HAVANA – Members of the Cuban Network of Community Communicators announced here Tuesday the end of a hunger strike they began last week to protest the Communist government’s repression of independent journalism.

Six of the 10 hunger strikers, including Marta Beatriz Roque, whose chronic diabetes and hypertension were aggravated by her taking part in the protest, received members of the press to read a communique.

“We wish to communicate our decision to call off this activity, but not our protest against the totalitarian regime that has violated every kind of freedom,” the text read by Lazaro Yuris Valle said.

The document said that the health of most of the participants in the hunger strike “has been affected” and that 80 percent of the group is willing to “give their lives for Cuba’s freedom.”

The Cuban Network of Community Communicators began a protest 40 days ago at the home of prominent dissident Vladimiro Roca after police seized a digital camera from a member of the group.

Roca said last week that it was after authorities interrupted their food supply that the dissidents decided to go on hunger strike.

“The camera we want back is not the final purpose of this protest, it is a symbol of our rights and the rights of the people, which day after day are violated by government actions,” the communique said.

We understand that with the government’s attitude in not wanting to return this confiscated article, and given its significance, it is perfectly clear to the world that it has no willingness to change and that it will not give an inch towards reestablishing the people’s rights,” it said.

Last Friday Roca said that after three days of the hunger strike, Roque, 64, was in a “grave” state of health due to complications from her diabetes.

Marta Beatriz Roque was one of the 75 opposition activists rounded up and jailed in the “Black Spring” of 2003, but was released the following year on medical grounds. EFE