The arrest of Marlon Martorell without cause shows he is being harassed.

By Yoel Manuel Ochoa Diéguez

Holguín. (PI, video at the end ) - Today I was able to witness once again one of the barbaric acts that the political police of Cuba, protected by their power and arrogance, commit against our provincial director of the Republican Party of Cuba in Holguín, Marlon G Martorell Quiñones.

Photo of the moment of the arrest.

In the middle of the street, just after we had met with the provincial delegate of FLAMUR and were heading to another meeting to organize an event commemorating the upcoming anniversary of the death of our martyr Orlando Zapata Tamayo, we saw a patrol car approaching with the clear intention of stopping us. I crossed the street with my camera ready and managed to record a snippet of a brutal attack by three henchmen in the service of the Castro communists—two police officers and a political policeman—as they twisted his arms forcefully, covering his mouth to prevent Marlon from continuing to shout "Long live human rights!" One of the policemen could be heard saying, "Until we kill you, you're going to keep doing this. Get in here, you son of a bitch. Let us get to the station, and we'll teach you some respect." They struggled to subdue this brave fighter, forcing him into their car and kidnapping him as they usually do. I watched with great sorrow as they took him away. I felt sorry for him, I felt anger too, it's hard to keep seeing so many injustices and being practically helpless, I knew what awaited him once there, in their dungeons, this place where they not only lock us up, but also beat us, humiliate us, outrage us, to take away our morale through brute force.

Later that night, after Marlon had been locked up for more than 12 hours, I was able to see him, his hands swollen from the iron handcuffs that had been put on with great force.

Photo of the moment of the arrest.

In the middle of the street, just after we had met with the provincial delegate of FLAMUR and were heading to another meeting to organize an event commemorating the upcoming anniversary of the death of our martyr Orlando Zapata Tamayo, we saw a patrol car approaching with the clear intention of stopping us. I crossed the street with my camera ready and managed to record a snippet of a brutal attack by three henchmen in the service of the Castro communists—two police officers and a political policeman—as they twisted his arms forcefully, covering his mouth to prevent Marlon from continuing to shout "Long live human rights!" One of the policemen could be heard saying, "Until we kill you, you're going to keep doing this. Get in here, you son of a bitch. Let us get to the station, and we'll teach you some respect." They struggled to subdue this brave fighter, forcing him into their car and kidnapping him as they usually do. I watched with great sorrow as they took him away. I felt sorry for him, I felt anger too, it's hard to keep seeing so many injustices and being practically helpless, I knew what awaited him once there, in their dungeons, this place where they not only lock us up, but also beat us, humiliate us, outrage us, to take away our morale through brute force.

Later that night, after Marlon had been locked up for more than 12 hours, I was able to see him, his hands swollen from the iron handcuffs that had been put on with great force.