Czech politicians hand book by Cuban dissidents to libraries

 

8 June 2007 Prague, June 7 (CTK) - Czech politicians handed several copies of the book Voces de Cambio (Voices of Change), an anthology of stories, poems, essays and articles by Cuban dissidents, to the Czech National Library and the Parliamentary Library in the parliament today.

 

"The book describes the dark side of Cuba," Cuban writer and political prisoner Manuel Portal, now living in exile, said in Prague. "These are voices of authors who do not keep silent. It is an elegant and brave cry," Portal said. He said that a number of the authors represented in the book were now in prison. He added the book had immense influence and was widely read in Cuba.

 

The anthology presents works of 21 authors living in Cuba. Czech deputy Petr Bratsky (Civic Democrats, ODS) who organised the event said that the anthology will be available for free in the Kanzelsberger bookshop at Wenceslas Square in Prague's centre as of today.

 

Bratsky said he believes that a Czech translation will be available in near future. Four years ago, former Czech president Vaclav Havel initiated the establishment of the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba (ICDC) that focused on human rights observance in Cuba. The Czech Republic has been one of the major critics of the regime of Fidel Castro.