Czech Anti US Base Demonstration Set For Saturday

Prague, Czech Republic. May 25, 2007 - Civic initiative “No to the Bases” is organizing protest demonstration this Saturday, May 26 at 3pm at Wenceslas’ Square in Prague. The aim of the demonstration is to oppose the US plan to install a military base in the Czech Republic as part of the National Missile Defense System of the US.

“Tomorrow is a big day for the future of Czech Republic and Europe. We will see whether Czech and Europe will be able to stand on their own feet or whether they will stand on the US feet,” said Jan Tamáš, the initiative spokesperson. “We hope that ten thousand people will come tomorrow to show to our government and the Bush administration, that we do not want this base as we do not believe that peace can be achieved through armament.”

The initiative “No to the Bases” organized several demonstrations since its formation in July last year. During the last demonstration on January 29 thousands of people marched from the city center to the US embassy and then to the seat of the Czech government. It also organizes a petition which calls for a national referendum on this issue. More than thirty thousand people have already signed this petition. Together with petitions of other organizations more than one hundred thousand people have either called for a referendum or directly rejected this plan.

The initiative currently unites 50 Czech and international organizations opposing the US plan to establish a new military base in the Czech Republic. It was formed in July 2006 and calls for a national referendum on this issue. Its website address iswww.NeZakladnam.cz.

Spokespersons: Jan Tamáš, Ph.D. jan.tamas@humanisti.cz

Jan Májíček maja_konf@yahoo.co.uk

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