1.
GV. Cubans on hunger strike parading outside their Headquarters carrying banners.


2.
SV. Ditto.


3.
CU. Poster, "UP WITH DEMOCRACY DOWN WITH DICTATORSHIP".


4.
CU. Poster, "WE HAVE BEEN ON HUNGER STRIKE" clock showing number of hours.


5.
SCU.pan Ditto. clock reading 110 hours, pan to another poster, and another.


6.
SV. SOF. Mrs. CARMEN GOMEZ "Carmen are you striking", SOF. ends. "Lets be human about this, we are democratic people, lets prove it, lets have some good faith".


7.
CU. SOF. " Mr. GOMEZ could you tell us ". SOF. ends. BROWNSVILLE. TEXAS. - "Thank you very much. Mr. and Mrs. Gomez enter building.


8.
LV. Pan. up Building where Cubans are resting.


9.
LV. Int. The Cuban's Headquarters with pictures of rebel leaders on the wall.


10.
SV. Cubans lying on beds.


11.
CU. Cuban.


12.
SCU. Pan Two Cubans.


13.
TSV. Cubans on hunger strike.




Initials DGI AW/VCW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The situation in Cuba is approaching a crisis. Tension is high in Havana, where arms supplied by rebel leader Fidel Castro are being distributed to civilians. In New York, as the hour for decision neared, rebel sympathisers dramatised their support for Castro. Headquarters for anti-Batista Cubans in New York is a basement apartment at 208 West 88th Street. Earlier this week an arms plot hatched here and tonight a hunger strike is in progress. It began at 8.30 last night. Fifteen supporters of Castro decided to go without food until, as they said, 'the hearts of the American people sympathise with us'. The arms plot back-fired in Brownsville, Texas, where the gun-running ship of 36 Cuban-Americans were intercepted by the coastguard. The hunger strike is on both here and in Brownsville. The situation is tense....picket signs tell some of the story and the hunger strikers themselves say....