Cuba: death of political prisoner after prolonged hunger strike

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Raul Castro said Wednesday he regretted the death of a prisoner after a prolonged hunger strike, even as human rights activists reported 30 people were detained on the way to the dissident's funeral.

Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who was jailed in 2003 in a crackdown on political opposition, died Tuesday after a hunger strike that lasted for more than 80 days. He began the strike to demand better prison conditions.

According to an unprecedented government statement, Castro "lamented the death of Cuban prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who died after leading a hunger strike." He blamed the United States for the death, but did not explain why.

"Tortured people do not exist," Castro added. "There were no tortured people. There was no execution."

Separately, about 30 Cuban dissidents were detained Wednesday and dozens of others were blocked from leaving their homes, human rights activist Elizardo Sanchez said.

"All of this to prevent them from attending the funeral of Orlando Zapata Tamayo," he said. "It's not what we wanted, but the government has turned him into a martyr."

Zapata, 42, died in Havana. His body was flown to the eastern province of Holguin for burial.

In Havana, a couple dozen friends and activists donned black armbands and held a symbolic wake at the small home of dissident Laura Pollan.

Amnesty International said in a statement that Zapata was jailed for disorderly conduct, among other crimes. His initial three-year sentence was repeatedly extended as officials said he accrued new penalties for infractions while in prison.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International demanded the release of all "prisoners of conscience" in Cuba.

"The tragic death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo is a terrible illustration of the despair facing prisoners of conscience who see no hope of being freed from their unfair and prolonged incarceration," said Gerardo Ducos, Amnesty International's Caribbean researcher.

Cuba says there are no political prisoners in the nation. The Cuban government calls many of the dissidents "mercenaries" being paid by the United States and other countries to undermine the government. Read more>>>.

Source: CNN.com, Feb. 24, 2010