Symbolic prison cell in Prague commemorates Cuban dissidents

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AFP): More than 70 politicians, actors and writers are to each spend time in a mock prison cell in the centre of Prague's Wenceslas Square to raise awareness of the plight of political prisoners in Cuba.

The "Stop Repression in Cuba" campaign staged by People in Need, a Czech humanitarian organisation, was launched by Prague mayor Pavel Bem on Monday to commemorate the anniversary of last year's mass imprisonment of 75 political prisoners in Cuba on March 18.

Exactly 75 public figures, including deputy prime minister Petr Mares, Senate chairman Petr Pithart and Alexandr Vondra, former ambassador to the United States and deputy foreign minister, as well as Olympic canoeing gold medalist Lukas Pollert, will each spend one hour in the replica cell wearing a prison uniform. The cell, measuring three by four metres (10 by 13 feet), will be "guarded" by a mock prison officer.

The operation will run 75 hours straight.

"We want to show people here what kind of conditions these political prisoners are being kept in and to show the people of Cuba that they are not alone," organiser Carlos Gonzales told AFP.

Around 300 political prisoners altogether are being held in Cuba, many of them in much worse conditions and some for as long as 15 years, said Gonzales.

"Many of these prisoners are only let outside into the sun three times a week," Gonzales added.

Organisers say the event is intended to illustrate that there are still places where people are arrested for their opinions, as was the case in the then-Czechoslovakia under Communism.

Similar actions organised by People in Need are to also take part in several other countries this week, members said.

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