US radar critics, advocates quarrel at Prague 17 November plaque

Prague, Nov 17 (CTK) - Skirmishes between the opponents of the planned U.S. radar base on Czech soil and the people who turned up at a commemorative plaque in Prague's centre to mark the velvet revolution anniversary overshadowed the payment of tribute to the historic events of November 17, 1989.

At the same place 19 years ago, the communist police brutally dispersed a student demonstration. This triggered mass protests and contributed to the collapse of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

A number of opponents of the radar base, a planned element of the U.S. anti-missile shield in Europe, arrived at the plaque separately Monday to protest against the project.

Around 10:00, the police pulled away a man and a woman protesting against the radar and refusing to leave the site.

During the incident, flowers were laid at the plaque by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and Deputy PM Martin Bursik, and afterwards Deputy PM Jiri Cunek and other officials.

Tension at the site continued throughout the day.

First, the radar opponents fixed anti-radar inscriptions on the commemorative plaque. This displeased standers-by who tore the inscriptions off.

"I dislike it. This [November 17] is a national holiday. An anarchist dares to bring in a table reading 'No to Bases,' a stander-by said with indignation.

Later in the morning, five opponents of the radar turned up with protest flags. They refused to leave. The city police intervened, taking a man and a woman away by force.

"The previous events repeat now. The same happened here 19 years ago," an anti-radar activist told CTK.

Passionate disputes continued in the afternoon with the radar opponents trying to place inscriptions on the plaque and their "adversaries" attempting to pull down the banner erected by the "No To Bases" group.

A few groups of disputers blocked access to the plaque.

People reproached the activists for abusing the state holiday for promoting their anti-radar stand.

The protest was finally joined by the opponents of the Communist party with a banner reading "Let's Ban the Communists."

The police settled several incidents involving adversaries removing each other's flags and banners.

Anti-radar activists were allowed to demonstrate in Narodni street, where the "velvet revolution" plaque is situated, Monday. The city police, nevertheless, said the authorisation did not apply to the site at the plaque, therefore the police asked the activists leave and used force to pull some away.