CCCCC AA RRRRR OOOO LL II NN N AA CC AA A RR R OO O LL II NNN N AA A CC AA A RRRRR OO O LL II NN N N AA A CC AAAAAA RR R OO O LL II NN NN AAAAAA CCCCC AA A RR R OOOO LLLLLL II NN N AA A STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA Faculty of Social Science of Charles University Smetanovo nabr. 6 110 01 Prague 1 C.S.F.R. e-mail (Bitnet) address: FSVUKA@CSEARN *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 5, Friday, November 29, 1991. The E-mail News from Czechoslovakia This news may be published only with the "CAROLINA" designation. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK People's support of the referendum Prague, November 25th - The group "The Citizens' Challenge" founded on 20 th of September supported the law initiative of President Havel (see the last issue of Carolina) because the negotiations between the representatives from both Czech and Slovak republics didnot bring a satisfactory result. The colection of 1.300.000 signatories was enlarged of the amount of other 200.000 signatories. If the amendment on referendum is passed and 500 000 Czech and 250 000 Slovak voters agree with it the President can call a referendum in all of Czechoslovakia . The spokesman of the "The Challenge of the citizens" said that they aim at gathering at least 2 million of signaturies before the 3 rd of December when the Federal Assembly (the Parliament) will discuss the amendment to the referendum law. According to him many of Slovak citizen signed the petition as well. The President in the Parliament (Prague,November 21) The Czech newspaper "Mlada fronta Dnes" informs that the participation of the president Havel in the parliamentary session created an expectation of an explanation of his Sunday's (17.11.) televized speech but not to the complete reconciliation of the President and the Parliament. Another Czech newspaper, "Lidova demokracie", said that the President admit to a little misunderstanding with the media followed by a surprising response from the poeple. The President took part at a rally attended by thousands of people on 21 st of November and said there he was not going to fight with the parliaments and he didn't chalenge the people to do the same . The consultation with the political parties The topic of the latest presidential proposals was discussed by the President and the representatives of the political parties in the Prague castle (the residence of the President) last week. The bulb referendum Do you wish to live in the common state that is represented by democratic federation of two equal republics? That was the question that put the representatives of the university students on Sunday, 24 th of November. Those who agreed, switched on a 200 watt light bulbs. The increase of 550MW in energy consumption showns that 450 000 Czechoslovak households took part in the bulb referendum. Will the slaughter in Leopoldov lead to new legality of capital punishment? Seven prisoners between the ages of 20-30 brutally killed 5 policemen of Mend's Education Corp during their flight from the Leopoldov (in Slovak republic) prison on 23rd of November. Another policeman died of serious wounda after three days. All the perpetrators were cought in 20 hours with the help of the special search units where all possible means were used (for example the air units of the ministry of interior). The gruesome act, the most brutal murder in Czechoslovak prisons since 1918, shocked people. Some of them ask for the stricter conditions in prisons and for the legality of capital punishment again. The burial of G. Husak Gustav Husak, the past Czechoslovak regime's president, has died on 18 of November 1991. The burial took place on 21 st of November in Bratislava and there took part highest representants of Slovak government and Slovak National Assembly, J. Carnogursky and F. Miklosko. CULTURAL SERVICE The appeal of Iraq's exile Prague, November 26 - The exhibition "Stop Saddam" which criticizes the 12 year dictatorship of Iraq's president was today opened in Prague. It is sponsored by the opposition Iraq Organization for Human Rights (IOPLP). The organization, with a headquarter in London, was founded in 1983 to defend all Iraqi inhabitants of all the beliefs and origins. The organization oppose the terrorism, violence and black-mailing. The organization cooperates with Amnesty International. The pictures show the genocide of Kurds, oppression of homeland people and suffering of children from lack of medicine and goods. The mortaality rate of children has increased about 100% in last year. The top representative of IOPLP G. Jawad challenged Czechoslovak government in this occasion to support the resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations number 688 asking for immediate halt of repression of citizens. G. Jawad informed that a prepared document on the human rights' violation in Iraq t will be presented at the next General Assembly of the United Nations. Theatre Rokoko and Jakub Spalek Theatre Rokoko, one of Prague's munincipal theatres, has a new artistic director since September - the young Jakub Spalek, who just 18 months ago graduated with a degree in acting from the Academy of Performing Arts (DAMU), located in Prague. Spalek has become known to theatre viewers as a director of a number of non-traditional theatre productions, and to critics as a creator of a novel theatre. On September 21, 1990 he organised an event, called "In Defence of the Theatre" which aslo carried a subtitle "a cultural invasion". Despite the fact he had completed acting school, the preparations for the event were carried out on an amateur basis, surrounded by post-November euphoria. This event had importance for the Czech theatre, as young actors and other artists there demonstrated their ambition to begin right from the beginning in an effort to save our theatre. There was left a debt of 250.000 crowns and the obstinate Jakub Spalek. He with his two friends resolved to push their idea through the end. They chose for themselves a fully voluntary source of employment, and began to make theatre productions dictated by their own ideas - a free, purely artistic theatre. They organised a troupe on the basis of common work and creative activity and set out as professionals. They selected a play that would not only entertain, but would also motivate. They then set to work. The result of their labours was an exceptional production of Edmond Rostand's play "Cyrano de Bergerac", adapted by the young Lukas Hlavica, and inspired by Pavel Kohout's rendition of "Poor Cyrano". After its premier in July, the offers began to pour in. Determined not to let art be bound, Spalek turned them out. The one he decided to take was one that would provide him with the most freedom- and that offer came from the Prague Munincipal theatre group. He thus aquired for his art a firm and lasting footing. In mid-October Spalek held the premier of his second production, Daniela Fischer's play, "An Hour between a Dog and a Wolf". The Production is a new type of perfomance, which even before the November revolution could be seen at "The Theatre club in Reznik street". The exhibition "The Art and Biscuits" The exhibition "The Art and Biscuits" was opened in People's House in Prague on November 21. The exhibits are from the collection of French company BSN France. Historical part of the exhibition contains posters, lithographs and illustrations as well as decorative packages of the traditional biscuit producer Louis Lefevre Utile by Alfons Mucha, Capiello, Loire, Bouiset and others. This hundred years-old collection was declared a part of the National cultural heritage of France recently. Contemporary art in the second part of the exhibition holds the name of BSN France company. As the exhibition passed through Europe it challenged the local artists to contribute as well. All the income will be taken to cover restoration costs of the People's House. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* To subscribe Carolina send the e-mail message with subject text "Subscription" on our e-mail address. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated.