El Sexto “Should Not Spend Another Day Behind Bars,” Says Amnesty International

El Sexto "Should Not Spend Another Day Behind Bars," Says Amnesty
International / 14ymedio
Posted on October 16, 2015

14ymedio, 16 October 2015 — The organization for the defense of human
rights Amnesty International has denounced in a statement Friday that
the authorities of Cuba failed "miserably" in keeping their promise to
release Danilo Maldonado, 'El Sexto.' The London-based organization
believes that the artist, in prison for almost a year, is a prisoner of
conscience and argues that the attitude of Havana is "a painful
illustration of the indifference of the Cuban government to freedom of
expression."

Last week, the graffiti artist warned of the possibility of resuming his
hunger strike if he was not released in the first 15 days of October, as
he had been promised by the authorities.

"Danilo is deprived of his liberty as punishment for peacefully
expressing his views. He should be released immediately and
unconditionally and should not spend another day behind bars," said
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

The statement said that on Thursday the authorities of the Valle Grande
prison told the artist's mother that he had served his sentence, but did
not know when he would be released.

El Sexto was never brought before a judge and was never sentenced. He
was arrested last December by agents of the State Security in Havana
while traveling in a taxi with two pigs painted with the names "Raul"
and "Fidel." The artist had planned to stage a performance that
consisted of releasing the animals in a public place. He was accused of
"disrespect to the leaders of the Revolution."

"Danilo's story has all the elements of a science fiction novel. First
they put him behind bars under the most ridiculous excuse and then leave
him there without charges. The fact that the Cuban authorities continue
playing with Danilo and his family is downright frightening," said
Guevara-Rosas.

Source: El Sexto "Should Not Spend Another Day Behind Bars," Says
Amnesty International / 14ymedio | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/el-sexto-should-not-spend-another-day-behind-bars-says-amnesty-international-14ymedio/