Cuba’s regime defiantly pledged not to cede to pressure from dissident hunger strikers, calling the actions “blackmail” organized by Europe and the United States.
“We will never cede to blackmail, from any country or group of countries, no matter how powerful they may be, whatever happens. We have the right to defend ourselves.” Raúl Castro told a congress of Communist youth, referring to a prominent hunger-striking dissident’s call for the release of all political prisoners.
