The arrest of two Czech women puts further strain on Czech-Cuban relations

[02.02.2006] - Current Affairs - Daniela Lazarova
The arrest of two Czech women puts further strain on Czech-Cuban relations

Relations between the Czech Republic and Cuba have been strained for
some time, after a number of diplomatic spats. Tensions between the two
states have risen further since the arrest last week of two Czech women
- including former Miss Czech Republic Helena Houdova - while they were
taking photographs of a slum area.
The two Czech women were detained by police as they were taking
photographs of a poverty ridden district in Havana. "There was a lot of
shouting as we were dragged off - and one of the officers shouted that
we were terrorists", Helena Houdova said later. She and her psychologist
friend Mariana Kroftova made the trip to Havana to ascertain how
children on the island could benefit from their charity work. Mariana
Kroftova says she thought the eleven hours they spent in detention would
never end:
"They took us to a police station where nobody spoke to us or properly
explained what was going on. We were just able to make out that we were
accused of engaging in counter-revolutionary activities against the
Cuban regime. What was worse they refused to let us call the Czech
embassy. So we spent the 11 hours without knowing what our fate would be."
The two women were eventually released at 3am after pledging in writing
that they would not engage in any counter-revolutionary activities in
Cuba. Both remained under house arrest until leaving the country. The
Czech Foreign Ministry has described their treatment as a flagrant
violation of international law. Richard Krpac is from the ministry's
press department:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers this act - refusing Czech
citizens contact with the embassy - a grave violation of one of the
basic and most important human rights for citizens abroad - which is the
right to consular access."
The Cuba charge d'affaires was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on
Wednesday to explain the incident. Richard Krpac says the ministry is
not happy with the outcome of the meeting:
"The charge d'affaires of the Cuban embassy in Prague was called in
yesterday to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain the treatment of
the two Czech citizens by the Cuban authorities. However -citing a lack
of information from Havana on this issue - the charge d' affaires was
unable to explain it. She promised to do so in the near future."
Helena Houdova and Mariana Kroftova, photo: CTK Helena Houdova and
Mariana Kroftova, photo: CTK
Asked why the women were arrested the charge d'affaires said it was
because they had "deliberately waged a campaign against Cuba in
cooperation with Cuban dissidents". This is a standard line used in
connection with many Czechs who visit the island. Many are refused entry
on the suspicion that they plan to meet with Cuban dissidents. Two
Czechs -a member of Parliament and an NGO worker who did - spent 3 weeks
in a Cuban jail in 2001.
A one time communist ally of Cuba - the Czech Republic is now seen as a
dangerous adversary. Ever since the fall of communism in 1989, Prague
has been vocal in supporting human rights on the island and is one of
the leading proponents of a tougher international stance against the
Castro regime. In spite of the worsened relations the Czech Foreign
Ministry says it expects Cuba to respect international law.

http://www.radio.cz/en/article/75411