ZAMBIA BRINGS SPY CHARGES AGAINST THREE CZECHS

By Daria Carmon

The African country of Zambia has alleged that three Czech men are guilty of espionage, reportedly taking them into custody on October 12th. The Zambia Daily Mail disclosed their names, ages, and occupations as Michal Vebr, a 45 year old welder, Jiri Cetel, a technician of the same age, and a carpenter named Jan Coufal, 36 years old. Reuters reported the three are employees of the Dutch based exhibition company A&A Expo, and were passing through Zambia following the conclusion of business dealings in Johannesburg, South Africa. They stand accused of photographing the entrances to Arrakan Barracks, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) airbase, and Mikango Barracks, according to the account in the Zambia Daily Mail. Other accounts claim the trio photographed as well the entrance to the presidential palace in Lusaka, the national capital. The official Czech reaction has been unflinching, with Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg pointing out that the men were caught up in the clash between secret services that exists in the absence of an authentic government. The Czech Republic is without a Zambian embassy, relying instead on its embassy in Zimbabwe for matters relative to Zambia. The trio of suspects are out on bail of $2,000 but were required to relinquish their passports, while currently they are staying at the Czech consul’s residence. The three could receive maximum 30 year prison sentences if convicted.