José Enrique Santana Carreira
To my mother
Ana Luisa Carreira, mother of José Enrique Santana Carreira received this letter dated September 22, 2003, from her son. The letter was smuggled out of "Prison 1580" in the town of San Miguel del Padrón, province of Havana. A group of Political Prisoners had started a hunger strike there.
I write this letter with all my love for you, knowing that it is going to hurt you. But I am already hurting since I have been beaten because I refused food, and since I was weak and could not get up for the daily count, I was beaten again with no compassion.
What we are doing is just claiming our rights: We want to know what are they going to do with us, and we demand a stop to the abuses being committed against all prisoners, specially against the Political Prisoners and the Prisoners of Conscience. Those who dispensed the blows were the two guards who were on duty from the 21st to the 22nd [of September, 2003]
My viejita,* I have decided to continue with this until the maximum consequences. If I have already been beaten, there is no stopping them. The only thing I want is for everybody to know about the abuse and the mistreatment. We want the people of all countries to be aware of the atrocities being committed against those who peacefully strive for their rights. We want to receive the support of all in order for these abuses to end.
I, and all the others, will continue the strike. We will continue until the end. We have all shaved our heads in protest. Help us. They are powerful but we are right.
Take care of yourself, mi viejita. I am not well, I am suffering because of all this, but ready to die for my rights and for the peaceful struggle.
All my love
José Enrique
* NOTE: The term “old lady” (vieja) and “old man” (viejo) are used by Cubans as terms of endearment with their parents. Its diminutives “viejita” and “viejito” connote an even greater message of affection],