Over 1000 Czechs Marched in Protest of U.S. Radar Base

Some one thousand people today protested against the planned stationing of a U.S. radar base on Czech soil and marched to the U.S. Embassy where they handed its staff an open letter by the Communist Party (KSCM) addressed for U.S. President Barack Obama.

The letter says the U.S. base would makes Czech territory and inhabitants a potential target of a military attack, the daily Pravo writes today.

The Communists also write in the letter that the radar would be dangerous to human health and very expensive.

KSCM leader Vojtech Filip recalled that the party demands that a referendum on the radar is organised in the Czech Republic.

Opinion polls show that about two-thirds of Czechs would like the referendum to be held. Approximately the same number is against the base.

The U.S. base is promoted by the ruling Civic Democrats (ODS), while the leftist opposition, including the Communists and the Social Democrats (CSSD), opposes it.

The Czech-U.S. treaties on the base were signed last year, but Czech parliament has not yet ratified them.

Apart from the radar base in the Czech Republic, ten interceptor missiles are to be located in Poland. These two elements of the U.S. missile defence shield are to defend the United States and a large part of Europe against missiles countries like Iran and North Korea might launch.

The Prague marchers today carried banners saying No to Radar, Stop New Arms Race, and Peace and Solidarity.

The Mayors League Against Radar, associating the mayors of the municipalities situated near the Brdy military grounds where the U.S. base is to be constructed, took part in the protest, along with supporters of the neradaru.cz (No to radar) group.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz