Is Guillermo Fariñas’s Hunger Strike Legit?
HAVANA TIMES, March 15 — Cuban dissident Guillermo Fariñas has become a public figure thanks to a hunger strike he is waging over the demand for the release of a group of political prisoners the government describes as mercenaries.
While the countries of the European Union have again taken the side of a Cuban dissident, the island’s officials say they will not give in to blackmail.
What is your opinion?
Are fundamental human rights being violated in Cuba?
Do you believe that the hunger strike in which Fariñas is willing to die is a legitimate instrument of struggle?
Do you consider Fariñas a part of the convinced opposition or stubbornly suicidal?
Can someone call themself a dissident if they receive payments from the United States government?
Do you think this is part of a media campaign organized from the United States?
Join in the debate.
Note: Havana Times will not publish racist, homophobic or sexist comments or those that defame people or institutions. We defend freedom of speech from constructive positions.
It should be kept in mind that Guillermo Fariñas is not a prisoner. He is not in prison and he has not been arrested or charged with any crime. He has voluntarily chosen to not eat food, and to make political demands on the Cuban government.
The Irish Republican Army prisoner Bobby Sands was a war combatant being held in prison. His hunger strike was a political move demanding recognition of his political status.
There’s a very big difference between Sands and Farinas.
Fidel Castro is the greatest traitor to Socialism. In theory, Socialism promotes democracy, which both Castros, authoritarian as they are in every sense, hate. Where is the motto of socialism fullfilled there? The main goal is to satisty the always increasing needs of the population. On the contrary, they have done everything possible to diminish these needs to lower levels. As vanity takes hold of tyrans, now they have to “organize” (meaning paying a day’s wage and order them to leave their uniforms at home and go to work in civilian clothes) their “supporters” to show they are still loved. Fidel wanted to be an Augustus but he ended as a Tiberius, Mel Brooks’ style. As for Fariñas, the only way he can win is by losing. If he quits his strike and chooses to live on, he would surely be mocked by the puppets of the Round Table. The Castros will not yield, so, he will have to continue and eventually die to make his point. Surely, he would become a martyr to the Cuban people…
Farinas is giving all he has in order to change the “stablishment” in Cuba…he is a real martir of a new revolution. Who else would give his life for something -beside Farinas, and Zapata?
The blackmail expresion does not fit here, it is as afore mentioned: genuine.
I believe it’s time for the government to release the political prisoners, and provide the people of Cuba as a whole the freedoms of speech, press, and expression. If the people are angry, there is a reason for it. As a communist nation, you must give in to the will of the people. His struggle is legit. (And I’d like to see proof he is accepting money from the US. As a communist myself, I’d find it interesting.)
That being said, the goal of all communists should be to provide the people with the means to pursue happiness. I’m afraid this is not happening in Cuba. I feel the Cuban government is far too authoritarian to even be called communist.
Furthermore, providing doctors to other third world nations isn’t going to be enough to end the US embargo, as it seems is your government’s goal. You’re going to have to give and respect the political freedoms of your dissidents.
It will take more than 1000 characters to answer all your questions. Let us simply say that Mr. Farinas is not advocating violence or change in goverment. He wants release of prisoners in critical health condition. The entire world admires Cuba’s generosity and compassion for the suffering of tragedies abroad. How about praticing tolerance and compassion in their own country? If prissoners are provided humane treatment, why not allowed Red Cross visits? Was Ganghi paid for a hunger strike ? Were the IRA hunger strikers against English rule, paid? Were the Vietnamese who set themselves on fire paid by foreigners? Are all of us who receive dollars from the USA suspects of being declared mercenaries ?
I am sorry that Farinas is determined to continue with his strike, but I find despicable that your questions imply anything other than genuine protest by the only means at his dissposal with the ultimate sacrifice as its reward.