In Cuba, 4 prisoners, 1 activist refusing food to protest dissident hunger striker’s death

4 Cuban inmates, 1 activist declare hunger strikes

HAVANA — Four Cuban prisoners and an opposition activist have vowed to stop eating to protest the death of a jailed dissident following his own lengthy hunger strike.

Diosdado Gonzalez Marrero, Eduardo Diaz Freitas, Fidel Suarez Cruz and Nelson Molinet are prisoners at the high-security Kilo Cinco y Medio prison in Pinar del Rio province.

Elizardo Sanchez, head of an independent human rights commission, said Friday they will refuse solid food.

Activist-journalist Guillermo Farinas also plans to stop eating.

Farinas has held a number of past hunger strikes. This time he says he won’t eat or drink water.

Prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo died Tuesday after a weekslong hunger strike, sparking international outrage.