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 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 184, Thursday, December 21, 1995. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (December 13-20) President Decides Coalition Conflict over 1996 Parliamentary Election Elections for the Chamber of Deputies should take place May 31 and June 1 and for the Senate November 15 and 16. President Vaclav Havel gave the proposal for separate parliamentary elections to Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus December 19. According to presidential spokesman Ladislav Spacek, this decision forestalls a government crisis, considering the governing coalition's inability to agree on election dates. Klaus later announced to the media that his Civic Democratic Party (ODS) will support the president's proposal at the December 20 Cabinet meeting to prevent a constitutional crisis and destabilization throughout the country (post-deadline addendum - the proposal was approved at the meeting). The election date must be signed by the president and prime minister. Klaus also said he has serious objections to Havel's move also because the president repeatedly said he would respect the government decision expected from the December 20 meeting. "The president's approach has practically closed off any possibilities of further discussion," said Klaus, whose ODS, together with the Christian Democratic Party (KDS), encouraged and continue to back same-day elections for both parliamentary chambers. Klaus claims to be disturbed foremost by the fact that election campaigning will cover almost all of next year will be almost entirely dedicated to the election campaign, which will have negative consequences for political life. The other coalition parties, the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) and Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL), which had backed separate elections (the two parties are in the minority of the governing coalition and would have been outvoted), fully support the president's proposal. Milos Zeman, leader of the strongest oppposition party, the Social Democrats, expressed satisfaction with president's and ODS' approach. Petra Rubesova/Katerina Zachovalova Constitutional Court Cancels Residency Condition for Property Restitution People with Czech or Slovak citizenship living outside the Czech Republic will have the possibility of getting back their farming property. This was the decision of the Costitutional Court December 13, when the portion of law allowing restitution of farming property only to citizens permanently living in the Czech Republic was repealed. The judges also agreed to cancel the deadline for making property claims, which had originally run out at the end of 1992. According to press reports, the Court thus acceded to 60 mainly coalition Parliamentary deputies and two unsuccessful restituents, who claimed the residency condition was in conflict with the Czech Bill of Rights and Freedoms. Parliamentary Deputy Marek Benda (KDS) said this decision will concerns about 1,000 pepole, who will be able to lay their property claims after the decision takes effect. Benda will present Parliament at the beginning of the year with a proposal for setting new deadlines for property claims. Zora Kasikova/Alice Ticha Government Approves Bill Making State Security Files Available The government approved December 13 a law proposed to make documents created by the former State Security Service (StB) accessible. The government suggested that every citizen of the Czech Republic should be allowed to make inquiries at the Ministry of the Interior if the former State Security kept notes about him between 1948 and 1990 and, if necessary, to see the materials. This law should also be valid for former citizens of the communist-era Czechoslovakia. The law would take effect six months after passage in Parliament. The government also decided the names of members and those who co-operated with State Security, and also the names of "third persons" - relations and friends - who gave information, will be made available. Data will be inked out about citizens' private life, religion, financial circumstances and similar matters covered by the privacy law. According to a public opinion poll released in MF DNES, 6 per cent of respondents are very interested in this possibility, while 23 per cent of people asked expressed an average interest. Petra Rubesova, Natasa Hajkova/Alice Ticha President not to Study His Secret Police Records Czech daily Lidove Noviny quoted President Vaclav Havel December 18 from Conversations from Lany, the weekly Sunday radio program where the president airs his views, as saying "I consider it important and good that the government passed the law giving access to the former State security Service (StB) records. These records really confess the StB's work - they show all the tricks, plots, they are about manipulation, about who gave in and who didn't, about how the StB managed to manipulate and twist statements and such. They say endlessly more than any official documents, which have been the main and rather questionable sources of all lustration (screening) procedures. I would also like to add that I'm not going to go study my records, should they exist at all, if nobody threw them out long ago. I'll admit one thing, which maybe I shouldn't say in public. Shortly after the revolution, and after I was elected President, someone brought me a list, that he had obtained in some wild way from the Ministry of the Interior, of my friends who had informed on me. And imagine what happened - I just ran my eyes over that list, immediately I lost it, and at the same time I forgot whose names had been written there." Jaromir Vicari/Andrea Snyder Influenza on the Rise An epidemic of influenza similar to the one which now troubles the Czech Republic last appeared in 1992, when it was also a case of the "A" virus. The constantly rising number of the sick (600,000 cases as of December 14) has caused problems for many pharmacies. People want mainly remedies against cough and fever, but Czech Pharmaceutical Chamber spokesman Jan Horacek said there is no danger of an acute shortage of such medicines. The most endangered group of people are babies, the elderly and seriously ill people. In Prague, there were 18,509 cases of influenza recorded last week, mainly children. The further spread of influenza among students should be stopped by the unplanned school holidays (see Carolina 183), which please most children as much as it causes their working parents problems. Day care centers present the same danger as schools, and thus youth centers will be closed during the holidays. Jitka Hejtmanova/Alice Ticha Court Decision: Murder of Gypsy Had No Racial Motive The Regional Court in Brno decided Decemebr 13 that the murder of Tibor Berki was not a racially motivated crime. Because of the decision, the court sentenced 21-year-old Zdenek Podrazsky to 12 years in prison. The May murder upset the public and led to the introduction of longer sentences for racially motivated crimes (a life sentence for murder). Podrazsky and three other young men attacked Berki's house and with a baseball bat beat to death the 24-year-old father of five. Berki, who had no criminal record, allegedly defended himself with an axe. The court agreed with prosecution only that Podrazsky and his companions attacked Berki's dwelling with racist motives. "It was not proved that Podrazsky would have attacked with a baseball bat with the intention of killing Berki as a Romany (Gypsy)," quotes Czech daily MF DNES from the verdict. According to the verdict, Podrazsky acted instinctively, because Berki held an axe in his hand. "He shouted no derogatory words, from which a racist motive would be eveident." The court's decision exasperated not only the relatives and friends of the victim, but also representatives of the Romany Civic Initiative. Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus expressed his doubts about the verdict, as did the attorney general attorney and the case's police investigator. Two of the accomplices received suspended sentences, while the third, who proposed the attack, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The prosecution as well as the defense have appealed the verdict. Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova Miroslav Sladek Sentenced Chairman of the far-right Association For The Republic - Republican Party of Czechoslovakia Miroslav Sladek was found guilty of disturbing the peace and assaulting a public official, and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, which was reduced to 18 months of probation. The Prague 1 District Court made the decision December 15 in spite of Sladek's repeated absence during the trial. According to the verdict, during an October 28, 1994 demonstration for which no permit was given, Sladek orated from the base of the St. Wenceslas monument on Prague's Wenceslas Square. Because he ignored police orders to to desist, he was forcibly removed, to which he reacted by verbally and physically attacking the policemen. According to the judge, police intervention was in agreement with the law. Videotapes from the demonstration were used, which showed that no one blocked Sladek from laying flowers at the monument. The senate fined Sladek 6,000 crowns (225 USD) for his repeated absence in court and contemptuous behavior toward the court. The case is not over: the state prosecutor and Sladek's counsel still have time to appeal. Radim Wolak/Jitka Motejzikova Study In Prague Next Summer From July 13 to August 3, 1996, the Faculty of Social Sciences, together with Georgetown University and The Fund for American Studies, will sponsor The American Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems for the fourth consecutive year. The Institute will take place at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Prague, and will include lectures by professors from both Georgetown University and Charles University, as well as guest appearances by notable political and cultural figures. All lectures and site briefings will be held in English. In 1995, 101 students from 18 different countries attended the Institute. In 1996 the School hopes to maintain the same number of students. The institute offers an equally diverse and interesting program by combining lectures with site briefings around Prague and an exciting program of social activities. Scholarships are available for students from Central and Eastern Europe. For further details and an application form, contact either Ann Erker at The Fund for American Studies or Cyril Simsa at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the following e-mail addresses: Ann Erker: 75604.3347@compuserve.com Cyril Simsa: SVOZ@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz Please remember to include your full postal address, as well as your e-mail address, since the applications will have to be sent by post. Cyril Simsa/Cyril Simsa ECONOMY Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from Dec. 21) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 19.810 Belgium 100 BEF 90.152 Great Britain 1 GBP 41.145 Denmark 1 DKK 4.781 Finland 1 FIM 6.121 France 1 FRF 5.394 Ireland 1 IEP 42.491 Italie 1000 ITL 16.734 Japan 100 JPY 26.175 Canada 1 CAD 19.437 Luxemburg 100 LUF 90.152 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.542 Norway 1 NOK 4.195 New Zealand 1 NZD 17.418 Portugal 100 PTE 17.675 Austria 1 ATS 2.634 Greece 100 GRD 11.203 Slovakia 100 SKK 89.924 Germany 1 DEM 18.534 Spain 100 ESP 21.820 Sweden 1 SEK 4.022 Switzerland 1 CH 23.08 USA 1 USD 26.699 ECU 1 XEU 33.974 IMF 1 XDR 39.71 CULTURE Actor Martin Ruzek Dies Martin Ruzek, a leading personality in Czech theater, died December 18 after a long illness. He was born September 23, 1918 in Cerveny Kostelec as Martin Erhart. He started out in amateur companies, and after the war worked as an actor and director in Mlada Boleslav, Ceske Budejovice and Brno. In 1956 he started performing at Prague's Vinohrady Theater, and then joined the troupe at the National Theater in 1963. During his career, Ruzek played a wide spectrum of character roles, including Shakespeare's Othello, Moliere's Tartuffe, and in Czech classics he reprised Lizal in Marysa, Roskot in The Moon over the River and Valenta in Palic's Daughter. Actor Frantisek Filipovsky was quoted in the Czech press as saying, "I don't remember Martin Ruzek ever ruining a character. What he presents is beautiful, modern acting." Barbora Spevakova/Andrea Snyder Bohuslav Martinu 95 "Bohuslav Martinu is a sunny apparition in the heavens of Czech music.... However his music...carries the fragrance of Czech and Moravian national songs, we can find in his most important compositions something more. It is his cosmopolitan perspective, which allowed him not to submit to Slavic patriotism," characterized the works of Bohuslav Martinu (b.1890 in Policka, d. 1959 in Liestal) composer and President of the Bohuslav Martinu Foundation Viktor Kalabis. The foundation existed between 1975 and 1992 under the Czech Musical Fund, though since 1992 it is an independent legal body. This year the Martinu Foundation can, in addition to its other works promoting Martinu, count to its credit the establishment of a study center and the first annual of music festival in Prague. In two concerts in Zofin Dance Hall on Slavonic Island on the Moldau River in Prague (December 8 and 10) and during two concerts in the Rudolfinum (December 14 and 17), Martinu's compositions were rendered by the Martinu Quartet, the Bohuslav Martinu Piano Quartet, the Prague Chamber Philharmonic, the Prague Men's Chorus or young interpreters - winners of prestigious music contests. Although the Rudolfinum's Dvorak Hall was noticeably affected by the nationwide flu epidemic, the applause after last notes of Nipponari (seven songs for the female voice), performed by Dagmar Peckova, and Concert for Piano and Orchestra, interpreted by virtuoso Emil Leichner, did not quiet down for several minutes. Katerina Zachovalova/Katerina Zachovalova Veletrzni Palace Finally Open After undergoing a complete reconstruction costing more than 1 billion crowns, Prague's Veletrzni Palace had its grand opening December 13. Martin Zlatohlavek, the director of the National Gallery in Prague, called it the greatest cultural event of the past several years. The National Gallery displays its collections of modern art in the Veletrzni Palace. The Veletrzni Palace is open to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Thursdays until 9 p.m. Tour prices range from 30 crowns to 300 crowns. On the first Friday of every month, the entry to all National Gallery exhibits, including the Veletrzni Palace, is free. David Vozdecky/Andrea Snyder Middle Ages Come to Life Under Charles Bridge A jarmark(festival) from the Middle Ages, full of fencing, music and dance performances, began in Prague December 14 on Kampa Island. Kampa Island has been the site of pottery markets since the 17th century. Until December 22, visitors can see people being tortured in stocks, an old healing parlor or the arrival of the king's entourage. Marketeers dressed in period costumes are selling Christmas gifts, honey products, baked meat and wine. Klara Schirova/Andrea Snyder Week of Musical Evenings in Emauzy The Musical celebration Nobis est natus (He is born to us) premiered December 14 in Emauzy, the Na Slovanech monastary with performances by the musical groups Krless, Chorosch and Chorus Angelus, as well as a Middle Age theater troupe. According to Angel, the agency arranging the program, the evenings of Middle Age and Renaissance music should acquaint visitors with the liturgical and pagan customs of the past. Klara Schirova/Andrea Snyder SPORT Czech Soccer Players in Most Difficult Group The Czech national soccer team will meet the representatives of Germany, Italy and Russia in Group C at the 1996 European Soccer Championship in England, according to a December 17 drawing in Birmingham, England. The Czech players are considered outsiders in a group regarded as the toughest at the Championship. Czech Coach Dusan Uhrin commented on the draw: "The hardest group, you could hardly find a harder group. On the other hand, each match begins 0-0 and lasts at least 90 minutes." Other groups: A - England, Switzerland, Netherlands, Scotland B - Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, France D - Denmark, Portugal, Turkey, Croatia. Rudolf Cernik/Milan Smid CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT What to Do for Christmas? This is not a question that clients of the charity and missionary organization Hope (Nadeje) have to ask themslves. Hope is a non-denominal organization that has been putting the wheels of evangelism in motion. Hope is probably the largest Czech organization aiding and integrating refugees, the homeless, the handicapped, and the elderly. A Christmas atmosphere prevails through all of Hope's branches, its hostels, nursing homes and others. Practical gifts donated by sponsors will be handed out after a Christmas dinner. The homeless on Prague's Bolzan street will receive socks, handkerchiefs, gloves, underwear, writing materials and sweets. A video will be shown at the end of the celebration. Hope prepares a teetotaling Christmas program every year - for example, in 1993 Prague's homeless said their toasts over glasses of sponsor's milk. Katerina Zachovalova/Andrea Snyder Christmas Markets in Prague Salesmen on Prague's Old Town Square have been pushing their wares since November 24, when the market was christened in the presence of Mayor Jan Koukal (ODS). Like last year, the market was organized by the Association for the Renewal and Development of Arts and Crafts Traditions. The square overflows with 80 wooden stands, which, together with a huge, decorated Christmas tree, a performance stage and the statue of 15th-century Czech religious reformer Jan Hus create something shaped like a ring. Cultural activities go on in the central space and on the stage every day. Praguers and tourists have had the chance to hear a number of concerts there, see the slaughter of a pig or the "record" show organized by the Dobry Den (Good Day) agency. Among the records were the visit of a nearly nine-foot-tall (2.74 m) St.Nicholas on stilts, a four-foot (120 cm) tall teapot or a kilometer-long (.6 mile-long) Christmas chain. Klara Schirova/Katerina Zachovalova Dear Readers, Christmas is here again, once more with mud and no snow (at least in Prague); we hope that at least a few centimeters will fall on New Year's (so that the drunkards won't have to fall into slush). You've probably managed to bake all your cookies, catch your carp, sneak into the woods under the cover of night and chop down your Christmas tree, buy all the gifts you need, and now you're just impatiently waiting for Christmas Eve. But everything costs money, and Christmas has most likely made your wallet light, but don't worry - it's going to be a whole year before it comes again. And, after all, what is a little less money in comparison to the joy of your loved ones? We wish you much success in the new year, and may your fingers be nimble when lighting New Year's fireworks. Carolina hopes to see you again January 12. The entire staff of Carolina wishes you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 1996! Matej Husek and Michaela Vysoudilova/Andrea Snyder Edited by Michael Bluhm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. Send them please to the address: CAROLINA@cuni.cz To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz The text of message for subscription of the English version must be: SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name or for the Czech version SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name To delete your subscription from the list of subscribers you send the following message to the address LISTSERV@earn.cvut.cz: SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS We ask you not to send automatic replies to our list. 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