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 School of Social Science of Charles University Smetanovo nabr. 6 110 01 Prague 1 C.S.F.R. e-mail address: CAROLINA@CSEARN.BITNET *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 19, Friday, March 20, 1992. THE EVENTS OF THE LAST WEEK /from March 11-18/ The background of 14th March 1939 We want to offer you a short historical description of a tragic event in the common history of Czechs and Slovaks. The autonomistic efforts, appearing after Munich, are related to Hlinka's national party /HSLS/. The party was founded in 1918 after the origination of the Czechoslovak republic. The party behaved loyally towards the state at first. Andrej Hlinka, a Catholic priest and the leader of this party, took part in the creation of the Martin Declaration of October 30, 1938. The declaration, created by the representatives of Slovakian intellectuals, called for a Czechoslovak nation. It had only formal importance. Hlinka's party wanted to keep the Pittsburgh Agreement. The Agreement was signed by the representatives of Czech and Slovaks in the USA and by our movement of resistance abroad on May 30, 1918. The Agreement stated: "Slovakia will have its own administration, parliament and court". But in fact Czechs were coming to Slovakia in the 20's to keep the state's administration, mail, police and education system in operation because there were bad conditions for Slovaks to do it themselves. Some sources say that from the population of 2 million only thousands considered themselves to be Slovak. The fear of autonomy was based on the separatism of the German minority. Czechoslovakia (A single state comprised of the two nationalities of Czechs and Slovaks) would have been a protection against German expansionism. The Slovaks didn't forgive Masaryk his concept of Czechoslovakism yet. The situation was visibly changed by historical events. Czech border areas became a part of the German empire through the Munchen Agreement. A few days later the Prague government nominated the Slovak government and its chairman, J. Tiso. Hlinka's party, the initiators, gave space for other political parties in the beginning. The first decision of the Slovak government was to expell Czechs from the territory of Slovakia. The period of the "Second republic", Czecho-Slovakia, started. The situation in Slovakia was totalitarian. Only Hlinka's party was allowed, other parties were dissolved. The state became legal after November 22, 1938 with Constitutional Law on autonomy of Slovakia. The central bodies still had a lot of power. Hlinka's party won with 98% of the votes in the elections in December. The Slovak government developed contacts with Germany. However Hitler said that he was going to liquid the rest of Czecho-Slovakia, the leaders of HSLS defended Czechoslovakia. The final decision was made on March 13, 1939. Tiso got in Berlin a guarantee of the integrity of Slovak territory. The condition was to declare Slovakia an independent state. Otherwise Slovakia would have been divided between the Third Reich, Hungary and Poland. (Hungary had already occupied the south Slovakian territories and Sub-carpathian Russia.) The independent Slovak state, with Tiso as president, was declared by the Slovak parliament one day later. The German army started the occupation of Bohemia on March, 15. A new constitution from July 1939 finished the step over to a clerical-fascism system. The constitution said that high positions could be occupied only by members of the leading party. The Slovakian state, taking part actively in the army operations against the alliance, is guilty of mass Jewish deportations. Sixty thousand Jews were deported to the concentration camps in 1942. That's why the Slovak president was put on the list of war criminals according to the Nuremburg Agreement. He was sentenced to capital punishment in Czechoslovakia in 1947. From March to March We were afraid of the celebration of the 53rd anniversary of the Slovak state's declaration. Last year Vaclav Havel came to the celebration, and his personal guards had difficulties to protect him against the furious crowd. The differnce of attitudes was clearly seen: the Czech press wrote about the aggressive response to Havel's try for a dialog; the Slovakian press considered that Havel's walk was a provocation. The federal representatives coming to Bratislava in October to celebrate the common state were "awarded" by volleys of raw eggs (see Carolina issue number 1). But last year brought some changes too: the Slovak prime minister, V. Meciar, was recalled. Jan Carnogursky, a Christian-Democrat, came into his position. The flucuations of Slovak policy changed to serious negotiations. The Czech side, especially right-wing liberals from the Civil Democratic Alliance, made Slovaks provide clearer statements. Before March Slovak political parties refused to take part in celebrations of Slovak independence. The approach of the Civic Democratic Union- the coalition of the Public against Violence party and the Democratic party did not agree at all. Both parties are the members of the government but because of their agreement with the federal state they have only a little popularity. The Slovakian left-wing chose a compromise: the regime was bad, but the state existed and Czechs should legally accept it. A little surprise was the approach of the Slovak national party that announced the remembering reception only. Only the extremist Slovak National Unity party took part in public celebrations. The party is led by S. Panis, a former pop-singer. He is a member of Parliament. He invited John Major for celebrations as well. Most of the invited personalities didn't answer or strictly refused, as president Havel did. In March The demonstration in Bratislava was important for Czechs. All the main newspapers sent reporters. The reporter from Carolina went to Bratislava too, so we can offer you an original report. Stanislav Panis called his action "For independent Slovakia- without discussions". The main part of the action had to be a demonstration at "Andrej Hlinka square" (still the Square of the Slovak National Uprising). The action started in the morning when 300 people gathered at Tiso's grave. The roman-catholic parson gave the speech. He accused Czechs of murdering Tiso. The participants agreed by shouting: "poor Tiso!", "We don't forget", "Benes is a murder!". The speaker called for the independence of Slovakia reached by democratic and parliamentary means. In the same way, the Slovak state was founded, he said. The same request was repeated often on March 14. From the Czech point of view it is a civil request and we don't have to expect a "Yugoslavian-style civil war". The people marched to the center. The crowd consisted mostly of retired and older people. Young members of the skin-head movement carried flags and pictures of Tiso. The traditional place of the gatherings of the Slovak National Unit is the central square. Demonstrations after the November revolution took place in this square. There were about 3000 people at about 1 o'clock p.m. (that is about five time less than last year). There was an interesting stage, complete with the Slovakian symbol - three hills of the High Tatras and the doubled cross. Czechs and Germans The club of liberal students was founded at the faculty of law of Charles University. The club aim at organizing the meetings with some important personality of liberal orientation. Petr Prihoda, historical scientist, psychoanalysist, journalist and chief-editor of "Present" monthly magazin, advicer of Czech premier Pithart was a first guest of the club. He talked about relation between Czech and Germans because the Czech-German Treaty rised a lot of discussions. He is dealing with this topic himself for several years. He said that thousand of years of Czech-German common living was till 19 th century withnout an important conflict.There was understandning that all people from Bohemia and Moravia belong to one nation not to look at ethnic aspects. Czechs and Czech Germans always stayed together to protect themselves against strange Germans. This happend for example during peers's revolt in 1618-1620. A new wave of missunderstanding came in the beginning of 19 th century because of nationalism. The situation became worse after ambicious national efforts of Czechs inside Austrian-Hungarian monarchy. Petr Prihoda sees many common aspects with the effort of Slovakia now. The indepedent Czechoslovakia was declared in 1918. 3 million of German are named Sudeten Germans according to mountains in the border area. They insist on authonomy but the negotiation with the Czech governemnt were not succesfull. The republic existing between two wars was despite the democrasy unjust to Germans. The economic crisis hit more the industry in border areas bounded in export than the industry inside the country. Sudeten Germans were in diffucult social situation. Hitler solved the social problems by offering new jobs in military industry at this time. His popularity in Sudeten area enlarged. Henlein's party of Sudeten Germans became the most powerfull party. Step by step this party was going to be a tool in Hitler's hands. There was no time for negotiation with Czech government . After Munchen Agreement the Czech border areas are broken from and in half an year the rest of Czech territory occupied. Many Czechs had to leave border area at this time. Petr Prihoda said that German occupation regime had the influence on supressed Czech soul forced to colaboration with Germans.The hatred was gathered and was not naturally ventilated. All gatehered hatred exploited after liberation. The blood retaliation got the name of "wild transfer". Young Czechs went to countryside armed with hunters' shotguns. Germans are expeled ,beaten and killed.This happened before official transfer's calling. Official tranfer was based on Postupim Treaty and exercised the principial of collectiv blame. Old people, women and children especially suffered because men were killed in war or stayed in prisoners' camps. The number of tranfer's victims is not known yet but it is estimated to dozens of thousands. All matter could not be discussed. We still miss information about it. The transfer of Sudeten Germans is for us moral fail that we tried to forget. Even today we don't want to know the truth. The uncompromistic statements still appear. But it is our own interest to find the truth, accept this heritage and admit our blame. Otherwise the transfer will become our trauma forever. The Prosecuting of the Journalists The chief editor of Rude pravo and his deputy were arrested on Monday morning. They are accused at deception and dirty competition. They are suspected ot the 24 million Kcs transfer to Rude pravo although the money had to go to state. Rude pravo newspaper has the highest circulation in Czechoslovakia. The editors announced they would complain in international federation of journalists for the try of independent press' limitation. Helsinky in Bratislava Helsinki civil gathering will organize international conference in Bratislava on March 26-29. The conference will concern nationalism and racism. Bata in Prague Again Prague's house of shoes was opened after reconstruction on March 13. The house was named after Bata, owner of world-wide known company who was born in Zlin. Season's, ladies', men's, chidren's and world shoes are located in different stores. A big que in the front of the building proved that such a store was missing for a long time. UNIVERSITY English club "How many languagges you know, so many times you are a human being". With this saying adviced Jan Amos Komensky to learn languagges. Especially now when we have the possibilities of scholarships abroad we need to study languagges. Every possibility of languagge skills' improvement is welcomed. V. Trojan and M. Potucek from the faculty of social sciences initiated the foundation of English club. The club started its activity on March 10 . His members gather every Tuesday at 18 o'clock at the faculty of Social science in Smetanovo nabrezi 6. Club is opened to all students and teachers of the faculty and their guests. A lot of things are discussed. Of course English is spoken. The guests, journalists, artists, diplomats are coming. Lessons and cultural evenings are being prepared. Fred Williams from California is the club's secretary who cares of it. The club aims at the improving of languagge skills and cultural outlook. You can help as well to come to us or invite interesting people. CULTURAL SERVICE Stop to fascism, communism and racism On March 14 not only demonstration for independence took place in Bratislava. While the division of Czechoslovakia was promoted at SNP square, the Primacial square became a place of fight for common state. But different means were used. Agency "Music 90" together with Human movement and Civil-Democrtatic Youth organized a concert "Stop fascism, communism and racism". The Charter 77 and magazin "Maxisuper" sponsored the concert. The policemen had to protect the participants few times against members of skin-head movement. The mussician groups "Zeme zluc" from Brno, New Bred, Useless Effort, Stone AE, Bronx from Bratislava, Sebastians form Prague and M.Ch. Band. "However we don't care of policy, we wanted to express our opinion. We are gratefull to the police that the concert went on so good" said one of the organizers after the concert. Club at Petynka Other club in Prague 6 is club in Petynka. It is located on former building of francis' order. It was the best place to listen to folk music before revolution. Then Michal Jup Konecny founded a rock club there. The main manager, Jitka Vesela, said that the space was given especially to alternative groups. The concerts visit young people in the age range from 15-25. Starting musicians groups have a chance to use also training room. Monthly 12-15 concerts are held. They are visited by a lot of poeple, sometimes 300 come. The activity is sponsored by Local house Prague 6. They get finances from seminars concerning law, rules etc. too. The club in Petynka is very known but the building should be given back to francis' order according to resitution law. Loca house in Prague 6 promised to arrange other building. Prague's Spring is Prepared The musician fest "Prague's spring" will be opened in May 12, 1992 by symphonic poem "My country" by Bedrich Smetana. His work will be played by Czech Philharmony under conduction of Zdenek Kosler. This year a new conception is prepared. The scala of introduced compositions is wider and goes further to the history. A lot of top ansambles playing the anccient music will participate. Firstly the Gregorian's choral will be introduced in Prague's Spring. The part of fest will be musician competition of violin, horn, trumpet and thrombon players starting from 1 st of May. The concert held to celebrate the opening of Rudolfinum is already sold out. Rudolf Fiskurny will play the piano. Also tickets for the concert of violonist Josef Suk and piano player Mauruzius Pollini can't be obtained. Prague's Spring will take place in 17 concert halls. The Festoval wants to be noncommercial. With the help of sponzors the prices of the tickets are approximitelly the same as in the last year. The main sponsors are Motokov, Metrostav and Konstruktiva. Some concerts are prepared together with local authorities. WEATHER Last week the winter weather appeared again. The weather was cloudy and rainy, there was snow on Saturday. The temperetore fell to 4-6 degrees of Celsius during a day and to zero point at night. The weather forecasts announced spring's weather coming back. The temperature should be 9-11 degrees of Celsius. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. 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