Cuba Photos Displayed In Prague

Cuba Photos Displayed In Prague
07 March 2006

Cuba Photos Displayed In Prague (MP3) audio clip
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A collection of photographs taken in Cuba is being exhibited at the
Galarie Langhans in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. The exhibit
is entitled "What You Must Not See." Proceeds from sales of the pictures
will benefit the independent Czech humanitarian relief group, People in
Need, and will be used to assist families of Cuban political prisoners.
People in Need spokesman Igor Blazenic says, "There are many of them in
Cuba and I think that it is an obligation of our society to help them."

The pictures were taken by Helena Houdova, a fashion model and a former
Miss Czech Republic. Ms. Houdova told the Prague Daily Mirror newspaper
that she and a friend, Mariana Kroftova, a psychologist, went to Cuba to
see how they could assist children there. Among other things, Ms.
Houdova photographed slums near Havana, Cuba's capital.

As a result of taking pictures, Ms. Houdova and Ms. Kroftova were
detained by Cuban authorities for more than ten hours. During their
detention, the two women were denied access to the Czech Republic's
embassy in Havana. Richard Krpac, a spokesman for the Czech foreign
ministry, said the Cuban government "clearly violated international
law." While one roll of film was seized, Ms. Houdova managed to hold on
to a digital chip containing other pictures.

Ms. Houdova told a reporter that in Cuba, "People can't do what they
want." She says that by denying the existence of poverty, the Communist
regime only makes the situation worse.

Among those at the Prague exhibition's opening was Vaclav Havel. A
playwright, Mr. Havel was the first president of the Czech Republic,
leaving office in 2003 after serving two terms. He told a reporter that
he admires Ms. Houdova's human rights activities.

Ms. Houdova plans to continue raising funds for children's causes.
Calling attention to the plight of Cuba's people – especially its
children – is critical to bringing pressure on the Cuban government to
permit democratic change.

President George W. Bush has said that the United States "will always
stand firm for the non-negotiable demands of human dignity" -- in Cuba
and elsewhere.

The preceding was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States
Government.

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