euro|topics - Demonstrators prevent neo-Nazi march in Prague

07/10/2008

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Main focus of Monday, November 12, 2007

Demonstrators prevent neo-Nazi march in Prague

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Prague on Saturday, November 10th, to block a right-wing extremist march through the Jewish district on the anniversary of the November 1938 pogrom. The authorities had already banned the march. It ended in clashes between neo-Nazis, anti-fascists and the police. 400 people were arrested.

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland

According to Ulrich Schmid, the counter-demonstration proves there is such a thing as a "Czech civil society" and people "who are willing to take to the streets to fight for democracy, the rule of law and the protection of minorities without pressure from the state... Numerous tourists spontaneously expressed solidarity with the participants in the demonstration. There was a family from Barcelona standing next to a family from Milan, bags brimming with the ubiquitous Bohemian glass souvenirs, shouting anti-Nazi slogans. ... The mood remained relaxed and peaceful until the neo-Nazis arrived. Israeli flags were waved and many wore the yellow star with the word 'Jude' ('Jew' in German) on their jackets. This was an act of solidarity of which most approved, but which an old Hungarian Jew who survived the Nazi terror as a child described as 'rather cheap'. ... Never have the neo-Nazis felt so isolated." (12/11/2007)

Hospodářské noviny - Czech Republic

Petr Honzejk commends the counter-demonstrators in Prague but wonders how the public would have reacted had the neo-Nazis taken to the streets against the unpopular Roma. "That Czech society prevented the neo-Nazi march is good. But the real problem lies with politicians like Jiri Cunek who give neo-Nazis the feeling they are fighting for a just cause. ... President Vaclav Klaus should apologise for referring to a concentration camp for Roma as a 'labour camp'. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek must put the Roma problem at the top of his government agenda. Local authorities must take action against anti-Roma demonstrations in the same way they react to the neo-Nazis. ... Only then will we be able to talk about whether things are improving." (12/11/2007)

Népszabadság - Hungary

Jozsef Szilvassy describes the united stance of Czech citizens and politicians as exemplary. "The intellectuals and church representatives did not remain silent. The fact that all Czech politicians adopted an unequivocal stance was also crucial. Having the cross-party and non-ideological support of both politicians and society made the police's task a lot easier. Although recent corruption scandals have considerably damaged the reputation of the political elite, no one tried to use the Nazi protest for furthering party interests. The conduct of Czech politicians, church representatives and intellectuals - in short of Czech society as a whole - can serve as an example to us all of how to confront the threat of neo-Nazism." (12/11/2007)

» To the complete press review of Monday, November 12, 2007

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