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Current AffairsBritish Czech and Slovak Association Competition
And now some news about a writing competition that listeners here in the Czech Republic or in Britain might be interested in taking part in. But you'll have to be quick, because the deadline is in just ten days. It has been organised by the British Czech and Slovak Association, based in London, which tries to foster understanding between the British and the Czech and Slovak nations. Barbara Day from the Prague Society for International Cooperation told David Vaughan about the competition. More
One on OneKumar Vishwanathan - Indian community worker
Rob Cameron's guest on One on One this week is Kumar Vishwanathan - an Indian community worker living in north Moravia. Kumar has spent much of the last decade looking for ways to bring the local Roma community closer to majority society, and advocates a number of controversial measures - including dialogue with far-right skinheads and a "Coexistence Village", where Roma and white families will live side by side. Tune in to this week's One on One to find out more.
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Current AffairsHistorians on Czech-Slovak divorce
Czechs are preparing to vote in June's general elections. Ten years ago - at about this time - people were also getting ready to vote in general elections -elections which would inevitably lead to the break up of the Czechoslovak federation in 1993. A few days ago the Czech Academy of Sciences organized a round table debate in which historians could consider the matter with hindsight. One of the prominent Czech historians present was Jan Rychlik, who was a senior government advisor at the time of the break up, and I asked him whether the Czech-Slovak divorce had indeed been inevitable.
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Current Affairs Khamoro Festival parades through city centre
The World Roma festival Khamoro 2002 is coming to an end. With concerts, workshops and seminars, this week-long celebration of Roma culture and traditions has brought Czech society a step closer to one of its largest minority groups.
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Current AffairsKhamoro delegation meets president
The 4th World Roma Festival - Khamoro 2002 - is now well underway in Prague with concerts by Gypsy Jazz bands and traditional Roma groups being held in some of Prague's top clubs every evening. But the festival isn't only about music. Representatives of Roma communities from 19 countries - mainly in Europe and South America - have come to the Czech capital to present their traditions, cultures, and life experiences.
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WitnessPolitics and Tragedy in the Mountains
We've chosen the following memory for this series, not just because it's a dramatic tale of the dangers of the mountains - taking place in the Krkonose Mountains that straddle the Czech-Polish border - but also because of the insight the story gives into the way that politics can permeate all aspects of our lives. Herbert Berger from the mountain rescue service in Pec pod Snezkou tells us about the worst avalanche in Krkonose in living memory.
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Current AffairsCzech Helsinki Committee releases report on human rights
On Monday, the Czech Helsinki Committee presented its report on
Human Rights in the Czech Republic in 2001. According to the report,
government efforts to improve the living conditions of the
Roma community had failed. In total, some 70,000 Roma have apparently left the
country, feeling that the rest of Czech society was not interested
in accepting its Roma minority. The Helsinki Committee also pointed out
that officials were not qualified to deal with the growing number of
asylum seekers - the number has doubled in the course of last year - and
that the processing of asylum applications was slow, at times
taking several years. Out of 18,082 applicants, only 83 were
successful and officials were criticised of rejecting requests
that fulfilled all requirements or asking for written proof of political
persecution. The Czech police force was also not spared, the committee
claims that corruption within the force has remained a problem.
Insufficient social services and the lack of ample state-provided care for
the elderly has contributed greatly to domestic violence on
mainly women and the aged. Dita Asiedu spoke to Selma Muhic of the Czech
Helsinki Committee:
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