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Carolina (English) No 220
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STUDENTS' 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 220, Friday, October 25, 1996.
FROM THE NEWS OF THE PAST WEEK (OCTOBER 16 - 23)
Senate Campaign Gets Going
The campaign for the November 15-6 Senate election is picking up
speed. The majority election system is forcing candidates to campaign in
an electoral system they have never experienced (the Czech Republic uses
proportional elections, and the Senate of the 1918-38 First Czechoslovak
Republic was also elected proportionally according to party tallies) and
the public is thus often witness to some original campaigning.
The Social Democrats were the first to start the campaign, with
their experienced bus, the Zemak, which was immediately renamed the
Senate Tour. The mobile propaganda center travels with the candidates
and makes contact for inhabitants of the smallest villages with their
representatives possible.
Communist candidate for Litomerice Jirina Svorcova is going to
remind voters of her former acting career - she will talk to them
standing behind a shop counter (her most famous part was in Jaroslav
Dietl's Woman behind the Shop Counter).
Pavel Tigrid (journalist and former culture minister running as an
independent on the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's
Party ballot) has been visiting downtown Prague cafes for some time and
visiting with patrons. He said he pays no bills for them.
Prague Mayor Jan Koukal (Civic Democratic Party candidate in Prague
6) is giving voters telephone cards with six units and his portrait on
it. Those who receive it can call him on a special election telephone
where Koukal is available.
The question remains, whether the variegated election campaign and
its accompanying acts will have any effect. According to sociologist
Petr Mateju, most voters have decided whom they will give their votes
to, and thus original election campaigns might only be a waste of money.
digest from MF DNES made by Jaroslav Schovanec/Magda Vanova
Constitutional Court: Senate Candidates to Be Registered after Deadline
"The time-limit of 30 days before the election, set by law as the
last moment for registration, does not apply to the Constitutional
Court," said Constitutional Court Judge Pavel Hollander October 23 to
daily MF DNES. Thanks to this decision, those candidates whose appeals
of Central Election Committee and Supreme Court decisions were not ruled
upon by October 16 will still have the possibility to register.
The Constitutional Court thusly finished week-long discussions
about changing the term of the election or declaring legislative
emergency to enable immediate legal changes.
Michal Schindler, Karolina Cebrovska/Magda Vanova
Zeman Threatens Resignation of Social Democratic Chairmanship
The biggest internal crisis of the most powerful opposition party
reached its peak October 18, when Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)
Chairman Milos Zeman stated he would resign from his function in case of
the re-election of Karel Machovec as party vice-chairman during the
March party convention. The direct reason of the threat the vote of four
Social Democratic deputies (one of which being Machovec), who supported
the government's state budget proposal against the CSSD parliamentary
club decision to oppose it. The CSSD political department later decided
not to punish the four party members.
Another internal problem, the Josef Wagner and Michal Kraus
conflict, also continued. Deputy Kraus said his colleagues were bought
by the coalition (see Carolina 219). Wagner, chairman of the parliament
budget committee, asked Kraus to leave the committee and give up his
membership in Parliament's Kreditni Banka Plzen investigative commission
because of his unproven accusations. If Kraus does not do so, Wagner and
his colleagues are prepared to leave the CSSD parliamentary club, which
would cause the overturning of Parliament power distribution - the
coalition's minority situation would be solved easily.
David Smolik/Katerina Zachovalova
Farmers' Critique of Government Agricultural Policies
More than 2,000 participants of the farmers' and food-producers'
meeting in Litomysl expressed their negative attitude towards government
agricultural policies October 22. Agriculture Chamber President Jiri
Netik said to the daily Pravo that it is possible to find agreement on
subsidy programs with Minister of Agriculture Josef Lux but there is no
possibility to do so with Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus.
According to meeting participants, the government is not fulfilling
its program, which promised support to Czech food production, comparable
foreign trade conditions and help in resolving transformation and
restitution obligations. Agricultural entities are not able to pay their
debts because of small profits or frequent losses. Unfair foreign trade
conditions cause a negative agricultural trade balance, which could
represent one-fifth of the overall deficit (expected to be around 160
billion crowns) according to chamber analyses.
Jiri Fremuth/Katerina Zachovalova
Interior Ministry Accused of Alleged Police War
In relation to the arrest of two highly-positioned Anti-Organized
Crime Unit officers and the forced resignation of one of the most
remarkable ministerial functionariess - Central Bohemian Investigation
Office boss Josef Doucha - the Czech press has begun talking about a war
between police and Interior Ministry management. Allegedly, there is
also a list of unsuitable persons coming from police Deputy President
Jan Zatorsky, though no evidence has been found.
Both arrested officers were accused of damaging the ministry by
obtaining a police conspiracy apartment, which caused the loss of tens
of thousands of crowns. One of the officers, Jiri Gregor, is known for
his conflicts with Deputy Minister Martin Fendrych. Gregor's lawyer,
Jiri Teryngel, accused the ministry of attempting to get rid of
uncomfortable personnel. Doucha, the only high functionary to criticize
Zatorsky publicly, is leaving office now, although he was planning to
leave because of personal reasons at the end of December. He refuses to
comment on his resignation. Ministry headquarters deny there is any war
with police, and Minister Jan Ruml declared he would like to speed up
Doucha's resignation.
Ruml will not recall Fendrych or Zatorsky, though Ruml said
Zatorsky will lose some of his rights.
After deadline: both detained officers were released October 23 and the
case was dismissed.
Lucie Vackova/Katerina Zachovalova
Pentagon Has Interest in Czech Anti-Chemical Instruments
The Pentagon showed a special interest in producing and developing
instruments used by the Czech antichemical unit during the Gulf War,
according to representative of the Pentagon deputy for chemical and
biological matters Theodor Prociv October 22.
Czechoslovak instruments were the only ones that could monitor the
the presence of certain poisonous gases. American commanders did not
respect such investigation because information about the data was not
ratified by any other sources. While Czechs were putting on gas masks
and special rubber clothing, American soldiers in tainted area remained
unprotected, said Czech soldier Vaclav Hlavac to AP.
Vit Bartek/Petra Sevcikova
Communist Leader's Father Charged with Torturing in 50's
Alois Grebenicek was accused of beating and torturing
anti-communist representatives by electric current during the 50's. The
Office for Documentation and Investigation of Communist Crimes, led by
Vaclav Benda (Civic Democratic Party), made the accusations, though
Grebenicek's son Miroslav, chairman of the Czech-Moravian Communist
Party, claimed his father's innocence October 17.
At the press conference, Miroslav Grebenicek presented a book
containing testimonies of political prisoners, where Alois Grebenicek is
mentioned as one of the more humane investigators, one who did not
practice torture. Miroslav Grebenicek also read a 1994 statement from
his father, where the elder Grebenicek emphasized that such accusations
are made just to discredit his son.
Benda denied all speculation about the political motives of the
accusation, saying the evidence unambiguously support the charges.
According to Benda, the accusation could be sent to court in a few
weeks.
Bohdana Rambouskova/Petra Sevcikova
Research Institute in Roztoky Short of Efedrin
Another problem came up at the Research Institute of Antibiotics
and Biotransformation in Roztoky u Prahy, thanks to two of its workers,
who were stealing efedrin from the institute. Police recently captured
them and stated this was not the first case of efedrin theft. This drug
is used in the preparation of the most commonly used drug in the Czech
Republic, pervitin. Police discovered the two workers were using the
stolen efedrin partly for the preparation of pervitin and partly for
other distribution. "At this time, when we have no money because of
lengthy privatization, we have done our best," said institute Director
Stanislav Ruzicka. Although we do select people who work here, it
happened a few times in the past that we employed people who were
condemned of doing businesses with drugs.
Lenka Javurkova/Petra Sevcikova
Second Fire in Subway in One Week
A cable connecting tracks began to burn in the early morning of
October 18 in the Prague metro station Zelivskeho (the October 14 fire
was covered in Carolina 219).
According to the fire brigade, the fire was extinguished easily and
was considered very small. Nobody was harmed, although fumes were
inhaled by two subway workers, who were immediately released after
hospital examination. A subway spokeswoman said the two fires were not
connected. Prague Mayor Jan Koukal is not alarmed by these fires and
said they result from the exhaustion of the 22-year-old metro's
materials.
Lucie Podesvova/Petra Sevcikova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Dvorsky Leaves Slovak National Theater
Famous opera singer Peter Dvorsky gave notice after 20 years'
service in the Slovak National Theater October 16. He resigned because
of disagreement with the policies of Culture Minister Ivan Hudec and
with changes in management. Dvorak, like many others, thought removing
Dusan Jamrich from the top position of the Slovak state stage was
unfair. "Politics has no business looking around art. Art has to be
free, this is what we were fighting for in 1989, after all," said
Dvorsky to Slovak daily SME.
Dvorsky also resigned from his posts of chairman of the Slovak
Music Union and president of the Slovak Music Council. He explained his
abdication with the practical non-functioning of these institutions
because of financial shortcomings.
Although Dvorsky receives offers from all over the world, he is not
considering leaving Slovakia. He will become a free-lance artist.
Ondrej Slavik\Zuzana Kawaciukova
Slovak Government Lacks Trust outside Culture, Too
Slovaks gave the government a vote of no-confidence in matters
regarding culture (53 per cent of respondents in a survey conducted by
the FOCUS agency from September 18-24), and in matters of media (52 per
cent). Areas in which the government more markedly lacks the trust of
its citizens include crime, social policy and privatization. In each of
these areas respondent distrust exceeded 70 per cent, as reported in the
October 19 edition of Slovak daily SME.
Jan Potucek\Zuzana Kawaciukova
American Ambassador Criticizes Slovak Politics
American Ambassador to Slovakia Ralph Johnson subjected the Slovak
government to criticism, saying to AP that if Slovakia wishes to join
NATO or another western structure, it would have to be democratic not
only in elections but also in law and the legal right to criticism
without fearing accusation of being an enemy of the state.
Jan Potucek\Zuzana Kawaciukova
ECONOMY
Further Rise in Gas and Oil Prices
The Czech Refinery Corporation - the country's only gas producer
- will raise fuel prices for the fourth time this month. The corporation
announced October 17 a rise in the price of gas of 22 hellers (1
crown=100 hellers) per liter and a rise in oil prices of 26 hellers per
liter. Gas-station operators estimate real prices at around 20.10 crowns
to 20.90 crowns per liter of special gas; 20.90 crowns to 21.60 crowns
per liter of super gas, and 20.40 crowns to 21.20 crowns per liter of
natural gas. The same amount of oil will cost 17.50 crowns to 18.40
crowns. Since the beginning of the year, the Czech market has noted
a rise in oil prices of almost three crowns, and prices of all types of
gas have risen more than two crowns per liter. However, experts do not
venture to guess when the increases will stop.
According to transportation representatives, the rise in fuel
prices will cause the cancellation of some bus lines, possibly as soon
as November, especially in Prague's outlying areas and in the western
part of the Czech Republic. Bohumil Kraus, the director of CSAD Praha
Vrsovice, said "the rise in oil prices must be paid by customers or
cities."
Magdalena Vanova/Denisa Vitkova
Czech National Bank Introduces Plan For Assisting Small Banks
According to an October 17 Czech National Bank (CNB) announcement,
the state is willing to take over the probably uncollectible loans of
small banks, through the mediation of Czech Finance, a new entity of the
Consolidation Bank. This assistance would be available to any of the 13
banking institutions with balance sums under 30 billion crowns.
If these institutions fell in with the CNB's offer, they would get
cash for almost worthless assets. Banks would be allowed to get rid of
assets representing up to 110 per cent of their share capital. Although
small banks have to make themselves subordinate to strict control of the
CNB, possibly including management changes, this offer is obviously very
advantageous for such banks.
If small banks will not be able to honor their commitments or CNB
controllers will not agree with their economic policies, Czech Finance
will capitalize outstanding debts and thus become the bank's major
owner.
Matej Cerny/Denisa Vitkova
Invex Computer Trade Fair in Brno
The 6th international trade fair of information technology, Invex
96, opened in Brno October 22. The first day of the trade was reserved
for experts; the public can view the expositions from October 23-6.
Visitors will get to know 784 exhibitors from 13 countries, including
corporations like IBM, Digital, Panasonic, Minolta and Microsoft. In
connection with the fair, many complementary programs are to take place,
among them an international seminar on prevention of computer piracy.
Michaela Klevisova/Denisa Vitkova
Government Cannot Agree on Privatizing Aero Vodochody
The government heatedly discussed October 16 the method for
privatizing Aero Vodochody, the country's most important aircraft maker.
The main point of dispute seemed to be whether to sell a part of Aero
stock directly to the Chemapol company or to arrange the usual public
bid competition.
Some ministers strongly decried the possibility of the direct sale
of Aero Vodochody, because they do not entirely trust Chemapol - the
Interior Ministry, for example, fears Chemapol's alleged ties to the
East. Trade Minister Vladimir Dlouhy was assigned the task of presenting
the cabinet a plan for the tender. Despite opinion differences, the
cabinet approved a 3-billion-crown bailout.
Aero Vodochody is the world's largest training-aircraft maker, and
if the state did not help its desperate financial situation, the
corporation would be doomed to liquidation.
Lucie Podesvova/Denisa Vitkova
Stehlik Transfers Property of Poldi Kladno to New Firm
Vladimir Stehlik, who owes the state 750 million crowns for the
operation of the Poldi Kladno Steelworks, established a new firm with
the English name Poldi Steel last week and transfered almost all the
property of Poldi Kladno to Poldi Steel. State Holding Kladno, which is
a minority owner of Poldi Kladno, did not know about the transaction.
According to the words of holding representative Martin Hron, the
holding will take Stehlik to court. Experts agree that if Stehlik has
not made any legal missteps, he has eliminated state interference in
a most elegant way.
Marketa Kropacova/Zuzana Kawaciukova
MARKETS AND COMPANIES
* Prices on the Prague Stock Exchange started to recover from their
long fall last week. Prices were on rise this week, so the PX 50 index
ended at 537.2 points October 23. Trade volume still remains, however,
still unsatisfactorily low.
* The Prague Stock Exchange Chamber announced the setting of more
strict preconditions for companies who want to trade their shares on the
quoted market. The stricter rules will apply namely to the enlarged
information duty of the issuers, which should contribute to greater
credibility for the capital market in the Czech Republic.
* Renowned Japanese firm Nomura became a serious candidate for
ownership entry into the Investment and Postal Bank. Responses are
mostly positive ones - bank share prices rocketed up, and Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus is smiling.
* British brewery giant Bass declared its interest to enlarge its
share in Prague Breweries (Prazske pivovary) to a majority 51 per cent.
Until now the Brits have held 46 per cent, but they have an option
contract for another 5 per cent of shares. Simultaneously,
Bass-controlled Ostravar and Vratislavice breweries could be merged with
Prague Breweries, and Bass also intends to get a controlling share in
Nosovice's Radegast Brewery.
* The rise of CKD Tatra shares is said to be caused by the company's
victory in the tender for supplying parts to Philippine capital
Manila's transport system. The contract is worth of about 200 million
USD.
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from October 25)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.320
Belgium 100 BEF 86.019
Great Britain 1 GBP 42.910
Denmark 1 DKK 4.619
Finland 1 FIM 5.895
France 1 FRF 5.239
Ireland 1 IEP 43.360
Italy 1000 ITL 17.596
Japan 100 JPY 23.868
Canada 1 CAD 20.012
Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.019
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.789
Norway 1 NOK 4.176
New Zealand 1 NZD 18.876
Portugal 100 PTE 17.546
Austria 1 ATS 2.518
Greece 100 GRD 11.293
Slovakia 100 SKK 86.858
Germany 1 DEM 17.716
Spain 100 ESP 21.011
Sweden 1 SEK 4.087
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.482
USA 1 USD 26.907
ECU 1 XEU 33.944
SDR 1 XDR 38.760
CULTURE
Svankmajer Presents New Film
Czech surrealist-film legend Jan Svankmajer presented his new
lightly erotic film, Conspirators of Pleasure, to the Czech public.
As usual, Svankmajer combined feature and animated film techniques
in creating a film about ordinary people and their private, bizarre
autosexual practics, partly black comedy and partly psychoanalysis. The
film excels thanks to outstanding performances by prominent Czech actors
and irreplicable visual effects made by Svankmajer and his wife Eva.
The film was previously presented at the Locarno Film Festival in
August and was given the festival's young-audience award.
Martin Hradecky/Jan Majer
Music Without Barriers without Audience
The charity concert Music Without Barriers did not attract
a satisfactory number of spectators October 19. The concert was
organized by the Czechoslovak Foundation Charter 77 and the BBK/TIME
advertising agency in order to support the Bariera account, which helps
handicapped people.
Although many popular Czech folk and rock musicians appeared on the
stage, the auditorium of Prague's Sport Hall was filled only to
one-quarter of its capacity. Concert profits was lower than the
organizators expected.
The unique, eight-hour benefit concert was recorded and the best
parts will appear on an album. CDs and cassettes of unusual groupings of
folk and rock musicians cooperating for the occasion will be sold for
the benefit of the Bariera account. Organizers hope it will earn more
money than the concert.
Ondra Provaznik/Jan Majer
Fictitious Czech Genius on CD-ROM
The greatest Czech inventor, globetrotter and patriot living in the
second half of 19th and the beginning of 20th century, Jara Cimrman,
also invented CD-ROM. In fact, CD is here thought to mean Cimrman's
Disc.
This shocking information was announced by fanatic Cimrmanologists
Zdenek Sverak and Ladislav Smoljak, two great mystificators and
humorists, on the occasion of publishing a CD-ROM concerning the
fictitious life and revolutionary inventions of Jara Cimrman.
Cimrman came into existence in the 60's as the subject matter of
Jara Cimrman's Theater, which has represented intelligent Czech humor
until the present. Its authors, Sverak and Smoljak, are respected
playwrights, and Sverak is also known abroad thanks to the great success
of the films Elementary School (nominated for an Oscar) and Kolya, both
based on his scripts.
The CD-ROM was produced in collaboration with Microsoft and its
profits will be donated to foundations for the handicapped.
David Vlk/Jan Majer
SPORT
Prinosil Wins Ostrava Tennis Tournament
German David Prinosil, a 23-year-old born in the Czech Republic's
Olomouc, won the IPB Czech Indoor in Ostrava, a tennis tournament with
the most impressive roster yet to play in the Czech Republic. In the
final match, Prinosil easily defeated Czech Petr Korda (6:1, 6:2) in 41
minutes. Korda, who earlier defeated Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, met
Czech Martin Damm in the semifinals, after Damm had bested German
Michael Stich.
Tournament organizers assured the participation of several top
stars, such as Boris Becker, who, as a wild-card entry, drew a record
7,000 spectators to his first-round match, though he had to withdraw
because of the wrist injury.
Zdenek Janda/Mirek Langer
Czech Soccer League - Liberec Leads Standings
Results of the 10th round (October 20-2): Petra Drnovice - FK
Jablonec 2-1, Viktoria Plzen - Slavia Praha 0-1, Sigma Olomouc - FK
Teplice 1-1, FC Karvina - SK Ceske Budejovice 1-2, Slovan Liberec
- Kaucuk Opava 2-2, Bohemians - Banik Ostrava 0-1, Boby Brno - SK Hradec
Kralove 1-1, Sparta Praha - Viktoria Zizkov 1:0.
Standings after the 10th round: 1. Liberec 19, 2. Brno 18, 3.
Drnovice 17, 4. Opava 17, 5. Slavia 16, 6. Teplice 15, 7. Olomouc 14,
8. Jablonec 14, 9. Ostrava 14, 10. Sparta 13, 11. Budejovice 13, 12.
Plzen 10, 13. Karvina 9, 14. Zizkov 8, 15. Bohemians 8, 16 Hradec
Kralove 7.
Sparta Praha Hockey Team Defeated by Dysentery
The second match in the European League, played in Moscow October
15, brought a very unpleasant consequence for the Sparta team. Sparta
Praha not only lost to the CSKA team 1-4, but players returned home also
with digestive problems. Almost the entire team was probably infected by
eating fruit in the Moscow lockerroom before the match . The Professional
Teams Association has postponed two Sparta matches until November 1 in
the Czech Extraleague, and Sparta management is considering resigning
from the European League.
Pavel Novak/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
During the last week, the warming sun in the blue sky changed to an
inscrutable autumn weather. Those who don't like surprise had to take
their umbrellas everywhere, all the time. Lovers of the comfortable warm
pulled their winter-coats and wraps out of wardrobe depths, because
temperatures were slowly rising to only 8 degrees to 13 degrees
Celsius/46 degrees to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
And let's see some good news at the end: This weekend, sleepers
will have their feast. All clocks and wrist-watch hands, as well as the
Prague Town Hall calendar-clock hand, are going to be moved one hour
back October 27 at 3 a.m. GOOD NIGHT AND SWEET DREAMS!
Simona Malkovska and Bohdana Rambouskova\Mirek Langer
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ANNOUNCING: The International Study Program of the Faculty of Social
Sciences. Beginning in February 1997, a one-semester English-language
program will be offered twice a year in Central and eastern European
Studies, with a selection of courses in modern history and recent
political and economic developments in the region. Some courses are also
available in German. For further information contact Cyril Simsa at:
E-mail-- svoz@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz
Phone-- 42/2/2481 0804
Fax-- 42/2/2481 0987
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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