Cuban dissidents kept from political prisoner's funeral, activists say

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Raul Castro said Wednesday he regretted the death of a prisoner after a prolonged hunger strike, even as human rights activists reported 30 people were detained on the way to the dissident's funeral.

Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who was jailed in 2003 in a crackdown on political opposition, died Tuesday after a hunger strike that lasted for more than 80 days. He began the strike to demand better prison conditions.

According to an unprecedented government statement, Castro "lamented the death of Cuban prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who died after leading a hunger strike." He blamed the United States for the death, but did not explain why.

"Tortured people do not exist," Castro added. "There were no tortured people. There was no execution."

Separately, about 30 Cuban dissidents were detained Wednesday and dozens of others were blocked from leaving their homes, human rights activist Elizardo Sanchez said.

"All of this to prevent them from attending the funeral of Orlando Zapata Tamayo," he said. "It's not what we wanted, but the government has turned him into a martyr."

Zapata, 42, died in Havana. His body was flown to the eastern province of Holguin for burial.

In Havana, a couple dozen friends and activists donned black armbands and held a symbolic wake at the small home of dissident Laura Pollan.

"I knew Zapata and I knew he wasn't going to give in," said Belkis Balzac Lugo, one of the Ladies in White, wives and relatives of political prisoners.

She said she had been concerned Cuban authorities were "going to let him die."

Her brother, like Zapata, was one of about 75 dissidents rounded up and jailed in a 2003 crackdown on political opposition.

"But we aren't going to be deterred by this," Balzac Lugo told CNN.

In Washington, the State Department expressed its condolences.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of his death, and the U.S. government extends its heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends and supporters," Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley said in a statement. "Mr. Orlando Zapata Tamayo's death highlights the injustice of Cuba's holding more than 200 political prisoners who should now be released without delay."

U.S. officials meeting in Havana last week to discuss immigration issues brought up Zapata Tamayo's incarceration and precarious health, Crowley said. The United States "urged them to provide all necessary medical care," he added.

Dissidents said Zapata had demanded a separate cell from common criminals and the right to have his family bring in food.

His health deteriorated and he was transferred to a Havana prison last week. He was hospitalized this week.

"If they could have saved Zapata and they didn't, the same thing could happen to any of our jailed brothers," Niurkis Rivera said at the symbolic wake in Havana.

According to dissidents, it was the first time in years that a political prisoner had died behind bars.

Amnesty International said in a statement that Zapata was jailed for disorderly conduct, among other crimes. His initial three-year sentence was repeatedly extended as officials said he accrued new penalties for infractions while in prison.

On Wednesday, Amnesty International demanded the release of all "prisoners of conscience" in Cuba.

"The tragic death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo is a terrible illustration of the despair facing prisoners of conscience who see no hope of being freed from their unfair and prolonged incarceration," said Gerardo Ducos, Amnesty International's Caribbean researcher.

Cuba says there are no political prisoners in the nation. The Cuban government calls many of the dissidents "mercenaries" being paid by the United States and other countries to undermine the government.