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Carolina (English) No 254
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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: (+420 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+420 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 254, Thursday, July 17, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (July 2 - July 16)
Catastrophic Floods Paralyze One-Third of Czech Republic
As of July 16, there were 43 people dead, 50,000
evacuated and tens of millions of crowns of damages - the tragic results
of floods which, during the second week of July, touched 32 counties of
the Czech Republic, with the worst damage in Moravia and Silesia and
some in eastern Bohemia. Extremely strong storms led to the biggest
natural disaster in modern Czech history.
A chronicle of July's tragic events:
Friday, July 4
Powerful rains, nothing unusual locally in the beginning of summer. Some
recall hoary sayings about strong rains welcoming July, but no one could
know the catastrophy awaiting.
Saturday and Sunday, July 5-6
The first weekend of July has two holidays. July 5 is the day of Slavic
evangelists St. Cyril and St. Methodius, who arrived in Moravia in 863,
while July 6 belongs to Catholic reformer Master John Huss (Jan Hus),
burned at the stake on this day in 1415 in Kostnice.
Some 15,000 believers attend a pilgrimmage in Velehrad, but the
traditional church holidays are accompanied by foul weather. It rains.
Persistent rains chase off Moravian, Slovak and Hungarian folk groups
performing in Zlin from their outdoor stage into the vestibule of a
local theater.
On the highest peak of the Beskydy Mountains, a 100-year-old record for
rain is eclipsed, with 234 liters of water measured per square meter.
Waves of storms fill rivers in northern Moravia, Silesia and in the Svit
region of eastern Bohemia, and a state of flood readiness is announced.
Monday, July 7
The floods take their greatest toll. The first deaths are announced. The
worst damage is recorded in the Bruntal area. Hundreds of people wait to
be rescued on roofs and in trees. Opava and one-third of Ostrava are
under water. It continues to rain, hard. A state of warning is announced
for the Sumperk and Jeseniky regions. Near Novy Jicin an international
express train on the Vienna-Warsaw line goes off the trcaks, injuring
some 60 passengers (during the week more than 700 kilometers of rail
went under water).
The management of all rescue work is taken over by the Central
Anti-Flood Commission, led by Vice Premier and Environment Minister Jiri
Skalicky. On the commission are also Interior Minister Jan Ruml and
Defense Minister Miloslav Vyborny. The crisis team is working in
Olomouc.
Tuesday, July 8
The destructive wave of floods moves from northern Moravia to central
Moravia. Sumperk and Prerov are cut off from the surrounding world. The
flooded areas are visited by Premier Vaclav Klaus and opposition leader
Milos Zeman, the chairman of Parliament. In Ostrava, Klaus promises an
immediate governemnt guarantee of 30,000 crowns for each affected
family.
Fellow citizens do not remain indifferent - in addition to the Czech Red
Cross, humanitarian aid is orgainzed through collections of clothes,
blankets, food and drinking water. Banks open accounts for aid to the
victims. At the Commerce Bank (Komercni banka), an account in the name
of the Czech Red Cross - Humanity Fund has opened, account number
10030-7334-011/0100, a variable symbol of 300, a constant symbol of 379
for cash payments and 558 for transfers from other banks.
Wednesday, July 9
"It is now certain that this is the largest flooding in the century not
only in terms of territory, but also in water force and damages caused,"
said hydrologist Jan Kubat for daily MF DNES.
The Moravia River gradually floods Olomouc (the city is without
electricity and gas), Kromeriz and Blansko. Kromeriz normally records
150 centimeters of rainfall in July, television reports place the
rainfall at 719 centimeters. After a dam burst in Orlice, water came
into Hradec Kralove and threatens the central Bohemian regions around
Nymburk and Kolin. Damages are less severe than in Moravia. In the
village of Troubky, near Prerov, the ruined houses appear to have been
bombed. People lose all their belongings. Psychologists compare the
stress of the victims to the stress of a war.
Floods halt or slow industrial prduction. Automaker Skoda Mlada Boleslav
stopped production today, because the factories and warehouses of some
suppliers were flooded.
About 12,000 firefighters and 2,000 soldiers are helping in rescue work,
while the number of soldiers working later grows to 7,500.
The first cases of looting are reported.
The government and Parliament make 2 billion crowns available.
First word arrives of help from abroad, from Canada and Great Britain.
Thursday, July 10
Waters begin to recede in northern Moravia anmd eastern Bohemia.
President Vaclav Havel visits central Moravia. "Despite the general
expectations he did not however visit any flooded villages and the
affected areas he observed only from a helicopter," wrote one day later
the daily MF DNES, and recalls how the public was used to symbolic
visits among the people by the presdient in the past.
Havel thanks all rescuers, prefessional and voluntary.
He gives appreciation for the wave of solidarity, which he said proves
that the better characteristics of Czech people awaken when the going
gets tough.
Havel dedicates 1 million crowns to the victims.
He said the Czech Republic is one of a few countries lacking
a constitutional law about states of emergency, which could deal with
similar crisis situations and spell out institutional responsibilities.
Attorney General Vit Vesely orders an uncomprimising stance against
those whose take part in looting.
Friday, July 11
The situation in Uherske Hradiste is critical, the Moravia floods the
downtown.
Parliament's Chamber of Deputies approves the use of 5 billion crowns
from small privatization and they also approve the government's proposal
of a state bond issue in the amount of 5 billion crowns. The government
will also be able to use 1 billion crowns from the Property Fund.
Reports from areas where the water has receded bring horrible pictures
of destroyed homes, ruined gardens anfd fields, broken highways,
railways and bridges.
Saturday, July 12
In northen Moravia and Silesia the situation stabilizes, the floods are
most active in southeastern Moravia. The number of those evacuated from
Uherske Hradiste climbs to 14,500.
Sunday, July 13
Southern Moravia is expecting the water. In the evening, about 10,000
residents of Hodonin are evacuated.
Monday, July 14
The police begins to issue new identity documents to flood victims
- identity cards and passports - free of charge.
Tuesday, July 15
The water breaks through the weir on the river Moravia above Hodonin,
but emergency services succeed in repairing it.
More than 300 million crowns have been donated to flood relief accounts.
Wednesday, July 16
The flood wave on the lower reaches of the Moravia weakens and it seems
likely that it will for the most part avoid Hodonin. Citizens of Tynec
in the region of Breclav, perhaps the last village to be flooded, agree
that the waiting was worse than the flood waters themselves.
The government names Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Minister Jiri
Skalicky (ODA) as the government coordinator for renewal and development
in the flooded regions.
In an all-day meeting the government decides on a further package of
financial aid (10 million crowns for each affected county, 150,000
crowns for each family whose home has been destroyed, and a subsidized
loan of up 850,000 crowns for those who decide to build a new home from
scratch).
A new forecast of rain for the coming days awakens new fears.
Meteorologists again expect heavy storms.
Czech Republic Invited to Join NATO
At the NATO summit in Madrid, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary
were invited July 8 to join the Alliance. The three post-communist
countries are to become full members of NATO in the spring of 1999.
Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec commented on the invitation
for the Czech press by saying, "The Czech Republic was named among the
invited countries. The Madrid summit thus erased the results of Munich
and Jalta. We are becoming a part of the Alliance together with the most
developed nations in the world, with whom we share the same lifestyle
and same perspective on most international events."
President Vaclav Havel said "a new chapter in the life of NATO is
beginning. The Alliance will grow into a pan-European instrument for the
defense of civilized values."
Albright Makes First Official Visit to Czech Republic
American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made her first
official vist to the Czech Republic July 13-14. Born into the family of
a Czech diplomat as Marie Jana Korbelova, Albright has returned to the
land of her birth seven times since 1989, though this was the first time
as secretary of state. In connection with the Madrid NATO summit, her
business dealt with the Czech Republic's entry into NATO.
Madeleine Albright, who was awarded the Order of the White Lion
First Class, the highest state honour, by President Havel, expressed her
sadness over the destruction caused by the floods.
Klaus Delivers Government Activity Report to Parliament
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus July 7 delivered a 90-minute report in
Parliament about the first year of his Cabinet's work. He admitted that
in a number of areas the government has not been able to fulfill its
resolutions. He called unfinished privatization the most serious
problem, as well as insufficient possibilties for enforcing
responsibilities and obligations and an insufficient legal framework for
the capital market. In order to overcome economic problems, the prime
minister asked for the cooperation of all citizens and the opposition,
and workers and unions, according to the daily Pravo.
"We do not wish for a Czech Republic enveloped in political or
social instability, which burdens others with its internal problems. We
wish for the Czech Republic to be a democratic country which is not the
prisoner of one ideology or another, and where a change of government
does not mean a change of regime," said Klaus.
Physicians Stop Taking Patients' Money
Czech Physicians Chamber President Bohuslav Svoboda ordered doctors
July 4 to stop taking money from patients and to return money taken from
patients since July 1 (see Carolina 253). In response to the inability
of doctors and insurers to agree on compensation for medical treatment,
some doctors had begun July 1 collecting fees from patients for
treatmeat, a first in Czech Republic history. According to an agreement
reached July 8, doctors can work a maximum of 10 hours daily and the
volume of care given cannot exceed by more than 8 per cent care given
during the same period last year.
Havel to Run for President Again
President Vaclav Havel announced July 12 at Prague Castle that he
intends to run for office again next year. The Czech Constitution limits
a president to two terms, and a candidate for the office must be
nominated by a minimum of 10 senators or deputies. Havel should enjoy
the support of the governing coalition in his bid for re-election, while
the neo-Fascist Republicans and the Communists are not likely to give
their support to the incumbent.
The daily MF DNES, the country's largest, printed a commentary
calliong on Havel not to run, saying a statesman should know when to
step down, although Havel already has proved he does not know when - he
said in 1992 that if he could not preserve the unity of Czechoslovakia,
he would consider it his personal failure, but, after abdicating in July
1992, a few months later he then ran for the presidency of the Czech
Republic.
The commentary added that the country has come a long way in recent
years, and the time for fiery, revolutionary talk of truth and love has
passed, today calling for a statesman more down to earth.
ODS Distances Itself from Words of Senator and Prague 4 Mayor Klausner
Zdenek Klausner, a senator for the Civic Democrtatic Party (ODS) and
the mayor of Prague 4, sparked a wave of disturbance on the Czech
political scene with his comments encouraging the expulsion of
problematic Romanies (Gypsies) from Prague. The local newspaper Penguin
(Tucnak) published an article under the headline Some Security Problems
from the Perspective of a Mayor and Senator.
"The security situation in Nusle (an area in Prague 4) is constantly
burdening us. It is caused by the particulars of the region, in which
the former regime attempted to assimilate the Romany minority. Some
ruined apartments are proof that it was not successful," wrote Klausner,
adding, "Good news for all citizens from this region would be
information about a state building which had been sold into private
hands and where the owner placed several numerous, problematic families
into replacement apartments not just outside Nusle, but outisde of
Prague. This approach might be an inspiration for other building owners
around the Synek Brothers Square who inherited after 1989 problem
tenants."
ODS Parliamentary Club Chairman Jiri Honzajer called Klausner's
words "unfortunate and unforgivable."
The sharpest criticism came from another party member, Interior
Minister Jan Ruml: "It is utterly appalling that he would publish such
racist comments. I think it is scandalous."
With the exception of the neo-Fascist Republicans, the other
political parties also expressed outrage over the comments. "In decent
society such a comment disqualifies a politican," said Daniel Kroupa of
the Civic Democratic Alliance.
Chamber of Deputies Strips Republican Krejsa of Immunity
The lower house of the Czech Republic's Parliament July 10 stripped
Josef Krejsa, a deputy representing the neo-Fascist Republicans, of his
parliamentary immunity. Krejsa, editor in chief of the newspaper
Republic, is suspected of publishing anti-Romnay (Gypsy) articles and
spreading racial hatred.
FROM SLOVAKIA
Five Opposition Parties Form Coalition
An agreement on pre-election and post-election cooperation was
signed July 3 in Bratislava by five opposition parties represented in
Slovakia's National Assembly: the Christian Democratic Movement (chaired
by Jan Carnogursky, one-time Slovak premier), the Democratic Union
(Eduard Kukan), the Democratic Party (Jan Langos, former Czechoslovak
interior minister), the Social Democrats (Jaroslav Wolf) and the Green
Party (Zdenka Tothova).
Because the main goal of the coalition is to win parliamentary
elections in 1998, the chairmen agreed to come up with a unified ballot.
The latest polls indicate the coalition would receive the support of 40
per cent of the voting population.
The coalition will not have an independent name, though its working
label is the Slovak Coalition and the media has dubbed it the Rainbow
Coalition, as it includes parties from the entire political spectrum.
A leader of the coalition should be named in the fall.
In brief:
* Slovak president Michal Kovac considers the failure of Slovakia to
be invited to join the first wave of NATO expansion to be a defeat for
his country.
* According to official sources, the floods in western Slovakia have
not as yet caused any deaths. Damage to property is estimated at 500
million Slovak crowns. Fear of flooding has continued for several days
on the lower reaches of the river Moravia, and the threatened population
has been evacuated. Saturated soil south of Hodonin is threatening the
stability of flood defences. The depth of the river Moravia has
stabilized at around 5 metres.
ECONOMY
Travela, Third-Largest Travel Agency, Follows Oasis Tours into Oblivion
Clients of Oasis Tours and Travela aer gradually returning from
abroad, some through other travel agencies, while others, like those
returning from Crete on a special government aircraft, will have to come
up with another 6,200 crowns for airfare. Clients in Tunisia were taken
home at the expense of the Tunisian government. The Guarantee Fund, of
which Travela was a member, has given 6 million crowns toward the
repatriation of Czech tourists.
The Tunisian Director of Oasis Tours, Kais Hanafi, was arrested July
3 at Prague's Ruzyne Airport while trying to leave the country. His
company is in liquidation. Travela finished doing business July 5 and
cancelled its remaining tours. Travela has asked the Prague 1 Commercial
Court to declare bankruptcy. Experts fear the bankruptcies of Oasis and
Travela may bring a chain reaction from related travel agencies.
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from July 17)
country currency
-----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 25.118
Belgium 100 BEF 92.168
Great Britain 1 GBP 57.234
Denmark 1 DKK 4.993
Finland 1 FIM 6.435
France 1 FRF 5.633
Ireland 1 IEP 51.324
Italy 1000 ITL 19.567
Japan 100 JPY 29.459
Canada 1 CAD 24.847
Luxemburg 100 LUF 92.168
Hungary 100 HUF 17.768
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.903
Norway 1 NOK 4.562
New Zealand 1 NZD 22.499
Poland 1 PLN 9.674
Portugal 100 PTE 18.844
Austria 1 ATS 2.706
Greece 100 GRD 12.120
Slovakia 100 SKK 99.672
Germany 1 DEM 19.035
Spain 100 ESP 22.577
Sweden 1 SEK 4.351
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.106
USA 1 USD 34.102
ECU 1 XEU 37.565
CULTURE
Film Paradise in Carlsbad
The International Film Festival in Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary), one of
the oldest film festivals in the world, presented 250 movies from July
4-12. Celebrities attending the festival included Czech emigre director
Milos Forman and Russian director Nikita Michalkov, American actors
Christopher Walken and Steve Buscemi, while Czech President Vaclav Havel
gave a speech at the close of the festival.
Belgian director Alain Berliner was awarded a Crystal Globe, the
main prize of the festival, for his film My Life in Red. The festival
jury, chaired by American director Robert Wise, awarded Boleslav Polivka
the best actor trophy for his role in the Czech film Forgotten Light and
the best actress award was given to Lena Andre for the Swedish film
Christmas Oratorio. The best director was France's Martine Dugowson for
her Shadow Game. Spanish director David Trueba was given a Special Award
by the jury. The Audience Award was shared by two films - Forgotten
Light, directed by Vladimir Michalek, and the American comedy Private
Parts. Forman was given an award for his extraordinary contribution to
cinematography.
Besides the contest, the 32nd occasion of the festival offered many
sections of films, such as the Independent Forum, Different View,
Documentaries, East of the West and several retrospectives of cult
authors. Compared to last year, attendance increased. During the nine
days 130,000 tickets were sold. Organizers are considering lengthening
the festival in the future. Reaction to the festival was however often
negative, as the overall quality of the films left festivalgoers
disappointed, their aggravation often increased by organizational
snafus.
Rudolf II in Telc
An exhibit opened July 5 in the All Saints' Chapel of the Telc
Chateau presents the town of Telc during the rule of Rudolf II and
widens the series of summer Rudolf exhibits taking place, besides
Prague, also in chateaux in Nelahozeves, Brandys nad Labem and Benatky
nad Jizerou.
Until September 14 visitors to Telc will have the chance to learn
more about the public and private lives of people during the Renaissance
- the aristocratic and the bourgeois world are documented with typical
items, period printings and writings, while neither fashion nor
entertainment are left out.
Foglar Celebrates 90th Birthday
Scouts from Ledec nad Sazavou July 5 unveiled a three-ton granite
memorial with a bronze relief of writer Jaroslav Foglar, on the occasion
of his 90th birthday the next day. Among about 200 well-wishers, the
author made an appearance and signed autographs.
Foglar's first book appeared in 1934 and the last one, so far, was
issued last year. The total number of books printed under his name
exceeds 1 million - the best-known ones include The Fast Arrows, The
Puzzle Mystery, The Boys from Beaver River and The Hut in Lake Hollow.
In the last two years, Foglar has spent much time in Prague's
Thomayer Hospital, where he has undergone various intestinal operations.
However, the writer so popular among children has not been idle - he has
started writing the fourth part of The Fast Arrow.
SPORTS
Wimbledon: Family Victory in Doubles, Novotna Bows to Hingis in Final
Jana Novotna lost in the women's singles final at Wimbledon July 5
to world number one, 16-year-old Swiss citizen Martina Hingis, who is of
Czechoslovak descent. Novotna is now ranked number two in the world.
In doubles, siblings Cyril Suk and Helena Sukova took the mixed
doubles title over Olchovsky and Neilandova, 4:6, 6:3, 6:4.
Soccer: Matches Announced for Sparta, Brno and Jablonec
According to a draw made July 9 in Geneva, Prague's AC Sparta Praha
will square off August 13 and 27 against Austria's Casino Salzburg in
the pre-tournament rounds of the Cup Winners' Cup.
In the pre-tournament rounds of the UEFA Cup, Jablonec will face the
Azerbaijan team Karabach Agdam, while Boby Brno will play Inkaras Kaunas
of Lithuania. Both matches will take place July 23, with the return
match date one week later.
Soccer: Nemecek to Return to Sparta
After five years abroad, reports indicate 30-year-old Czech team
captain Vaclav Nemecek will return to Prague's AC Sparta Praha club. In
1992 Nemecek signed a contract with Toulouse and three years later
signed with Geneva. Nemecek said he intends to go into Sparta management
after his playing days.
WEATHER
Usually we dedicate these few last lines in a light tone to the
weather. Unfortunately, his caprices have earned a place at the top of
this issue.
Dear Readers,
Carolina is published in summer every second week. The next issue,
however, will be released during the first week in August. Thank you for
your understanding.
This issue was written by Lida and Ondra Trunecka, Denisa Vitkova
and Stepanka Hlupa, and was translated into English by Denisa Vitkova,
Jan Majer, Cyril Simsa and Michael Bluhm.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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