The hunger strikes, a weapon of double edge

Victor and Sanchez
Independent journalist
victorernestosanchez@ymail.com
 

SANTIAGO OF CUBA - 4 of March, 2010 - the hunger strike, is the supreme resource to demand a right. If with her one is to reach an intention, then there are several elements that must have accounts, so that strike does not become a full failure.

The intention must be measurable, moderately possible and with a moral reason, that it jeopardizes the public moral of which of a form or another one, enter the game of a true strike hunger. In addition, that moral reason is the one that empodera to the plaintiff, to take to strike to its principles consequences. All striker must have martyr will, to support to the suffering and the risks that a hunger strike demands, more when the symptoms of the death begin to appear.

Often I have heard question the effectiveness of the hunger strikes. Even, what if they are effective means of propaganda against the Castro regime. All the hunger strikes must have a different intention, because they must become under very well determined circumstances. If strike does not have the sufficient moral justification, the striker crumbles or will of. And if they become a routine, they can become a weapon of double edge. The hunger strike cannot be a mediatic show, nor means of propaganda. Strikes are effective if they break the scheme of disciplinary measures or punishment, which lets to the opresores without their main tools of force or pressure to intimidate their victims. The victims can obtain, certain vindications sometimes, that over they pass the will political of his victimarios.

The spiritual force of a striker is in its conviction, when it is convinced that it attends the moral reason to him, so beams. It is not right, that their those in favor reduce that force to them that as much needs, sufficient already has with facing the negative and tendentious campaigns of his adversaries. The strikers of principles and convictions do not leave a strike by friendly recommendations, relatives or followers. The uprisings and calls deprived public and so that the strikers change their position and demote strikes, are counter-productive and negative, favor the interests of their repressive ones.

An ex- political prisoner said to me, who participated in several hunger strikes, that the type of strike is determined according to the circumstances. In the case of the Cuban prisons, if for a reason they take you to X to a cell of punishment, they clear the clothes to you (undress to you), or they take for a hostile detachment, that is in danger, then strike to you must be general, including of liquid, to revert the situation. Only thus, the authorities are forced sacarte of the place, at least for an infirmary.

A serious analysis of the hunger strikes leads to determine the surroundings where they are realized. A hunger strike in a prison is not equal, that in freedom, at least physical. It is not that one is different in itself or marks categories on the other, but the strategy or behavior in both must be different.

The hunger strikes, when it is enjoyed judicial freedom, have characteristics different from realized in penitentiary centers or the their dependancies. The essential, the striker cannot be forced by the force to receive treatment some. It does not have to directly support the pressures of the authorities and can influence in the public opinion, because it does not undergo the official isolation. In the decision of a strike of this type, before beginning itself it must have arrived at a familiar consensus, that serves as support that attitude, because otherwise they become the worse detractors of their strike and they can make until it fail. The intelligence services can play a very active role in this process.

The hunger strikes cannot be done, nor are obtained significant times, when embullo and commitment become by, always appears the justification precise to stop of her. They are not possible to be made in order scare the guard, (as we said in prison) because the consequences and the signs are very marked, to pretend during its process and the professionals of diagnose it to the health. Also the intelligence services infiltrate the strikers, document their frauds and demoralize the effort that means a hunger strike. Past errors cannot be committed.

The impact that has had the outcome of the hunger strike that carried out Orlando Zapata Tamayo can wake up the solidarity of and a motivation of others, but that is not sufficient to declare itself in hunger strike, must define a specific good intention.  The location of Guillermo Fariñas is very correct, only who must handle the process intelligently. It cannot slow down the events with excessive hydrations, that prolong the suffering to him. Their appearances in the health centers must be taken advantage of to redouble their revolt and to do of the act, a public denunciation.

The news received from the outside and inform from the same prisons relate that several prisoners have declared themselves in hunger strikes and another already they have left the same. This demonstrates that there has been no strategic unit. There is no necessity to immolate themselves, but to create a state of national commotion.

The hunger strikes, as fight strategy, have certain attributes that are incomparable with other methods. Its repercussion is undeniable and it is possible, that is to say, to be carried out by a single person no whom there is to arrive at consensus or agreement to carry out it. In addition, the lack of autonomy of the authorities causes that the subject ascends by the chain of controls, that do of the problem, a subject of all. And no civil servant wants to assume the responsibility of a fatal outcome.

The political atmosphere derived from the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo demand of concrete actions. The decision of Guillermo Fariñas is correct and understandable, but solidarity does not have to be when the damage is irreversible and politically delayed. If several political fighters with experience in these necessities, like Jorge Luis Garci'a Perez (Antúnez), the brothers Néstor and Rolando Rodriguez Louvain, Francisco Herodes Diaz Echemendía, the family Sigler Amaya and many other opponents located in strategically important points of the nation, declare themselves in strike, the life of Guillermo Fariñas runs less risks. If to this campaigns of support by the opponents in the different sites are added to them public, including the different places where the political strikes and prisoners are being realized in different prisons, complicaría the repressive phantom of the regime.

I exile must play a decisive role in this important stage of the fight. Logistic and the resources for the internal mobilization, the immediate spreading of the events and the documentation of the same. At the moment, if it obtains a national mobilization, around these civic rises, headed by the hunger strikes, it is needed to activate all the cellular telephones of the opponents, who the majority is out of service for want of payment of their telephone accounts. I exile has the possibility, due to its resources and contacts within the island, to organize this protest at national level. They are not things that cannot be done, are things that have become previously, which of isolated or individual form, that is not just like a collective action at national level.

The best way to save the life of Guillermo Fariñas and of that they are added is if from now on we sent ourselves in an offensive, drawing up you rule we. We know that the regime as first measurement is going to give extrapenal freedom, to some prisoners of whom has major comprometimiento of health, to demobilize to the opposition, but although it is a small victory, it stimulates continue fighting.