Members of Unión Patriótica de Cuba detained in Holguín; coordinator reported on hunger strike

Radio Martí reported that four members of the opposition group Unión Patriótica de Cuba were detained in Holguín at the end of January on accusations of painting antigovernmental graffiti, the broadcast said Feb. 13.

The program quoted the group's leader, José Daniel Ferrer, as making the denial of the detentions public and said Royland Álvarez Renzoler, identified as a coordinator for the Unión Patriótica de Cuba in Mella (Santiago de Cuba), has been on hunger strike for 13 days in the investigative detention center known in the report as Pedernales. Broadcasters listed the detainees' names and the localities where graffiti appeared, including Birán, Marcanís, Cueto and Alto Cedro.

The broadcast described the detention center as a place where detainees have alleged mistreatment and said the hunger strike was a protest against the conditions and the alleged arbitrary detention. Radio Martí read family testimony about distress and reported that the organization and relatives are seeking public attention for the detainees' condition.

The report did not include comments from Holguín provincial authorities or from custodial officials. It described the allegations against the detainees as related to anti-government graffiti and public disturbance, but did not provide text of formal charges or court dates.