimed in this article.)

Rik Panganiban

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http://netpulse.politicsonline.com/soundoff.asp?issue_id=10.05

Also see: 

http://www.politicsonline.com/blog/archives/2006/03/fasting_for_int.php

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=16397%20target=

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10611&Valider=OK

Cuban Journalist Fasts for Right to Unrestricted Internet Access

By: Rafa Rubio

Constitutional Law Professor, Complutense Univ.

Cuban independent journalist and dissident Guillermo Fariñas has been on a hunger strike since 31 January and is demanding that the Cuban authorities allow Internet access to all Cuban citizens, including the opposition activists. In an open letter to Fidel Castro, Fariñas said he is determined to pursue his hunger strike "to the death," should the regime continue restricting the free access to information. On the 8th of February at noon Fariñas lost consciousness and was transferred to a hospital in Santa Clara where he was on the verge of death after a nine-day total hunger strike in which he refused both food and water.

Guillermo Fariñas (42) is the editor of the independent news agency Cubanacán based in Santa Clara, Villa Clara Province, which brings together more than fifteen journalists who address human rights violations and other issues neglected by the official Cuban media. Until 23 January, the journalists were able to send their dispatches to foreign media from a public Internet centre in Santa Clara. Since the 23rd, they have been prevented from using this outlet - the only one at their disposal.

The journalist has said he is ready to die unless the Cuban authorities give all Cubans free access to the Internet and allow independent journalists the right to freely inform the public. Fariñas Hernández has warned that he is ready to die unless the Cuban government gives way to his demands. "I want assaults on independent journalists to stop," he said, "I want all Cubans to be allowed access to the Internet and for the government to do as it said, at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in December, and give them Internet access."

In Cuba, the Internet is a very controlled tool, with only a few hundred people having Internet access, in a population of 11 million. One minute of Internet access costs $3.50, (two weeks salary for the Cubans) and the IP servers are also highly controlled by the government.

Different NGO´s like Reporters without Borders, Asociación Española Cuba en Transición (Spain), People in Need (Czech Republic) or Pontis Foundation (Slovakia) have voiced their support for the dissident and have called on the regime of Fidel Castro to stop restricting the flow of information to and from the country. "Guillermo Fariñas could die at any moment. His fate is in the hands of the authorities," said Reporters Without Borders. "We urge the government to listen to his message and reply to it, giving him at least the right to use the Internet for his work." Journalist on hunger strike to demand unrestricted Internet access

The news agency's 18 full-time staff along with other dissidents have since 6 February been taking it in turns to fast for one day to keep Guillermo company, as one of them told Reporters Without Borders. The same source said that the political police had twice prevented the journalist from receiving visits at Villa Clara in central Cuba, on 3 and 6 February. He is supported by all the leading dissident figures, including journalists Raúl Rivero and Manuel Vazquez Portal, who were imprisoned in March 2003 and are now living in exile.

UPDATE: Fariñas was forced to temporarily end his hunger strike after becoming unconscious, at which point he was taken to a hospital and fed with an IV. According to Reporters Without Borders reports and friends of Fariñas, he is determined to take up his hunger strike again. More...

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 Rik Panganiban             email: rikp@earthlink.net

 UN Reporting & Advocacy    tel: (+1) 917-710-5524

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