Lester Luis González Pentón

Profession: Independent journalist and member of human rights movement ALFA-3
Year of birth: 1977 (February)
Details of arrest: He was the youngest of the 75 opposition members arrested in March 2003 as part of a crackdown on alleged dissidents, known as the Black Spring. 
Sentence: 20 years
Health concerns: Reported to have received treatment in August 2004 to rectify spinal problems, González has also been hospitalised on a number of occasions since for other medical conditions. Reportedly had a hernia operation in prison hospital in early 2008 and had another operation scheduled for 26 June. According to his mother, he has been diagnosed with chronic gastritis, sinusitis and lower back pain, and suffers from anxiety caused by his imprisonment and being separated from his young daughter. González has undertaken a number of hunger strikes in 2004, 2005, and 2006 against poor prison conditions

Further information: In April 2009, González reported that he had been allowed to return home to his wife and daughter for three days, between 20 and 23 March. He said that he had also been told that he will be allowed to spend three days at home every 45 days. However, as of 30 June there had been no reports of further furloughs.
Honorary member: English PEN, Sydney PEN, American PEN.