CZECH MFA SPEAKS ON LATEST CUBA CLASH: CZECH NGO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000121 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE; CALEB MCCARRY, WHA/CCA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2016 TAGS: PREL KDEM CA CU EZ SUBJECT: CZECH MFA SPEAKS ON LATEST CUBA CLASH: CZECH NGO FOUNDER/MODEL EJECTED FROM CUBA REF: A. PRAGUE 0058 ¶B. HAVANA 10180 ¶C. 2005 PRAGUE 0814 Classified By: A/DCM Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 b+d. ¶1. (C) Summary and comment. A recent incident involving two Czech NGO workers, who were arrested in Cuba by secret police and detained for 11 hours without access to the Czech Embassy, has further cooled the already chilly relations between the Czech and Cuban governments. The Czech MFA demanded an explanation for the denial of consular access, which it views as a flagrant violation of international law. The GOC refused to provide an explanation, and instead accused the GOCR of "subversive activities" in Cuba. The Czech MFA,s new Director of the Americas Department, Jakub Skalnik (a self-described hardliner on Cuba),vowed to continue to press for an explanation. He also predicted Czech policy on Cuba will not change in the foreseeable future (septel to follow). End summary and comment. ¶2. (C) Poloffs met with Jakub Skalnik, the new Director of the MFA's Americas Department, February 2, 2006 to discuss the high profile arrest, detention, and ejection from Cuba of the two Czech visitors, Helena Houdova (the founder of an NGO that benefits poor children, and a former Miss Czech Republic),and Mariana Kroftova (psychiatrist and model). Poloff also spoke with Kristina Prunerova, representative of the Czech NGO, People in Need (PIN). -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- GOC EJECTS FORMER MISS CZECH REPUBLIC -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Background. Jakub Skalnik confirmed the following facts, some of which were reported in the Czech and international press. In late January 2006, Helena Houdova and Mariana Kroftova traveled to Cuba on tourist visas. They visited a hospital for HIV/AIDS patients and the slums of Havana accompanied by Yusnaimy Jorge Soca, the wife of Dr. Darsi Ferrer Ramirez, Cuban dissident, and founder of Centro de Salud y Derechos Humanos. The Cuban secret police arrested the Czech women as they photographed the slums, and confiscated a roll of film. Houdova planned to use the photographs to raise money for the children living there. Following their arrest, the Czech women were detained for 11 hours in police custody. During their detention, they requested access to the Czech Embassy, but were denied. They were expelled from Cuba after signing statements that they would not engage in counter-revolutionary activities. End background. ¶4. (C) Skalnik confirmed Houdova and Kroftova were not acting on behalf of the Czech government. PIN rep Kristina Prunerova likewise confirmed the women were not working for PIN. However, Prunerova said Kroftova did contact PIN prior to the trip to request the address of the slums. PIN provided the address and arranged for the woemn to meet Soca. (Note: PIN is now concerned about Soca's safety following this incident.) ¶5. (C) Although the Cuban police confiscated a roll of film, Houdova successfully smuggled the memory chip of her Digital camera out of Cuba in her bra. In cooperation with PIN, Houdova plans to host a photography exhibition of the Havana slum in Prague in February or March. The proceeds will be donated to PIN's SOS Cuba fund, and will be distributed to needy dissident families in Cuba. -------------- -------------- -------------- CZECH MFA DEMANDS EXPLANATION -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Skalnik summoned the Cuban Charge d'Affaires in Prague, Aymee Hernandez, to come to the MFA to explain the arrest of Houdova and Kroftova and the subsequent denial of consular access. Hernandez met with Skalnik on February 2, 2006, but declined to provide an explanation. Instead, Hernandez, whom Skalnik described as a hardcore Stalinist, spewed a "litany of demagoguery" and asserted the arrest was justified because the women were waging a campaign against Cuba in cooperation with Cuban dissidents. With respect to the latter, Hernandez's logic ran something like this: (1) Houdova and Kroftova had a connection to PIN, (2) the GOCR funds PIN, (3) PIN is committed to undermining the Cuban government, (4) therefore, Houdova and Kroftova are also committed to undermining the Cuban government. The GOCR's policy of promoting democracy in Cuba also came under fire. In a diplomatic note delivered by Hernandez, the GOC PRAGUE 00000121 002 OF 002 condemned the partnership between PIN and the MFA's Transformation Cooperation Unit (TRANS) (ref A). The Note said the GOC has "sharp reservations" about TRANS, which the GOC described as a "section for subversive activities and dirty work in third countries." -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- NO CLEAR SAILING FOR CZECH TRAVELERS TO CUBA -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Skalnik believes the GOC is targeting Czech visitors in retaliation for the GOCR's Cuba policy. In the last year alone, the GOC has denied consular access to at least five Czech travelers. In addition to Houdova and Kroftova, a Czech tourist was recently denied consular access and ejected from Cuba, purportedly because of a minor administrative error in his travel papers. In March 2005, PIN representative Prunerova and Czech Senator Karel Schwarzenberg were also detained, denied consular access, and expelled from Cuba (refs B, C). ¶8. (C) Skalnik will continue to press for an explanation from the GOC for its conduct, but does not expect to receive one. CABANISS