Unions, civic groups to stage anti-gov't rally on 17 November

Prague, Oct 18 (CTK) - The Czech "Stop Government" platform, comprising unions, civic associations and groups, intends to stage a demonstration to express disagreement with the developments in the country, in Prague centre on November 17, platform spokeswoman Jana Kasparova told CTK yesterday.

The trade union members and activists are not satisfied with the state of democracy in the Czech Republic. They say the functioning welfare state is disintegrating and citizens are losing social certainties.

The Stop Government scheduled its rally on Wenceslas Square for November 17, the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy marking the student demonstration that initiated the collapse of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989.

The platform announced the rally to the Prague City Hall in May saying it expects some 20,000 participants.

Last time, the unions staged a mass demonstration in Prague on April 21 that was attended by some 100,000 people. It was aimed against the reforms of the centre-right government of Petr Necas, comprising his Civic Democrats (ODS), TOP 09 and LIDEM.

Trade unions dispatched special buses and a special train to Prague for its members.

Kasparova, who is also spokeswoman for the CMKOS umbrella trade union organisation, says the CMKOS and its member unions do not prepare similar steps this time. They have only recommended its members to participate in the demonstration.

The platform also wants to call on the public to attend the protest rally on November 17.

The CMKOS is not planning other events, Kasparova said.

CMKOS chairman Jaroslav Zavadil told CTK on Tuesday that the unions would not leave the tripartite meeting with the government and employers in spite of their dissatisfaction.

Bohumir Dufek, chairman of the Association of Independent Trade Unions (ASO), the second largest trade union organisation in the country, called on its members on the website to participate in the protest rally on Wenceslas Square at 10:00 on October 28, the national holiday.

Everybody who is not satisfied with the government's policy should come, Dufek said.

"The government's fall and early elections are the best possible solutions at present," said Dufek who unsuccessfully called for a general strike recently.