This beating was carried out in a special cell which has architecture that resembles a number five. These continued beatings dislocated my right knee and affected my fifth lumbar vertebrae and first cervical vertebrae. They would beat my head, leaving me deaf from my right ear and almost deaf from the left. They would punch me in the abdomen, ribs. With these, they would beat my knees or lower extremities to force me to stand up and dress in the common prisoners clothing. Other times they would use tonfas, canes made of rubber on the outside with a steel rod on the inside. Four of them would lift me up and throw me against the floor. These beatings consisted of a group of military men entering my cell. This prison is located 525 kilometers from my house, in the town of Cayuco, province of Pinar del Río. In a time period of one month and nine days, I was beaten for these reasons 19 times while at Agüica prison in the province of Matanzas, between January and February 2005. I was also brutally beaten for refusing to shave and stand up to salute the soldiers in the prison who would do the prisoner recount twice a day. In addition to this treatment, I also received terrible beatings for refusing to use the common prisoner uniform, as I was a prisoner of conscience. The cell was dark at all times, and my family was prevented from bringing me a light-bulb or lamp to illuminate the cell.
During the time which I was confined to a walled-in “tapiada” cell, I was also denied sunlight and artificial illumination. This results in no ventilation.Īccording to the Regulations of Interior Order of Jails and Prisons in Cuba, a prisoner has a right to a daily hour of sunlight. The other walls are made of cement, without windows. Tapiada cells have a double-layered steel door instead of bars. For two years and eight months I was kept in a walled-in or “tapiada” cell. I was put under the cellular system which consists of living in a solitary cell without human contact. I was kept in solitary confinement for seven years and seven months. I would like to thank UN Watch and the coalition of non-governmental organizations for the invitation which has made possible my presence here today. parallel summit in New York, on September 21, 2011: Testimony given by former Cuban prisoner of conscience, Fidel Suárez Cruz, before U.N.
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