Central Europe Online.
January 24, 2001.
Members of parliament receive visas to visit Cuban prisoners
PRAGUE, Jan 24, 2001 -- (Radio Prague) Two Czech citizens, Freedom Union
Member of Parliament Ivan Pilip and former student activist Jan Bubenik,
currently imprisoned in Havana, could spend at least two months in custody
before standing trial for alleged activities undermining Cuba's security, they
were told earlier this week.
The Deputy Foreign Minister, Hynek Kmonicek said on Tuesday he hoped the
Cuban foreign ministry would soon confirm what is so far known only
unofficially. Meanwhile, six Czech Members of Parliament, who plan to negotiate
Pilip's and Bubenik's release in Havana, have received Cuban visas.
But, according to Social Democrat Member of Parliament Petra Buzkova, who is
to head the delegation, the journey will be meaningless unless the Members of
Parliament are offered an agenda of talks which will finally lead to the release
of the two men.
(C) 2001 Radio Prague.
Mexico Considers Acting as Mediator Between Czech Republic, Cuba
MEXICO, Jan 23, 2001 -- (CTK - Czech News Agency) The Mexican government
said on Monday that it was considering the possibility to act as a mediator in
the case of two Czech citizens, MP Ivan Pilip and ex-student activist Jan
Bubenik, who had been detained in Cuba on January 12, the Spanish EFE news
agency reported today.
Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda said at a press conference that his
country had been considering a request for help from the Czech government. Pilip
and Bubenik were detained after having met Cuban dissidents in the central Cuban
town of Ciego de Avila and they were accused of acting against national security
with the aim of provoking rebellion.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan has turned to several countries and
organizations for help including the EU, Mexico and Chile. The Cuban prosecutor
decided to keep the two detainees in custody for 60 days yesterday. After 60
days they will stand trial, if it is prepared in time. If not, the period will
be prolonged. "This can be, as far as we understand Cuban law, another six
months," Deputy Foreign Minister Hynek Kmonicek said.
((c) 2001 CTK - Czech News Agency)
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