"Firm and strong, you hear?" Three opposition members stand firm in Cuba's largest women's prison

By Tomas Cardoso

Lizandra Góngora, María Cristina Garrido and her sister, Angélica Garrido.

Miami. (RM) - On Tuesday morning, three female political prisoners held at the Western Women's Prison in El Guatao, La Lisa, convicted for their participation in the popular protests of July 11, declared themselves in protest demanding their rights.

These are Lizandra Góngora Espinosa, who is serving a 14-year sentence for her participation in the popular protests in Güira de Melena, Artemisa province, and the sisters María Cristina and Angélica Garrido Rodríguez, sentenced to seven and three years in prison for participating in the protests in Quivicán, Mayabeque.

The three opposition members are members of the dissident organization Republican Party of Cuba and are serving their sentences in the penitentiary, considered the largest women's prison on the island.

Góngora Espinosa confirmed the hunger strike in a phone call with her family Monday night. “I have decided that on the morning of September 20, 2022, I will surrender my prison uniform and dress in white to officially become a full-fledged political prisoner. A strong embrace of resistance,” said the opposition activist and mother of five young children. In the same call, Angélica Garrido reiterated her convictions: “Stand firm and strong, you hear? Take care of the children.”

Letter signed by political prisoners Lizandra Góngora, María Cristina and Angélica Garrido.

Meanwhile, from Quivicán, Luis Rodríguez Pérez, Angélica's husband, has been persistently calling the prison's command post this Wednesday without success, and will go there during the day to try to find out about the condition of the three opposition members.

“It was truly unexpected, it took me by surprise, but the three of them agreed on it. It’s not a full hunger strike, but they refuse to wear the prison uniform and to continue living with other inmates. They also refuse to eat prison food; they will only consume the food they receive from their families. They are political prisoners; they haven’t committed any crime, and therefore they made this decision, which will have consequences,” said the husband.

"It's not that simple, because now they put them in solitary confinement for 10 days for standing up, that's the prison rule, and in that condition they can't receive their food, they don't have visits and nothing can be brought in there," he warned.

Meanwhile, Lizandra's husband, Ángel Delgado, explains the reasons that led her to initiate this claim.

“She told me that she made that decision because she should be treated as a political prisoner, not as a common prisoner, and that all the crimes for which she was convicted were fabricated by state security, something that was proven in court. They are also demanding an end to the abuses, the continuous suspension of visits and her cellblock, in addition to the number of years in prison imposed on Lizandra with five minor children. She disagrees with all of that and therefore decided to stand her ground,” Delgado explained.