Niurka Luque, CYMD Activist, Assaulted, Arrested, and Accused of False Charges. #PopeCuba

Niurka Luque Alvarez

Among the countless arrests of human rights activists which occurred in Cuba this past Sunday March 18th- the ninth anniversary of the Black Spring– one of them was of Niurka Luque Alvarez, vice-delegate in the West for the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy (CYMD) who was marching alongside the Ladies in White in Havana.  According to the president of this organization- Eriberto Liranza Romero– the dissident finds herself in a “difficult state” as she has started a hunger and thirst strike on March 21st, according to information provided to Romero by Luque’s daughter.

Luque Alvarez is being kept in a police station of the Ministry of the Interior in Arroyo Naranjo, Havana and, according to Liranza Romero, “she is in a weak state of health because she suffered an epileptic attack which caused her some injuries when she fell on the floor.  In addition, Niurka suffered a brutal beating at the hands of the police police a few days prior to her Sunday arrest“.  The agents which assaulted the dissident then accused her of “aggression”- charges which were proved false by various witnesses.  Luque was left with numerous bruises, scratches, and scars after that specific case of violence.

“We, the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy, are standing on the side of justice and we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Niurka Luque“, declared Liranza, “and we will fight to denounce the lies which the regime intends to use to accuse Niurka of false charges“.

—

For more information from Cuba:

Eriberto Liranza Romero – Cell Phone: +5353–341-682 / Twitter: @eriliranza

CYMD Blog: http://cubanyouthforum.wordpress.com/