Washington - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez spoke yesterday via telephone with Cuban pro-democracy leader and hunger striker Guillermo Fariñas. Menendez expressed his continued commitment to the struggle of Cuba's pro-democracy movement and prisoners of conscience. After the call to a hospital in Santa Clara, he released the following statement:

"We have to continue to shine a light on the brutal treatment by the Castro regime of political prisoners in Cuba. As long as I am a U.S. Senator, I will continue to use my voice and my vote to stand with individuals like Guillermo Fariñas, who have undertaken tremendous personal risk and sacrifice to simply expose the ongoing human rights abuses in Cuba. Guillermo was resolute in his position that the rights of Cuba's political prisoners must be honored."

Guillermo Fariñas has been on a hunger strike in Cuba since February 26th to protest the death of fellow dissident Orlando Zapata Tamayo. He said that he will remain on strike until twenty-six other seriously ill prisoners of conscience are set free. He is receiving fluids intravenously since collapsing on March 11.

"Individuals like Guillermo Fariñas and Orlando Zapata Tamayo are evidence of the unbearable brutality of the Castro regime and the tragic state of political prisoners in Cuba. They are also part of a growing number of human rights activists willing to put their life on the line for freedom. The world community must raise their voices so that these rights are honored and Guillermo Fariñas can live. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Fariñas and all of Cuba's prisoners of conscience."

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