A prisoner on hunger strike dies of organ failure , other Cuban dissidents say . His hunger strike was in protest to his arrest for taking part in a demonstration . A court sentenced him to November in prison in four years . Villar Mendoza started his hunger strike following his sentencing , halting it briefly in December when the authorities said they would listen to his demand for his case to be reconsidered , Sanchez said . The death comes as the pope plans to visit Santiago before Wilmar Villar Mendoza .
A prisoner on hunger strike dies of organ failure , other Cuban dissidents say . His hunger strike was in protest to his arrest for taking part in a demonstration . A court sentenced him to November in prison in four years . The death comes as the pope plans to visit Santiago before Wilmar Villar Mendoza .