Prague, Nov 17 (CTK) – A crowd of several hundred attended a rally against populism and President Milos Zeman’s policy at the Hradcanske namesti square at Prague Castle, the seat of Czech heads of state, on the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution on Thursday.
After speeches were delivered, the demonstrators set out on a march towards the Prague centre where a concert for the Freedom and Democracy Struggle Day is being held at the Wenceslas Square.
At the rally called Do Not Let Us Forget!, the banners were waved saying “This Country Belongs to Us,” “We Do Not Want Any Totalitarian Rule” and “We Do Not Want a President-Liar.”
Like in the November 1989 days, the protesters wore Czech national tricolour flags.
There were also the flags of the EU, NATO and Tibet.
Philosopher and dissident Daniel Kroupa and Petr Riesel, a Holocaust survivor, warned of the latest proposal by a group of deputies, primarily Communists, under which the president defamation law should be reinstated.
“They have reminded us of the situation due to which this society rose 27 years ago,” Kroupa said.
Riesel said the euphoria from the Velvet Resolution had disappeared and unlike the rest, all Communists and frustrated sceptics only cast their votes.
“The heroism of dissidents is being denounced,” Riesel said.
The crowd was also addressed by literary historian Martin C. Putna, leader of the Pirates Ivan Bartos and priest Ladislav Heryan.
This year, Zeman will not attend the celebrations.
The protesters walked through the Prague streets and reached the Wenceslas Square.
They chanted the slogans “The Czech Republic is in the West,” “Throw Milos into Basket,” “A Russian Guy is at Prague Castle” and “We Are No China.”
