Tony's daughter issues calls for solidarity with her father

In her most recent letter (quoted below), my cousin Yenysel is asking anyone interested in helping with the cause of Tony's release to write letters and postcards of support to Tony. She arrived in the US recently and hasn't seen Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but those of you that have seen the film will recall that Senator Jeff Smith launched his two-day filibuster in the hopes that the floor of the Senate would be flooded with letters of support. This is pretty much the effect she is aiming for. On a related note, Uncommon Sense posted a letter from a fellow prisoner of conscience, Adolfo Fernández Saínz, that corroborates the facts in Yeny's plea and calls for interested parties to write to Lt. Col. Reinerio Díaz Betancourt, the prison warden, at the following address:

Prisión Provincial de Canaletas
Carretera Sanguily, KM 2 ½
Ciego de Ávila, CP 65 100

Without further ado, here is my translation of her letter:

My name is Yenysel Díaz Sánchez. Many of you already know me because of the letters I have written asking for the solidarity of all persons of good faith that might be able to intercede on my father's behalf. His name is Antonio Ramón Díaz Sánchez and I am asking for your help obtaining his release. He is one of the prisoners of conscience arrested during the black spring of 2003 in Cuba. I don't wish to bore you with all the details of the sad story that began on March 19, 2003. My goal is to denounce the injustices committed against my father, which have taken on the form of official harassment. Although Tony has been diagnosed with a chronic colon ailment, the prison authorities have failed to furnish him with the special diet prescribed by the doctors. He is being held more than 500 kilometers from his home, thus forcing his loved ones to make a difficult journey for a two-hour visit. Sentenced to 20 years in prison for fighting to defend his rights and those of his people through non-violent means, Tony is once again being confined to an isolation cell with the dimensions of a cage, a concrete slab to sleep on, and a hole for his bodily functions. Tony is the victim of blackmail, punished for his refusal to accept the authorities' offer to transfer him to a facility near Havana (which is closer to his home) if he were to wear the same uniform issued to common criminals.

Unable to break the will of a man unwilling to compromise his dignity, the harassment grows worse. For the last three months, his correspondence has been censored. I appeal to your sense of justice and ask you to express your solidarity with our cause by showing the Cuban regime that Tony is not alone and that there are those that would advocate for his freedom. To show your support, please send your letters or postcards to the following address:

Prisión Provincial de Canaletas
Zona de Aislamiento
Celda #1 Pasillo #1
Carretera Sanguily, KM 2 ½
Ciego de Ávila, CP 65 100

I'd like to express my family's appreciation for your kindness. It is your continued support that gives us the hope that we might someday enjoy once more the joy of our father's company.

Thank you.

A daughter's plea for help

Following is the English translation of a letter drafted by my cousin Yenysel Díaz Sánchez. In it, she asks for the assistance of the international community in obtaining news about her father. It has been 25 days since anyone has heard from him. The Cuban regime has canceled family visits.

Hello, my name is Yenysel Díaz Sánchez, daughter of Antonio Díaz Sánchez (Tony), a prisoner of conscience in Cuba. My father was imprisoned during the repressive wave known as the Black Spring of Cuba during March 2003. He is one of the original coordinators of the Liberation Christian Movement (Movimiento Cristiano Liberación). Tony, Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, and Regis Iglesias Ramírez were the individuals responsible for submitting to the Cuban National Assembly the signatures collected as part of the Varela project. This act of courage, which took place in May 2002, gave the Cuban people a glimmer of hope that a peaceful transition to democracy would be possible on the island. As a reward, the Cuban government condemned Tony to 20 years in prison in a facility located more than 700 km from his home. Eight months ago, Tony was transferred to the Carlos J. Finlay Military Hospital (located in the city of Havana and less than a mile from his house) for treatment of a case of ulcerative colitis contracted as a consequence of the precarious conditions of his confinement. In the last few months, Cuban State Security officials informed my father that, should he agree to wear the uniform of a common criminal, he'd be transferred to a nearby prison with better living conditions. As my father was unwilling to submit to this blackmail, he was punished by being sent instead to Canaleta prison in Ciego de Ávila prison (500 km from his home).

The most worrisome aspect of this situation are the deplorable conditions of Tony's confinement. He has been placed in a humid punishment cell with the dimensions of a cage and with a hole for his basic bodily functions. He has a slab for a bed and doesn't get enough light. Tony has no communication with the outside world and is subject to what can be described best as a concentration camp diet--notwithstanding the strict diet prescribed by the doctors. The inhumane nature of Tony's imprisonment is the source of his deteriorating health and chronic pain and discomfort. It is both physical and psychological torture, inflicted on an individual for attempting to defend his human dignity under the most disadvantageous of circumstances. It has been 25 days since my father was transferred to Canaleta and his family has received no news of his current status. The Cuban government has canceled all family visits. We have no idea whether he is dead or alive. I ask all persons of good faith, on my behalf of my ten-year sister Lázara Massiel Díaz Sánchez, to prevent the death of our father in a Cuban dungeon at the hands of persons incapable of respecting the rights of a man that has dedicated his life to the defense of the human rights of an entire nation. Thank you for your consideration.

On the 16th of June, the Diario Las Américas published an editorial by Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas in which the leader of the Varela project takes the opportunity to wish Tony a happy birthday (Tony turned 47 on the 14th of June).

Born on the 14th of June

This is a rough translation of a message sent to my mother by Gisela, Tony's wife.

"Tony is doing well as pertains his mood. He is like another person and the happiness shows on his face, but at the same time, he is sad to know that he finds himself less than 300 km from his home. Last night, we were so excited that the we could barely contain our emotion. It's hard to explain. As far as Tony is concerned, I can tell you that he is being treated quite well and the authorities in the hospital seem to be very interested in performing all the necessary tests and having him examined by medical specialists. Yesterday, they performed an EKG (which came back with positive results) and took blood samples. He is going to need a colon examination that is so painful that general anesthesia is required (I am guessing she means a colonoscopy). I am very happy that he feels better. He is a bit thin, but I am hopeful that he will begin to put on weight in the next few days. I went to see him with Vilma (Tony's sister-in-law), my mom, my sister, and the girls for about two hours. They are letting him have a TV set and a fan. It's almost as if I'd had him at home."

On a side note, I was chatting with my mom about Tony and his courageous stand against the Castro regime--courage that is so sorely lacking both here and in Cuba. On a whim, I thought it appropriate (because of his name) to compare him to Antonio Maceo Grajales, that giant of a general from the Cuban wars (yes, there were several) of independence. Unbeknownst to me, Tony shares his birthday with General Maceo (and was probably named after him). After all, the family legend is that my great-grandmother became an impromptu standard bearer of the Army of Liberation when it made its westernmost stop in the little town of Mantua (my grandmother's hometown).

It seems that June 14th is also the birthday of Ernesto Guevara de la Serna.  My views on Ernesto "Ché" Guevara have matured as I have come to learn that this iconic figure of the Cuban Revolution is better known in exile circles as el carnicero (butcher) de La Cabaña, nearly put my grandfather in front of a firing squad, and (it's my belief) traumatized my father at the tender age of 10 for the rest of his life. I can barely contain myself when I see spoiled (yet quite ignorant or at least grossly uninformed) kids in industrialized democracies proudly displaying his image on T-shirts, caps, and other types of merchandise. It's ironic, really, because Ché probably would have lashed out against the unfettered consumerism the marketing of his image represents. Then again, he was a spoiled middle-class kid too (as were his buddies Fidel and Raúl). But I really digress, don't I?

Tony's request is denied

There is much I can reflect upon regarding recent events in Cuba and elsewhere. In the States, the bid for the Democratic Party's Presidential Nomination rages on and Cuba policy has become some sort of foreign affairs policy lithmus test. In Spain, the Socialists retain power (albeit with a very slim margin). In Cuba, the reins have been handed over to another Castro. As a gesture to Zapatero, the Cuban authorities released four dissidents and exiled them to Spain (giving them no choice in the matter). I share with you a clip of their arrival in Spain and joyous reception by fellow dissidents. I praise God for delivering them from their recent ordeal.

Meanwhile, the situation in Cuba hasn't changed much. Power has been transferred peacefully from one Castro brother to the other, but no acts of clemency are forthcoming from the government. In fact, my family was informed recently that Tony's formal request for transfer to adequate medical facilities has been denied. The only good news is that Tony has suspended his food and medicine strikes. He has asked me to share this news with all interested parties.

Notes from recent conversation with Tony

I had an opportunity to speak with Tony some time around the middle of January, following the worldwide dissemination of the news that he was in a hunger strike. Julio Hernandez, Miami-based representative of the Movimiento Cristiano Liberacion, forwarded me this clipping from a Venezuelan newspaper with a story about Tony and his strike. At a meeting in Spain, Jorge Moragas Sanchez, Popular Party parliamentarian from Barcelona, also makes brief mention of this news item. I include the entire YouTube clip because Moragas and his colleague Carles Llorens provide a fairly concise and comprehensive overview of the deplorable state of human rights in Cuba.

From what I was able to gather, Tony is not refusing food. However, in protest against his treatment by the authorities, Tony is beginning to refuse his medications. Because of the limited time available to speak over the phone, and Tony's tendency to speak in machine-gun fashion, I wasn't able to catch the name of the specific medication he is refusing.

Tony seemed quite intent on expressing his demands, so I jotted them down to the best of my abilities and transcribe them here for those of my readers that have an interest in helping out with Tony's situation.

1. Tony appeals to Cuba's judicial authorities for the enforcement (and respect of) the laws and regulations pertaining to his confinement. These are the very same laws the courts are entrusted to preserve.
2. Tony warns the Cuban Government of the consequences of any further postponement of his transfer to a proper medical facility for treatment of those ailments diagnosed to date. Any other course of action threatens his state of health.

I am not very confident that Tony's medicine strike will have its desired effect. The Cuban Government has always been prone to enforce its laws arbitrarily. Refusal to take medicines is only going to damage Tony's health. The only type of pressure that has ever influenced the Cuban Government has come from abroad, and usually from its friends. I am rooting for a changing of the guard in Spain on March 9th. I am anticipating those electoral results more than any other. Should the Popular Party fail to gain a victory, I appeal to the Socialists to reverse course with Cuba and demand the immediate release (or at least the humane treatment) of all political prisoners and dissidents still on the island. I leave you with Moragas and Llorens on the topic of discrimination against homosexuals in Cuba.

Tony is not in hunger strike after all (it seems)

I have to admit that I am bit confused with all the conflicting messages I am getting, so I will simply stick to the facts as they have been reported to me. Not wishing to contradict anyone in particular, I will report everything.

There are reports out there claiming that Tony is on the hunger strike (see my last post). Aside from the MCL newsletter, Osvaldo Payá's blog is reporting it as well.

• Radio Martí interview with Payá on the subject
• Detailed alert in English
• Brief alert in both English and Spanish

On the other hand, my aunt Gisela tells me that Tony is not on a hunger strike. He threatens to stop taking his medication to protest his lack of adequate medical attention, but, according to Gisela, he is not on a hunger strike (and she spoke to him last night). His condition hasn't improved in the slightest because the medication he has been prescribed is not intended to cure his intestinal disease. In fact, his ulcers have gotten so bad that Tony now experiences a great deal of discomfort when sitting down.

Confinement with the common criminal population is nothing new. While this practice opens a new chapter in the long and sad history of political prisoners in Castro's Cuba, it is not a new development in Tony's case. He has always been mingled with common criminals and, to date, has not suffered any physical abuse as a consequence. While he is very much concerned that some of his cell mates are in the pay of the security services (and are probably reporting his every move), he has not been physically harmed by them in any way. Of course, this is all subject to change at a moment's notice, but there is no immediate reason for concern.

As time elapses, Tony has grown more irritable and both Gisela and my mother fear that his confinement is beginning to impair his judgment and blunt his jovial personality. I will attempt to speak with him on Monday to lift his deflated spirits. Not being in his shoes, I have no idea what is going through this mind, but I can imagine that the feeling of despair can be overwhelming.

On the advocacy front, Gisela continues to petition the Cuban government. She wrote a letter to the Minister of the Interior to plea for conditional release and/or transfer to adequate medical facilities. It has been over 60 days since she delivered the letter and has received no reply. Gisela has also reached out to the Spanish Consulate. While the Spanish seem to be willing to help, they require documentation to back up their discussions with the Cuban government. Unfortunately, Tony's lawyer is basically unreachable. Every time Gisela contacts him, he claims to be in court (through his secretary). In light of his courageous performance during Tony's trial, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and must assume that he is being coerced by the authorities to misrepresent Tony (which is basically what unresponsiveness amounts to in this case). As I have stated earlier, this type of behavior would get him reprimanded in the States (if not disbarred). The Consulate is aware of Gisela's difficulties with the paperwork and is still willing to work with her.

That's all I have for now.

Tony is in hunger strike

It's been a while since I have received any news about Tony's condition, but I got quite a shocker this morning. Tony is on a hunger strike. In the interest of avoiding repetition, I am providing the link to an online newsletter post which contains all the details known at this time. I wasn't aware of the existence of this newsletter until this morning. I will be sure to feature it prominently on this blog. I believe it's operated by exiled members of the Movimiento Cristiano Liberación.

To summarize, Tony has gone on a hunger strike and has been moved into a cell with common criminals. As the post confirms, Tony is suffering from a serious intestinal disease which, as I have stressed in this blog, continues to go untreated. Our family appeals, once again, to the Cuban authorities to transfer Tony to a medical facility with the adequate hygiene and resources to allow treatment. The Carlos J. Finlay Hospital in Marianao (our hometown) would be ideal. I didn't want to repeat myself, but I can't help it. The last doctor that examined him is not willing to treat Tony under his existing living conditions. I have no idea how common criminals live, but I doubt very much that their conditions are any better than anyone else's at the Canaleta prison.

The only other tidbit of information I have received recently is that Tony is recovering from a toothache (which was properly treated).

Spanish government interested in ill prisoners

I couldn't find any more recent pictures of my uncle, so I decided to post one of the old ones. I am the kid with the pacifier and the beach ball. The other kids are uncles and second cousins. Tony is the geeky-looking kid with the glasses.

I just had a quick chat with Gisela and she is in very low spirits today. She has an appointment at the Spanish Consulate today, at which she is expected to present evidence of the regime's violations of its own laws and regulations in the handling and treatment of prisoners. Her lawyer was expected to come along, but he changed his mind at the last second for fear of reprisal. I believe that is the type of behavior that can get someone disbarred in the States (or at least sued for malpractice).

While I can appreciate that his reaction is typical of the average Cuban living in the island today, I find it hard to believe that this was the same person that defended Tony so ably at his trial. Harassment by the security services and the local Committees for the Defense of the Revolution is a very powerful weapon often deployed by the regime to silent the opposition. These had no effect on my uncle and, unfortunately, he is paying the consequences today. As much as I wish he would have gotten on a plane the day he got his exit visa back in the 90's, I applaud his courage and consider him and his imprisoned colleagues to be the only real Cuban patriots. Anyone else that wishes to lay claim to that title is merely a cheap impostor.

Of course, it seems that not even Tony's own defense lawyer is willing to draw the slightest inspiration from this example and make a stand for the sake of the rule of law or due process. Should my uncle die in prison, I can already see him canonized by future generations of Cubans--perhaps even some of the same individuals that are sitting by the sidelines (sunshine patriots, as Tom Paine would have called them). I don't want Tony to become a martyr. I don't want eulogies, songs, poems, posters, or any of the other media reserved for the thousands of martyrs that have put their lives on the line for their little island paradise.

In any case, I digress. Having no other alternative, Gisela will meet with the Spanish Consulate today. I tried to give her the courage to go through with it. I hope she does. The Spanish Government seems to have taken a humanitarian interest in the dissidents that have fallen ill and they are gathering facts. Let's hope this is all being done in preparation for a follow-up discussion with the Cuban Government.

Tony's health takes a turn for the worse

A few moments ago, I had a chance to chat with Gisela about Tony's health. The latest news is quite discouraging. Following a doctor's visit on the 14th of November, which included an endoscopic examination, Gisela was informed that a) Tony's condition is worsening (no details provided on what "worsening" means and b) he is in dire need of an operation. However, the doctor is not willing to take responsibility for his recovery as long as he is confined in his current environment, which, as I have described them on this blog before, is substandard. Not only is Tony's diet inadequate, but his cell is unsanitary. The only recourse available to the doctor is to increase the dosage on Tony's medication to the maximum safe level. To make matters worse, Tony's guards seem to be ignoring the doctor's instructions. The medication has been withheld from him regularly and is only made available after Tony protests. On the legal front, Gisela has been unable to get the attention of Tony's lawyer for the past month, so his conditional release (or transfer to medical facilities) is still pending. She plans to write to the Cuban Government to complain about Tony's mistreatment.

That is all I have for now.

International appeal from Gisela

This is my English-language translation of Gisela's appeal posted to Osvaldo Paya's blog. Gisela sent it to me via e-mail, but I realized later that it's almost the same copy she sent to Osvaldo's site.

International appeal

To all human rights organizations, the International Red Cross, national and international public opinion, and all persons of good faith:

Antonio Ramon Diaz Sanchez, 45 years of age, was arrested as part of the repressive wave of March 2003 and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which he is currently serving at the Canaleta Provincial Prision in Ciego de Avila (more than 500 km from his home). He was imprisoned for his commitment to the defense of his countrymen's human rights as an active member of the Movimiento Cristiano Liberacion and participant in the Varela project.

My name is Gisela Sanchez, wife of Antonio. This is the second time I reach out to you through this medium to ask for your support on behalf of my husband and his well-being. In March of this year, Antonio was subjected to a medical examination which resulted in the diagnosis of several ailments. His state of health has declined considerably as a consequence of the stress associated with his confinement. He suffers from ulcerative colitis (although a proper biopsy cannot be performed because the walls of his colon are too fragile and swollen) and amebic colitis. He also has first-degree adenomas in the prostate, as well as an obstruction in a coronary blood vessel, and a 6mm kidney stone. Most of these diseases require a diet which is not being made available under his current prison conditions. The situation is so desperate that my husband has had to assert to the authorities that his inadequate diet is a deliberate attempt to damage his precarious state of health.

On various occasions, I have complained to the relevant authorities about the inadequate medical care provided to my husband because he is not being treated by the appropriate specialist for each ailment and the few times he has been taken to the hospital he has been transported in a degrading and subhuman fashion. He has been exposed to high temperatures in the enclosed cargo space of a small truck (without any sort of ventilation), broiling in the sun for more than an hour, resulting in dangerous drops in his blood pressure and heat exhaustion. It is imperative that I also mention Tony's repeated protests against the irresponsible attitude of the authorities when it comes to the delivery of the medications that are so critical to his treatment and recovery.

Keeping in mind the deteriorating health of my husband in the last four years of confinement, you can imagine his family's anxiety. In accordance with the constitutional guarantees in the penal code, and through an attorney, I appealed to the Supreme Court for a commutation of Tony's sentence to conditional house arrest for health-related reasons. We have been waiting three months for a reply, but no reply has been forthcoming from the Court. In the meantime, Antonio's health worsens in the squalid conditions of a Cuban jail. While we wait, Antonio continues to be denied access to the type of expert medical investigation and treatment that is likely to reverse the course of his decline. It is my sincerest hope that this message will encourage your organization to reach out to the Cuban Government, in whichever manner you deem appropriate, and request the immediate release of my husband so that he can get access to the medical attention he lacks in prison. I thank you for your time.

Gisela Sanchez Verdecias
Calle 122A #2903
% 29 y 31, Reparto Zamora
Marianao, Ciudad de la Habana
Cuba

European parliamentarians meet with dissidents

Yesterday morning, I managed to get through Gisela via chat. For starters, it was a miracle that the session wasn't mysteriously interrupted. This had happened before while chatting with Gisela's daughter, my cousin Jenny. She did complain that her e-mail didn't seem to be getting through. While I have no conclusive evidence, it is very possible that all outbound Internet traffic from the location she visits is being monitored.

My family had managed to speak with Tony on Saturday evening, so I had already gotten the latest on his state of health, which remains more or less the same. According to my mother, he seems to be in very good spirits. In any case, he sounded upbeat and, according to my mother, it would have been hard to believe that the person on the other end of the line was incarcerated under less than adequate conditions.

Regarding other events in this drama, Gisela continues to work through the system to get Tony a conditional release. Based on Tony's own estimate (which is hard to corroborate) his chances of a release stand at slim to none. In my mind, this assessment reveals his real sense of despair. He is certainly putting up a good front.

In the last few days, three members of the European Parliament visited Cuba and insisted on meeting with dissident groups. Damas de Blanco is one of these organizations and Gisela was in attendance, but the language barrier prevented her from conveying Tony's ordeal to the parliamentarians. For more information on this visit, read this article.

As you can see, I have uploaded more pictures of Gisela and Masiel.

Tony asks Cuba-friendly entities to help

My aunt Gisela e-mailed me recently to let me know, among other things, that her e-mails to me have been bouncing recently. I am not prone to acknowledge conspiracy theories, but one has to wonder if there might be some foul play involved here.

The purpose of my post is not to whine about a few lost e-mail messages. It is to convey a message from Tony to those organizations that have been historically friendly to the Cuban Government. He wants these governments, NGOs, and private individuals to become aware of his precarious existence in a Cuban prison. He considers himself to be under physical and psychological attack. As he contends, the lack of treatment of his many ailments is incompatible with the norms of anyone under government confinement. Furthermore, the conditions of his confinement are dangerously unhealthy and exacerbate his symptoms daily.

Gisela adds that she is concentrating her efforts on exhausting all channels of redress within the Cuban system. She is not able to seek the assistance of any outside organizations. "This must be made with intelligence, not force," concludes Gisela in her message, "because force is what they [the Cuban authorities] have right now."

Details of phone call from prison

Tony called Gisela recently to let her know that the prison authorities informed him about a visit to proctologist in early July. This is good news--and progress--indeed. Diarrhea continues to be the most persistent symptom. My mother asked Gisela if he might be able to take pills to relieve the diarrhea symptoms (the loss of fluid is making Tony weak). However, Gisela told her that the authorities will not deliver any medications to the prisoners.

Latest report from latest prison visit

My aunt Gisela visited my uncle Tony this past weekend. She reports that his health has not improved in the slightest. In fact, Tony told her that, for the latest trip to the doctor, he was transported in a truck with no ventilation whatsoever and was crammed in with common criminals. Upon arrival, Tony was soaking in sweat and dehydrated, only to be told that his doctor is sick and could not see him. Suffice it to say that his condition remains the same. In fact, Gisela reports that diarrhea continues to be a problem.

Miriam Leiva was kind enough to post an entry in the Cuba Encuentro blog with very precise details about Tony's health. Dated 28 March, 2007, the entry lists the following illnesses. These were identified during a medical exam conducted between 22 February - 1 March, 2007.

• First-degree prostate adenoma
• Ulcerative colitis
• Anal ulcers
• Obstruction in coronary blood vessel
• 6mm kidney stone
• Alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation

The doctor performed a colonoscopy, but advised against a biopsy because the colon walls are too fragile. As noted earlier, his father (my grandfather) died of colon cancer.

The treatment recommended was one daily table of cefacene (cefazolin). My limited research suggests that this particular drug is to be administered intramuscularly or intravenously, but later generations of the same drug class can be administered orally, so there might have been a slight discrepancy in either the diagnosis or the translation thereof.

Regarding diet, the doctor suggested yogurt, but this particular food item seems to be scarce in the Cuban penal system and none has been issued to date. My earliest comments on Tony's diet provide a better sense of the fare that seems to be available (never mind that banana puree may not be the best food to feed someone with diarrhea).

A proctologist's visit was also promised, but, alas, the proctologist has not materialized. If I can indulge in a moment of political commentary (and, of course, I can because I live in a free and open society), I find it ironic that, of all nations, Cuba cannot muster enough doctors to provide its inmates with adequate care. They seem to be available in plenty for Hugo Chávez, Michael Moore, and American health tourists. Is this allocation (i.e., rationing) of health resources any different from what we experience regularly in the States? In Cuba, the best care is always available to either the top bidder or the most sycophantic foreign dignitary or gullible filmmaker. Does it not remind you of the systematic discrimination against blacks in South Africa just a few short decades ago?

Blogsphere's coverage of Tony's plight

The blogsphere is beginning to light up with posts about Tony's condition. The most extensive post to date appeared on Marc Mas-Ferrer's Uncommon Sense. A reply to his post lead to further coverage on Babalu Blog. Further googling (is that a word?) turned up a couple of interesting items--one from Osvaldo Paya's blog and another from the Cuba Encuentro blog (in Spanish). Many thanks to Marc for getting the ball rolling with this.

As these blog entries point out, legislators worldwide are turning up the heat on the Cuban Government to extend adequate medical treatment and/or release Tony and his colleagues. Here in the States, Congressman Lincoln Díaz Balart made remarks on the House floor. For the full English-language transcript, go to the Uncommon Sense post referenced above. A Spanish-language version is also available at the Diario Las Américas site. I have expressed my family's gratitude to Congressman Díaz-Balart and his tireless staff for their commitment to this effort.

I was also very pleased to find out that a former National Hockey star and current of Member of the European Parliament has written a letter to the Cuban Embassy in Bratislava (Slovakia) requesting Tony's immediate release. I have e-mailed Mr. Šťastný's staff to thank him for his support.

First thing this morning, I also had a note from the Spanish Consulate in New York City. They were kind enough to read my e-mail and forward it to the proper authorities in the Spanish Foreign Ministry. If you recall the content of an early post, the Spanish Government has taken an interest in the welfare of Cuba's dissidents.

Story on Tony's condition aired on TV Martí

My mother, Nieves Díaz, managed to get an interview with TV Martí this morning and her interview aired on the 8PM and 11:30PM newscasts. I hope someone in Cuba was watching.

Spanish government seeks ICRC access to Cuban political prisoners

A recent article by Pablo Bachelet of the Miami Herald suggests that the Spanish government is very much interested in the welfare of the Cuban political prisoners. Please contact the Spanish Foreign Ministry and make them aware of my uncle's case.

http://www.americas.org/item_32423

More on my uncle Tony's book

Several individuals have asked me for additional background on my uncle's book. I found out about its existence in the beginning of this year, when Gisela asked me to be on the lookout for publication of a book written by Tony. After a brief search, I found this article (in Spanish) about the release of the book at the Goteburg Book Fair.

http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.net/web/article.asp?artID=7128

Sweden's Christian Democratic International Center is the book's publisher and makes it available on its website.

http://www.kicsweden.org/Publikationer/690.aspx

As of this writing, the book is available only in Spanish and is not sold at your local Barnes and Noble or any other bookseller in the States. However, I welcome any opportunity to distribute the book far and wide, if only so that Tony can tell his story in his own word. In the interest of full disclosure, I stand to gain nothing financially from the book's sale and distribution.

I have read the book and it was a very emotional experience. Tony and I are only about eight years apart in age, so he was more like an older brother to me. His book tells the story of his arrest, trial, and imprisonment in minute detail and flashes back (briefly) to the spring of 2002. It was in May of that year that he and his colleague made international news by walking into the Cuban National Assembly building with a box full of signed petitions.

Update on my uncle's medical condition

June 5, 2007

Just a few hours ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Tony's wife and she confirmed that his health is deteriorating. She has been unable to get an official document from the authorities regarding his diagnosis and has hired a lawyer to pursue this matter. She has also been working through official channels to obtain this information and request that he be released and sent home on probation.

Our common goal is that he receive the treatment he needs to address the symptoms that have manifested themselves. These include a tumor in the prostate and colon problems (described by the Cuban medical staff at the prison as ulcerating colitis). They claim that a biopsy of the colon is not feasible at this time because the colon walls are too fragile. He is supposed to be seen by the proctologist—who happens to be the only one in the province—once a month and take medications to alleviate the symptoms. To date, he hasn’t received the medications prescribed.

The information conveyed by the prison authorities is that the prostate tumor is benign. However, until the tumor is actually removed and a biopsy is conducted, it would be impossible to know for certain. NGOs have attempted to get him anti-inflammatory medications to relieve the symptoms, but neither Tony nor his family have received these. Medical personnel have given him steroid injections, but this treatment has been ineffective.

Another major symptom is his lack of appetite. His daily diet consists of a couple of spoonfuls of banana puree (fufú de plátano). To avoid worsening Tony’s condition, the doctor has taken him off red meat.

Without an official diagnosis, it is impossible to know exactly what is going on with his health, but all symptoms suggest that cancer might be the problem. We know that he at risk of inheriting colon cancer from his parents (both died of it). Also, the prison conditions, available medical treatment, and diet aren't making matters any better. Finally, the presence of the tumor (which should have been removed) and the absence of a biopsy are cause for alarm.

Tony’s family seeks to get him the medical treatment he lacks in prison. Because he is unlikely to get adequate care in Cuba, we want him to be granted permission to leave the country, preferably to the United States. Since 1994, he holds a US visa, so he should have no trouble gaining entry either through family reunification or political asylum. His wife, an active member of the Ladies in White organization, is concerned that the recent publication of his memoir — 690: Vivencias de terribles pesadillas — will motivate the prison authorities to neglect his ailments.

June 11, 2007

I just spoke to my mother and received more details about Antonio's condition. He suffers from chronic diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. His diet consists exclusively of the banana puree mentioned earlier. One of his kidneys is malfunctioning. Due to the poor lighting conditions in his cell, Tony is almost blind. He has suffered from myopia almost his entire life, but his eyesight has worsened dramatically and the authorities have neither examined him nor provided him with new corrective eyeglasses. During his initial medical exam, he was diagnosed with a heart condition, but has never been treated for it. Tony has developed a psoriasis-like skin condition. Once again, he has received no adequate treatment for any of these symptoms.