Torsten Posted August 8, 2005 http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/czechs-co...l?oneclick=true Czechs come to the party over rave clash August 5, 2005 Prague: Thousands of Czechs took to the streets to protest against police brutality as the former president Vaclav Havel tried to mediate a dispute over a weekend clash between police and partygoers. Police used tear gas, water cannons and batons to end a rave party in a field near the village of Mlynec, in the Czech Republic's south-west. In cities across the country, demonstrators denounced as brutal the police operation, which injured scores of youths. The Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, has criticised the operation, which was ordered by the local police chief and backed by the Interior Minister, Frantisek Bublan, and the Prime Minister, Jiri Paroubek. Both have said police acted to uphold the law. Mr Havel sought to arrange a meeting between the party's organisers and Mr Bublan, who has faced calls for his resignation over the clash. But the attempt failed, with the organisers demanding an apology before any meeting. The Justice Minister, Pavel Nemec, said on Wednesday that state authorities would investigate the incident. Opposition politicians have called for an independent investigation. AdvertisementAdvertisement The CzechTech rave's organisers said they had a contract to use the meadow, but police said neighbouring landowners asked them to halt the concert because their property was being damaged. Television footage showed some partygoers throwing bottles and rocks at police. Reuters Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted August 8, 2005 Water cannon the only thing pumping at rural Czech rave August 01, 2005 PRAGUE: Czech police used water cannons and teargas yesterday to disperse an annual gathering of thousands of techno music fans known as the CzechTek party. About 5000 fans from the Czech Republic and other European countries had converged on a meadow in Mlynec, a village about 130km west of Prague, that was the venue for this year's festival of electronic dance music. Yesterday afternoon, about 1000 riot police broke up the festival after complaints that revellers had illegally entered land outside the zone approved for the event, police spokeswoman Jolana Cihova said. A photographer saw police use water cannons and teargas against the crowd. Ms Cihova said the force was necessary to persuade revellers to leave the festival, that usually lasts a week. Several people, including two police officers, were injured, Ms Cihova said. Police detained a French citizen who allegedly tried to hit officers with his car, she said. "There's chaos ... caused by the Czech Republic police," said festivalgoer Jiri Klestil. "CzechTek is not a Rolling Stones concert, where every detail is planned well ahead," Mr Klestil told Czech radio. "This is an action with thousands of people attending, who gather in a way that is difficult to grasp for the society." Each year, the festival's location is kept secret until the last moment, when details are posted on the internet. Admission is free, and there are no limits on how many people can attend, with no tickets being issued and people camping overnight or sleeping in cars. Opposition senator Jaroslav Stetina, of the Green Party, said the police action was "inappropriate and illegal". This is the first year CzechTek has been held legally, with organisers having obtained permission to stage events on private land. They failed, however, to legally secure access areas to the site, and owners of surrounding land asked police to block access to their property. Police prevented people in cars from crossing private land yesterday to reach the festival site, about 300m from a highway that connects Prague with the Czech-German border. Many eventually reached the festival on foot. Last year's CzechTek party also was stopped after five days by the police, who cited legal problems and complaints from local citizens. AP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-YT- Posted August 8, 2005 I actually caught some footage of this early one morning before work, Looked pritty savage with police firing tear gas into crowds of ppl chilling out on the grass etc. And rolling in force into the crowd with batons ready... Seemed way overboard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
