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Carolina (English) No 389
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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Charles University in Prague
Faculty of Social Sciences
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz ISSN 121-5040
tel: (+4202) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 22112219
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 389, Friday, October 6, 2000.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (SEPTEMBER
20 - OCTOBER 4)
Violence in Prague Streets at IMF-WB Summit Discredits
Globalization
Critics
The 55th annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund
and the
World Bank in Prague in the last week of September was
overshadowed by
a day of violence and destruction wrought by globalization
opponents
September 26. Prague's Congress Center (the former Palace of
Culture)
hosted some 182 ministers and bank governors and 18,000 other
official
hosts of the summit.
The summit featured discussion on the reform of both
institutions
and the fight against poverty, the most notable concrete result of
the
summit was expanding from 10 to 20 the number of poor countries
that
shall have part of their debt forgiven. Ministers of the G7 nations
also
met to discuss the rice of oil and the falling euro.
President V clav Havel arranged the first official exchange of
opinions between the Bretton-Woods institutions and globalization
critics, at Prague Castle September 23. Observers found the
meeting more
a platform for unwavering worldviews than a forum for exchange.
The next day saw a series of demonstrations organized by
globalization opponents and various communist an leftist groups,
with
some of their ranks stomping a handful of skinheads at Prague's
Central
Train Station in front of television cameras and without police
intervention. Two Poles and one American September 25 used
mountaineering gear on the 40-meter Nusle Bridge to allow
themselves to
tack up protest banners.
The protests turned into extensive street battles between police
and protesters September 26, the official opening day of the
summit.
Protesters had stated their goal was to blockade the Congress
Center and
disrupt or force the abandonment of the summit. An estimated
12,000
gathered in Peace Square, from where they separated into
a three-pronged attack on the Congress Center. The main route to
the
center, over the Nusle Bridge, saw the organized Italian anarchist
group
Ya Basta taunt police for hours without any greater incident. In the
valley below the center, however, demonstrators were hurling
Molotov
cocktails and dismantling cobblestone sidewalks to use the stones
to
throw at police. Cars were set on fire, while barricades were built
and
then torched by the protesters.
The summit was unaffected, as many delegates spent breaks
from the
proceedings watching the battles from the safety of the Congress
Center.
Some delegates left using ground transportation, while many used
the
subway station nearly directly beneath the center. Prague's three
subway
lines had to be closed to the public in the late afternoon.
The battle moved in the evening to Wenceslas Square, where more
damage was done since the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of
1968. Demonstrators demolished fast-food restaurants and banks.
Media praised the job done by police officers but not their
leadership, which failed to prevent large-scale property damage
in the city center. The following days saw virtually no new
demonstrations, and the summit continued according to plan.
Hundreds of protesters were arrested, some 50 police officers
were taken to hospital and damage estimates were in the millions
of crowns.
Public opinion polls showed support for globalization opponents
down from 29 per cent to 17 per cent after the September 26
destruction.
Former dissident and current government envoy for human rights
Petr Uhl
said the destruction had swayed public opinion back to the side of
law
and order and had dealt a setback to dialogue.
The public appears to accept proposals that police intervene
with
greater force in the future, for example by using rubber bullets or by
forbidding demonstrators from masking their faces (both changes
would
require legislative approval).
After the summit concluded, protests broke out against Czech
diplomatic missions in London, Rome, Berlin, Warsaw and
Bratislava,
mostly for the release of demonstrators arrested in Prague.
Justice Minister Motejl Resigns
Justice Minister Otakar Motejl, the only non-partisan in the
minority Social Democrat Cabinet of Prime Minister Miloç Zeman,
resigned
September 29. As his only reason Motejl cited the failure to pass
judicial reform in the legislature. Parliament has rejected a number
of
his proposals in recent months, including a revamped Criminal
Code and
the reform of the system of state prosecutors and investigators.
On the day of Motejl's resignation the Social Democrat
leadership
nominated for the upcoming post of ombudsman. Motejl, 68, a
respected
lawyer, appears to have a good chance at being chosen. Some
deputies of
the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) have expressed reservations,
citing
Motejl's recall last week of High State Prosecutor Karel Brckler,
who,
the deputies allege, was problematic for the Social Democrats.
After Deputy Justice Minister Josef Baxa (non-partisan) and
Chairwoman of Parliament's Constitutional Law Committee Jitka
Kupcov
(Social Democrat) refused to succeed Motejl, Deputy Prime
Minister for
Legislation Pavel Rychetskì will likely head the ministry for the
interim.
Conflict over New Criminal Code
Parliament September 20 approved changes to the Criminal
Code that
will more seriously punish hate crime. The changes, penned by
Civic
Democratic Party (ODS) deputy Jiý¡ Payne, were passed thanks to
the
legislative majority of parties to the right of the spectrum and were
also supported by two Social Democrat deputies and one
independent.
Up to five years of imprisonment can be meted out to anyone
who
supports or propagates "a movement that demonstrably leans
toward the
repression of the rights and freedoms of man or voices national,
racial,
religious or class hatred or hatred toward another group of persons."
The existing code punished national and racial hatred. Up to three
years
of imprisonment can be handed out to anyone who denies, doubts,
praises
or justifies the crimes of the Nazis or the communists against
humanity.
The minority Social Democrat government did not support the
changes, because the phrase "another group of persons" does not
conform
to the principle of definition of the Criminal Code. The Communists
(KS¬M) have said that if the changes are signed into law they will
appeal to the Constitutional Court. They call the changes a political
trick.
NEWS IN BRIEF
* President V clav Havel October 3 granted amnesty in the
criminal
proceedings against journalists Jiý¡ Kub¡k a Sabina Slonkov of the
daily MF DNES. The two were accused in connection with not
revealing
their source in the Lead affair - the planned campaign to discredit
Social Democrat Vice Chairwoman Petra Buzkov that the two
publicized in
May. The journalists thanked the president for the amnesty, but
insisted
investigation of the case continue. The two were accused last week
along
with Vratislav æ¡ma, one of Prime Minister Miloç Zeman's advisers,
who
was supposed to have authored the plan. æ¡ma has been accuse
of slander.
* A parliamentary investigative commission did not find any
wrongdoing by the state or the Czech National Bank in their
declaring
forced administration on and selling the Investment and Postal Bank
(Investin¡ a poçtovn¡ banka, IPB). The commission did file criminal
complaints against Finance Minister Pavel Mertl¡k and former IPB
forced
administrator Petr StanØk for lying to the commission. Mertl¡k
rejects
the accusations.
* Pressure tests at the Temel¡n nuclear power plant concluded
October
2. The test was part of the new round ordered by the State Office for
Nuclear Safety after flaws were found in plant ventilators. The
office's order could delay the start of the controversial Temel¡n,
originally planned for mid-October. The Czech side expects the
schedule
to be followed, more protests by Austrians on the Czech-Austrian
border
are expected this weekend.
* The Screening Act, designed to prevent the return of former
communist officials into public office, was prolonged September 21
by
Parliament. The Senate will very probably pass the extension.
FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF
* The Bratislava Military Court October 3 stopped criminal
proceedings for misuse of public office against the last boss of the
Czechoslovak State Security (StB) secret police, Alojz Lorenc. The
court
ruled it was not possible to try Lorenc, who preventatively
imprisoned
dissidents under the previous regime, because in 1992 Lorenc was
convicted of the same crime by the Military High Court in T bor. As
a Slovak citizen, Lorenc refused to re-enter the Czech Republic
after
Czechoslovakia split in 1993. The Bratislava court's decision has
not
yet come into force.
* President Rudolf Schuster underwent an operation to remove his
colostomy October 3 at the university clinic in Innsbruck, Austria.
Schuster should return to office November 1.
* Justice Minister and Chairman of the Christian Democratic
Movement
(KDH) J n ¬arnogurskì announced he will leave politics. At the
October
party congress he will not run for re-election as chairman and will
not
be on the party's ballot in the next general elections. He will remain
a party member. ¬arnogurskì, a well known dissident before 1989,
was
a member of the first government after the fall of communism and
became
premier of Slovakia in 1991. The KDH now receives about 5 per
cent in
voter-preference polls.
ECONOMY IN BRIEF
* The International Monetary Fund expects growth of 2.3 per cent
this
year for the Czech economy, with 2001 growth predicted at 3.2 per
cent.
Roger Grawe, director of the World Bank for Europe, said
September 21
the Czech economy could begin approaching its potential for 5-per-
cent
annual growth with cautious currency and fiscal policies and
increased
performance from banks and companies. Domestic institutions are
somewhat
more optimistic for this year - the Czech National Bank forecasts
growth
of 1.7 per cent to 2.7 per cent, while the Czech Statistics Office and
the Finance Ministry predict 2.5 per cent.
* The new Banking Act, passed by Parliament September 21,
allows
depositors to recoup a maximum of 875,000 crowns in the event of
a bank
collapse (the earlier act allowed a maximum of 400,000 crowns. The
provision providing for a maximum of 90 per cent of deposits to be
recouped remains in force. If the act is passed by the Senate and
signed
by the president, it will take effect January 1.
* The Office for the Protection of Economic Competition fined
Czech
Telecom 2 million crowns for abuse of its monopoly position.
Telecom
refused to close an agreement with the Dattel company on a
division of
income from internet calling between the two firms' networks.
Telecom
can still appeal the decision.
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid October 6)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 35.695
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.982
Great Britain 1 GBP 59.484
Denmark 1 DKK 4.789
Japan 100 JPY 37.416
Canada 1 CAD 27.286
IMF 1 XDR 52.838
Hungary 100 HUF 13.570
Norway 1 NOK 4.440
New Zealand 1 NZD 16.488
Poland 1 PLN 8.994
Greece 100 GRD 10.522
Slovakia 100 SKK 81.379
Slovenia 100 SIT 17.029
Sweden 1 SEK 4.175
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.512
USA 1 USD 40.878
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 18.251
Belgium 100 BEF 88.486
Finland 1 FIM 6.003
France 1 FRF 5.442
Ireland 1 IEP 45.323
Italy 1000 ITL 18.435
Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.486
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.198
Portugal 100 PTE 17.805
Austria 1 ATS 2.594
Spain 100 ESP 21.453
CULTURE
Karel Gott Sings in Carnegie Hall
Karel Gott's September 30 concert in Carnegie Hall with special
guest Helena Vondr kov ended with standing ovations and
numerous
encores. The two singers were the first from Central and Eastern
Europe
allowed to perform at the venue.
Umberto Eco to Receive Award in Prague
Italian writer Umberto Eco arrived in Prague October 3 for his
third visit of Prague. Eco came to receive an award given by the
Vision
97 foundation of President V clav Havel and his wife for Eco's
contribution to world culture.
SPORTS
Czechs in Sydney: Two Golds, Three Silvers and Three Bronzes
The Czech Republic finished 28th on the medals table in the
Sydney
Olympic Games, 11 places lower than in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic
Games.
The eight total medals represented a decline of three from the 11
medals
won in Atlanta.
The Czech highlight of the games was the performance of javelin
thrower Jan ¦eleznì, who set an Olympic record of 90.17 meters and
became the first man to win the gold three times in the event. The
others to win medals since our last issue were skeet-shooter Petr
M lek
(silver), decathlete Roman æebrle (silver) and 81-kg boxer Rudolf
Kraj
(silver).
Soccer Results
Champions League: Sparta Praha - æachor DonØck 3:2
(September 28)
UEFA Cup: Slavia Praha - AB Copenhagen 3:0, 2:0; Slavia
advances;
Slovan Liberec - IFK Norrkping 2:2, 2:1; Liberec advances;
Drnovice - Munchen 1860 0:0 0:1; Drnovice eliminated.
Hockey Extraleague Results
Results of the 6th round: Týinec-Sparta 5:3, Zl¡n-Litv¡nov 4:0,
V¡tkovice-Kladno 1:1, Slavia-Pardubice 3:1, Znojmo-Karlovy Vary
1:3,
¬esk BudØjovice-Hav¡ýov 5:6 (OT) Plzeå-Vset¡n 4:1
Results of the 7th round: Vset¡n-Hav¡ýov 2:5, Pardubice-Týinec
6:0, Litv¡nov-Slavia 3:0, V¡tkovice-Zl¡n 5:3, Karlovy Vary -¬esk
BudØjovice 4:2, Sparta-Znojmo 2:3, Kladno-Plzeå 1:3
Results of the 8th round: ¬esk BudØjovice-Vset¡n 2:4,
Slavia-V¡tkovice 2:3, Plzeå-Pardubice 2:2, Zl¡n-Kladno 3:1,
Znojmo-Litv¡nov 4:4, Hav¡ýov-Sparta 2:5, Týinec-Karlovy Vary 4:1
Results of the 9th round: Karlovy Vary-Hav¡ýov 4:5 (in overtime),
Pardubice-¬esk BudØjovice 3:2 (in overtime), Zl¡n-Slavia 5:3,
Plzeå-V¡tkovice 3:2, Sparta-Vset¡n 6:4, Litv¡nov-Týinec 4:2,
Kladno-Znojmo 1:2
Results of the 10th round: Týinec-Kladno 7:3, Sparta-Karlovy
Vary
3:0, Plzeå-Slavia 2:1, Vset¡n-Pardubice 1:1, Znojmo-Zl¡n 2:0,
Hav¡ýov-Litv¡nov 0:3, ¬esk BudØjovice - V¡tkovice 1:2 (OT)
Standings after the 10th round: 1. Sparta 22 points, 2. Plzeå 22,
3.V¡tkovice 18, 4.Litv¡nov 17, 5. Vset¡n 17, 6. Pardubice 16, 7.Zl¡n
14, 8.Hav¡ýov 12, 9.Týinec 12, 10. ¬esk BudØjovice 12, 11.Slavia
11,
12.K. Vary 11, 13.Znojmo 10, 14.Kladno 7
Premiere Soccer League Results
Results of the 8th round: FK Drnovice-FK Teplice 3:1,
Bohemians
Praha-Slovan Liberec 0:0, Chmel Blçany-Viktoria ¦i§kov 0:1, Viktoria
Plzeå-Ban¡k Ostrava 1:1
Results of the 9th round: Sigma Olomouc-FK Drnovice 2:0,
Sparta
Praha-Viktoria Plzeå 5:1, Marila Pý¡bram-Slavia Praha 2:1, Stavo
Artikel
Brno-¬esk BudØjovice 3:0, Viktoria ¦i§kov-FK Jablonec 2:2, Slovan
Liberec-Chmel Blçany 2:0, FK Teplice-1.FC Synot Star MØsto
2:1, Ban¡k
Ostrava-Bohemians Praha 1:1.
WEATHER
It appears Indian summer ended with the Olympics. This week's
days
began with foggy mornings, remained gray all day and occasionally
drizzled. The forecast is for an October with above-average
temperatures, and a return of the Indian summer could occur in the
second half of the month.
Dear readers,
Carolina will return to its weekly format October 19, with the
school year somewhat delayed by the reconstruction of the
building housing the School of Journalism.
English version translated and edited by Michael Bluhm.
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