For almost a week and a half, the young Duannis León Taboada, 26, is on hunger strike. His mother offered statements to ‘Cubanet’.
Havana, Cuba. – “Justice and freedom, I do this for all,” were the last words that Jenny Taboada listened to her son, Duannis León Taboada, after a brief conversation via telephone last Monday, July 21. Three days ago the 26 -year -old was on hunger and thirst strike. “I implore him at least to drink water and he did so,” he told Cubanet The mother.
“I don’t know the reason for his hunger strike, I heard him very weak and he only told me those words, and that he was tired of everything, that he couldn’t take it anymore. My son has suffered a lot in prison. They have been four very difficult years for the whole family,” he added.
León Taboada was violently arrested for participating in The anti -government manifestations of July 11, 2021 (11j). He was accused of the alleged crime of “sedition” and sentenced to 14 years of deprivation of liberty.
Desperate to hear that he was on hungry strike, Jenny Taboada has moved daily to the East Combinedthe prison where his son is condemned, and has demanded to see him. Every day he has arrived there in the hope of being able to do it, to know how he was, to hug him and beg him not to die.
“I have feelings found. I understand his agony and the conditions that could lead him to start a strike, but I also think as a mother, I suffer from everything that is happening to him,” he confessed.
On Friday 25, being on the outskirts of the prison, authorities of the Cuban regime mounted her in a police patrol to supposedly transfer it to the place where Duannis was.
“They cheated me to ride me in the patrol. Once inside, the state security told the driver to be for the Guanabacoa police station, far from the prison. He could no longer do anything. It was a kind of kidnapping,” he said.
In an office of the Guanabacoa police station, several officers interrogated and threatened her.
“They told me that there was a protocol for these types of situations, that is, for when a prisoner is on hunger.
About five hours later, they told her that they would accuse her of “crime instigation.” To fulfill the threat, they presented one of the prison guards, surname Quindelán, who would be the accusing part. Jenny says she refused to sign any document.
That same day, when he arrived at his house, he knew through a prisoner (who called her on the phone) that Duannis had been transferred to a hospital.
After 10 days on hunger strike, Jenny still knows anything about her son. The authorities assured him that they would allow him to see him soon, but she does not trust her words. He says he will continue to insist, at whatever it costs.
“My son is a good, worker, entrepreneur; he always helped the family, even approved the evidence to enter the university but could not start due to the economic situation of us. He told me that he did not want to be a burden and that is why he postponed his studies. They have ended their dreams,” said the mother.
During the four years he has remained in prison, León Taboada has been physically and psychologically tortured and tortured: “He has emptied pepper gas jars on his face, has been in insulation cells for up to six months, in cells of punishment; he practiced with him one of the torture methods called ‘The truck’ with what they dislocated a shoulder, they have even injected it.
Despite the treatment he has received, the young man has refused to comply with the internal regulations, which requires that the inmates work to access penitentiary benefits as well as participate in the re-education plans (indoctrination).
The family has also been affected. Jenny has been prevented from leaving her home several times arbitrar or has undergone police surveillance; She has also suffered several arrests, which she considers “kidnappings.” One of his daughters lost his job “mysteriously”, and some people have gone to his home to offend her, in what are known as “repudiation acts” orchestrated by the regime.
“As a mother, I live clinging to God to continue giving me the strength and not They allow me to save my son.
