Zapata Tamayo funeral under heavy police guard

Orlando Zapata Tamayo was buried Thursday amid a heavy police guard in his home province, in eastern Cuba. His remains were buried in Southern Cemetery Banes, Holguín. His mother, Reina Luisa Tamayo, told international media that the house where the vigil took place was surrounded by dozens of members of the political police.

Despite the regime's repression and the fact that "the Cuban security forces managed to complete roadblock to prevent dissidents and neighbors to accompany the family during the funeral, more than a hundred of them made it to the house and accompany the woman at the funeral, Europa Press reported.

The funeral took place shortly before 08.00 hours on Thursday, after the family of slain opposition rejected pressure from the Cuban authorities to advance to the funeral Wednesday night.

Zapata, 42, was one of 75 arrested during the crackdown of the Black Spring of 2003. He stopped eating on 3 December to protest against abuses and beatings he received in Kilo 8 prison in Camagüey province. A Zapata was deprived of water for 18 days and you were banned previously, foods that his mother sent him to prison.