Havana, Cuba, Oct 3, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Archbishop of Havana, Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, has asked three political prisoners in Cuba to end their hunger strike because “life is a gift from God and should not be taken lightly.”
Victor Arroyo and Jose Ferrer Garcia, sentenced to 26 years in prison, began their hunger strike in September, while Felix Navarro, sentenced to 25 years, began his in October.
“If they could hear me I would ask them to stop their hunger strike, and if the authorities have access to this I would tell them to very humanely get these people some nourishment however they have to,” Cardinal Ortega said.
While he said he understood their desperation and anguish, the cardinal warned that the longer they continue with this action, the more “they are risking their lives.”