Statement of the EL Executive BoardThe anti-communist campaign in the pre-election period in the Czech Republic, after taking various forms in the media (incl. the state-controlled ones) and even in some institutions of the state, has culminated by a physical attack against a leading politician of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (CPBM).
In the night of April 25, Jiří Dolej, the Vice-chairman of the CPBM and member of the Czech Parliament, was attacked and badly beaten when returning home from the Parliament. Although the investigation was till now not successful in finding the perpetuators of the attack and explaining their exact motivation and modus operandi, one thing is clear already now. The background of this attack, and in particular of some signs of support to similar wrongdoings shown by a considerable part of Czech society were in first place the attempts to exclude communists and all the radical left from the Czech political life. Escalation of this attitude by some parts of the Czech political elites and public media in the Czech Republic was clearly observable during the last months.
The European left is deeply moved by the attack, and wishes a rapid recovery to Jiří Dolej, expressing solidarity with him and CPBM. At the same time, we would like to voice out our interest in a permanent democratic development of political life in the Czech Republic and all EU countries. We are convinced that violent attacks against the left, both physical and verbal, are endangering democracy and should be avoided and prevented by the law enforcement structures.
ExB EL, Vienna, 14 May 2006
Czech translation can be found HERE.
Anti-communist attack in the Czech Republic
