By Nadia Rybarova, Associated Press Writer
PRAGUE, Czech Republic 6 (AP) - Two prominent Czechs jailed for more than
three weeks in Cuba returned home Tuesday after they admitted breaking the law
in a case that strained relations between two former Cold War-era allies.
Czech lawmaker Ivan Pilip and former student leader Jan Bubenik were
arrested Jan. 12 after meeting with Cuban dissidents. They were accused of
traveling to Cuba on behalf of American interests - an allegation U.S.
authorities called "ludicrous.''
Pilip, 37, a former finance minister, and Bubenik, 32, were released Monday
night after crafting an admission signed before diplomats from several nations.
"They understand they offended the Cuban people and that was not their
intention,'' said Anders Johnson, secretary-general of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union, which helped mediate their release.
"We were bringing medicine and computers to the dissidents,'' Pilip
told reporters after landing at Prague's Ruzyne Airport. "We didn't know we
were breaking the law.''
The pair met with dissidents after flying to Cuba from the United States,
where they had met with representatives of Freedom House, a New York-based
pro-democracy group. The group receives money from both the U.S. government and
private sources. Freedom House has declined comment on whether it was involved
in the Czechs' trip to Cuba.
Tension between the two countries ran high in recent weeks, with Cuban
President Fidel Castro (news - web sites) calling the Czech embassy in Havana "a
cave of spies.'' The Czechs could have faced up to 20 years in prison if
convicted of acting against Cuba's security and inciting a rebellion.
"I think we were viewed as somebody who is bringing attention to the
state of human rights in Cuba,'' Pilip said Tuesday during a stopover in Madrid.
"We were used as messengers, as somebody who is supposed to send a message
to the United States that this kind of support for human rights activists will
not be tolerated.''
Pilip and Bubenik's admission said they came to Cuba of their own accord and
that they didn't know their activities on the island would be considered
subversive and illegal, Johnson said.
The men acknowledged "that they violated national law and if that
violation had offended the Cuban people then they ask for forgiveness,'' said
Juan Pablo Letelier, president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union's human rights
committee.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan stressed the men were freed without the
official Czech apology Castro demanded.
"We have no reason to apologize,'' Kavan said.
Czech President Vaclav Havel invited Pilip and Bubenik to visit him
Wednesday.
Arriving in Prague, the two said they were relieved to be free.
"I will wake up and look at the sun and sky, because I almost forgot
how they look,'' Pilip said.
In Cuba, the Communist Party daily Granma did not mention the Czechs'
release.
Cuban authorities remain furious about the Czech Republic's role last year
in introducing a U.N. resolution condemning Cuba for its human rights record.
The resolution was approved.
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