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Carolina (English) No 190
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STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 190, Friday, February 16, 1996.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK (February 8-14)
Parliament Declares Legislative Emergency
Supported by a majority of deputies, Parliament Chairman Milan Uhde
declared the first legislative emergency in the history of the Czech
Republic.
The emergency was brought on by the December 1995 Constitutional
Court decision that Czech citizens without permanent residency in the
Czech Republic have the right to demand restitution of land, a right
denied to them under previous legislation. The government reacted by
proposing legislation in accord with the Constitutional Court
decisision.
The Constitutional Court decision, which canceled the deadlines to
demand restitution but did not establish new deadlines, was to take
effect February 9. The original deadlines had already expired, thus it
was necessary to approve the amendment by February 9, so as not to cause
legal uncertainty.
The amendment was approved in Parliament by a vote of 121-36, while
12 deputies abstained and three did not vote. The approved amendment
will allow Czechs who emigrated but retained citizenship to demand
restitution of land until August 8 and restitution of movable property
until the end of 1998.
Jaromir Vicari/Andrea Snyder
Yes and No in Parliament
Parliament February 13 approved a law establishing the ombudsman
position. An ombudsman is a public defender who helps citizens solve
their bureaucratic problems, and fights for civil rights. The government
spoke out against the law, calling it unnecessary, saying that people
can call attention to their problems through court. President Vaclav
Havel, however, supports the ombudsman function.
Parliament turned down the amendment to the criminal law nicknamed
"three strikes and out," proposed by the Christian Democratic
Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), which suggested that
criminals who had been convicted three times of serious crimes would be
given life prison sentences.
However, Parliament approved the first reading of a law, thus
allowing further debate, of another KDU-CSL proposed amendment
concerning the drug law, despite the wave of protest rising against it
from organizations helping people dependent on drugs. Those opposing the
law claim the amendment will catch more drug users than drug dealers.
The law would allow criminal prosecution for drug possession, which
would criminalize also "experimenters," which include the one-third of
high school students having experience with drugs, mainly hashish and
marijuana.
The KDU-CSL proposal concerning the rectification of injury to
property was refused and returned for reformulation. The proposal dealt
with church property, religious organizations and other legal entities
which lost property after February 25, 1948.
Michal Kubal/Andrea Snyder
Residents of U Sabotu to Receive Up to 1.5 Million Crowns
The government decided February 7 that 38 Czech citizens from the
U Sabotu village on the Czech-Slovak border will receive financial
compensation. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus announced that "the aid
approved by the government will be 50 million crowns. Each adult
resident will receive a one-time sum of 400,000 crowns. Those that have
not yet reached the age of 18 will receive 200,000 crowns."
Financial compensation will be awarded without regard to citizens'
desire to remain in U Sabotu after the village is made part of Slovakia.
Another form of financial support, with a 1.5 million-crown maximum, is
a contribution toward finding a new residence for Czech citizens who do
not wish to stay in U Sabotu. Compensation in a proportion of one-third
will be received by those who have only a rental or sublease agreement,
or do not own their residence.
The remaining 10 million crowns will go to the Hodonin County
Administration. According to the most recent reports, only a small
number of people have refused the payments and demand to remain Czech
residents.
The Constitutional law about the Czech-Slovak border, by which the
village U Sabotu would be handed over to Slovakia, as part of the
Javornik township, was already approved by the Slovak Parliament with
a record 112-vote majority. The Czech Parliament is just beginning
debate on the agreement.
David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder
Will Ads and Artists Help Political Parties in Election?
About 10,000 billboards of election slogans and political
candidates will appear just before the May 31-June 1 parliamentary
elections, for a short time taking the place of the usual advertisements
for laundry detergents, cars and cigarettes, according to Czech daily MF
DNES.
The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) have ordered the most
billboards (3,500), while government-coalition leading Civic Democratic
Movement (ODS) will use about 3,000, ODS coalition partner Christian
Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) about 2,000 and
the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) about 1,200. The price for one month
of billboard space fluctuates between 6,000 crowns and 13,000 crowns,
depending on the billboard's location.
Artists will participate in the election drive as well. CSSD
Chairman Milos Zeman will be accompanied by Gilbert Becaud's song Look,
the Rose is Blooming (Podivej, kvete ruze) at election rallies (a rose
is part of the party emblem), and the party intends to exploit the
popularity of Karel Kryl, songs maker. ODS is concealing the names of
the artists who should help garner votes. Like in 1992, they are
apparently counting on the participation of actors Jiri Bartoska and
Jirina Bohdalova.
It is expected that the most popular parties want to invest about
250 million crowns in the election drive: ODS less than 100 million
crowns, CSSD a maximum of 65 million crowns, ODA and KDU-CSL about 40
million crowns.
Lucie Chytrackova/Jitka Motejzikova
Nurses Announce Readiness to Strike
The Independent Union of Mid-level Healthcare Personnel announced
its strike readiness February 13. The union, which has about 5,000
members, has closely worked from its inception with the Physician's
Union Club (LOK) of Dr. David Rath, the leading proponent of healthcare
overhaul.
The union, which demands that nurses' average pay be 20 per cent
higher than the average national wage, is hoping other mid-level
healthcare personnel, who number about 70,000 in the Czech Republic,
will join the group's demands and strike readiness.
Barbora Spevakova/Michael Bluhm
Havel Undergoes Surgery
President Vaclav Havel underwent surgery for a benign polyp inside
his mouth February 13. According to the presidential spokesman Ladislav
Spacek, Havel will need approximately two weeks to recover from the
surgery. Havel has no plans for a public appearance at any time during
his recovery period, Spacek said. According to Spacek, it is not certain
whether Havel will meet with Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski
February 22 in Nachod, as previously scheduled. Neither side has
commented regarding rescheduling.
Arsen Kocarjan/Michael Wagner
FROM SLOVAKIA
Witness to Kidnapping of President's Son Testifies
Former Slovak Information Service (SIS) agent Oskar F. appeared on
Czech television February 13 as a witness to the August 31 kidnapping of
Slovak President Michal Kovac's son to Austria. The program was rerun
the following day, while the press added that Oskar F. had been
questioned by Austrian investigators. Oskar F. is in hiding, and stated
in the interview that he and his family feel threatened. He described
the course of the kidnapping, which he watched from a distance as part
of an SIS detachment. He proclaimed his conviction that the SIS was
involved in a plot. The SIS is run by Ivan Lexa, a close friend of
Premier Vladimir Meciar, who has long strived to oust Kovac from office.
Milan Smid/Michael Bluhm
ECONOMY/BUSINESS
Skoda and Poldi Cannot Agree
Skoda Pilsen (Plzen) boss Lubomir Soudek and Poldi Kladno
steelworks owner Vladimir Stehlik concluded their unsuccessful
negotiations February 13. Thus an agreement bewteen Stehlik's firm
Bohemia Art and Skoda on Skoda's participation in Poldi could not be
reached, and, according to Skoda spokesman Jaroslav Hudec, "Skoda
definitively will not enter Poldi and its negotiations are finished, as
long as Mr. Stehlik does not change his opinion."
Skoda proposed the creation of a new company, in which it would
hold 49 per cent of the shares. Bohemia Art would have an equal holding,
with the remaining 2 per cent belonging to Commerce Bank. Skoda also
requested the positions of chairman of the board and general director,
while Stehlik would serve as chiarman of the supervisory board and
vice-director.
Bohemia Art rejected the proposal, and refuses to give up its 54.8
per cent share in Poldi. Stehlik suggested creating two legal agents for
the new company, with himself as general director.
Soudek and Stehlik informed Minister of Trade and Industry Vladimir
Dlouhy that evening. The National Property Fund and Commerce Bank, as
Poldi's two biggest creditors (Poldi's debts are estimated at 4 billion
crowns), will decide whether a public tender will be held for Poldi.
Darina Coufalova/Michael Bluhm
Closing of GSM License Tender
The accepting of public bids for the Czech Republic's second GSM
digital telephone license closed February 14. Two equal licenses will be
issued for GSM operations, with one going to EuroTel, which now operates
a private mobile telephone network in the 450 MHz band. From the
approximately 20, mainly foreign, interested companies, six partnerships
evolved and sent bids. Czech firms are participating in three of the six
alliances (e.g., Skoda Pilsen, Cekom, Telekomunikacni montaze,
Sporitelni investicni spolecnost, Podnik vypocetni techniky). The
results of the tender will be announced by the Ministry of Economy by
the end of March.
Barbora Spevakova/Katerina Zachovalova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from February 16)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 20.418
Belgium 100 BEF 89.617
Great Britain 1 GBP 41.611
Denmark 1 DKK 4.763
Finland 1 FIM 5.886
France 1 FRF 5.346
Ireland 1 IEP 42.765
Italy 1000 ITL 17.011
Japan 100 JPY 25.536
Canada 1 CAD 19.592
Luxemburg 100 LUF 89.617
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.461
Norway 1 NOK 4.215
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.270
Portugal 100 PTE 17.710
Austria 1 ATS 2.621
Greece 100 GRD 11.136
Slovakia 100 SKK 90.110
Germany 1 DEM 18.426
Spain 100 ESP 21.844
Sweden 1 SEK 3.883
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.612
USA 1 USD 27.015
ECU 1 XEU 33.785
SDR 1 XDR 39.508
CULTURE
National Gallery Celebrates Two-Hundredth Anniversary
On February 5, 1796, under the initiative of Count Frantisek
Schwarzenberg, representatives of the Czech nobility gathered to found
the Society of Patriotic Friends of Art. On its basis arose Prague's
National Gallery (NG), the world's second oldest institution of its
kind, after Paris' Louvre.
Today the gallery owns more than 300,000 objects, and has at its
disposal far more exhibition space than in the past. Less than 600 works
were collected, all in Cernin Palace, at the time of the gallery's
founding. The 200th anniversary is being celebrated at the in the St.
Agnes and St. George monasteries and in the Sternberg, Kinsky and the
newly reconstructed Veletrzni palaces.
David Vozdecky/Katerina Zachovalova
Slovak Films in Pevnost
The network of Prague's art-film theaters recently welcomed the new
private Fortress (Pevnost) movie theater in the Palace of Culture. Aside
from its usual program, the theater sponsors thematic film cycles. From
February 12-21, the showings center on Slovak films made in the 1960's
(from February 12 till February 21), which gives Prague's film fans the
chance to see lesser known Slovak productions. On the schedule are Party
in the Botanical Garden (Slavnost v botanickej zahrade) by Elo Havetta
or the surrealistic Virgin Miracle Worker (Panna zazracnica) directed by
Stefan Uher and written by Dominik Tatarka. Each feature film is
accompanied by a Slovak short film. The Association of Czech Film Clubs,
the Association of Slovak Film Clubs, the Slovak Film Archive and the
Club of Slovak Culture also participated in the event's organization.
Katerina Zachovalova/Katerina Zachovalova
1995 Czech Gramy Nominees Announced
Singer Kamil Strihavka and the group Buty (best known for its
soundtrack for Jan Sverak's 1994 hit film The Ride (Jizda)) racked up
the most nominations for 1995 Czech Gramys, each appearing in six
categories. Five nominations were garnered by the mainstream rock group
Alice and guitarist/producer Ivan Kral, who has worked with Patti Smythe
and David Bowie.
The Czech music awards, modeled after the American Grammys, will be
handed out March 16 at the Palace of Culture.
Michal Kubal/Michael Bluhm
SPORTS
Ten Seconds to Victory
The Czech national hockey team lost their last match with Sweden,
3-2, and thus failed in the last 10 seconds of the game to seize the
opportunity to win the international tournament. Three and half minutes
before the end of the match, held in Stockholm, the Czech team led 2-0.
However, the Swedes tied the score, and won the match on a power-play
goal 10 seconds before the final horn. Had the game ended in a tie, the
Czech team, which defeated Russia 6-2 and Canada 6-1, would have taken
first place. The final standings of the tournament: 1. Sweden, 2. Czech
Republic, 3. Russia, 4. Canada.
David Sprincl/Milan Smid
Davis Cup: After the Hungarians Come the Americans
The Czech Davis Cup team defeated Hungary 5-0 in Prague, February
9-11. In the April quarterfinal the Czechs will meet the US team in
Prague.
Results from February 9: Vacek - Krocsko 3-0 (6-3, 6-3, 6-3), Korda
- Noszaly 3-0 (6-2, 7-6, 6-3)
February 10: Suk/Vacek - Koves/Noszaly 3-2 (6-7, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4)
February 11: Vacek - Noszaly 2-0 (7-5, 6-3), Novak - Krocsko 2-1 (5-7,
7-6, 6-0)
Davis Sprincl/Milan Smid
Czech Ski Jumpers Take Off at World Championships
"We have risen from the dead," said 17-year-old Jakub Suchacek
under the mammoth jump in Kulm, and he was right. He, too, contributed
to the partial restoration of the reputation of Czech ski jumping.
Frantisek Jez closed out the top 10 in the first round, while Suchacek
and Jiroutek landed among the top 20. In the second round Sakala
finished 7th and Suchacek 8th, Jez took 17th place, Jiroutek 25th and
Dolezal 30th. Overall, Suchacek finished 9th, Jez 15th, Sakala 19th,
Jiroutek 21st and Dolezal 35th. Goldberger of Austria became the new
world champion, Ahohen (Finland) finished 2nd and Franc (Slovenia)
third.
David Sprincl/Michael Bluhm
Hockey Extraleague Playoffs Begin
Results: Zlin - Trinec 4:1, Olomouc - Jihlava 2:5, Kladno
- Vitkovice 4:2, Slavia - Plzen 4:2.
WEATHER
Snow fell during the week, the frosts eased up, daytime temparatures
occasionally crept above 0 degrees Celsius/32 degrees Fahrenheit, but at
night the mercury stayed between minus 5 degrees to minus 10 degrees
Celsius/23 degrees to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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