New attacks against communist movement in the Czech Republic

   Prague, 19th of April 2005

   Anticommunist campaign is today in the Czech Republic on the increase again. During last months took place several anticommunist actions - demonstrations, petitions, concerts and also attempt to criminalisation of Czech communist movement.

   Two senators of Czech Parliament launched a campaign this month to criminalize communism. Senators Jaromir Stetina (Path of Change) and Martin Mejstrik (Green Party) want to amend paragraph 260 of Law 140, which states, "A person who supports a movement blatantly aimed at the suppression of human rights and freedoms or that promulgates national, racial, religious or class hatred" faces five years in jail. The amendment would change the start of the law to "... supports or propagates communism, Nazism or any other similar movement." The revised law would make the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) illegal, according to Stetina, as its name and symbols represent "human rights crimes" committed under the last regime. "The change would force the KSCM to leave the word communism out of its name, putting an end to the lie that we all live," Stetina said. "In schools we teach that communism is bad and then you see the communists walking around as if nothing has happened." It would be up to the courts to determine exactly what socialist-era symbols are in violation of law, he added. Stetina says his intent is not to ban ideology or political parties. "All we want to do is restore criminal responsibility," said Stetina. The word communism, for Stetina, signifies "millions of deaths, not only in our country; this is an international affair. When you compare the number of victims of Nazism and communism, you will see there is no significant difference." He said the older European Union states need to have a deeper understanding of their neighbors' experience. "Can you imagine having a political party in Germany that would just add one letter to its old NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party) name? That's what the Czech communists did. It was the KSC (Communist Party of Czechoslovakia) and now it is the KSCM".

   Last week Stetina and Mejstrik insituted an action against communist magazine Mlada Pravda (Young Truth). Mlada Pravda is monthly magazine, which is produced by Communist Youth Union (KSM) and every month is full of information about struggles for rights of youth - students, trainees and young workers – in the Czech Republic and worldwide. Officially Stetina and Mejstrik attacked Mlada Pravda becuase „propagation of leninism“ and „calling for a socialist revolution“.

   KSM issued statement, where declares protest against today anticommunist campaign, which means campaign for fascizaton of Czech society. KSM calls for unity of all people, who are against withdawing of democratic rights.

   THE COMMUNIST YOUTH UNION (KSM)

   CZECH REPUBLIC

   http://ksm.cz