CZECH REPUBLIC: PRAGUE AND OTHER AREAS PREPARE FOR INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK MEEETING
Record ID:
647306
CZECH REPUBLIC: PRAGUE AND OTHER AREAS PREPARE FOR INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK MEEETING
- Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: PRAGUE AND OTHER AREAS PREPARE FOR INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND WORLD BANK MEEETING
- Date: 16th September 2000
- Summary: FIFTY KILOMETRES SOUTH EAST OF PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 7, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. SLV POLICE TRAINING FOR CLASHES WITH DEMONSTRATORS (POLICE AGAINST POLICE); MOLOTOV COCKTAILS/DEMONSTRATORS' THROWING APPLES AND WOOD AND SHOUTING "BLACK SWINES"/POLICE PUSHING 'DEMONSTRATORS' BACK (9 SHOTS) 0.58 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) POLICE PRESIDENT JIRI KOLAR, SAYING "The Police are able to take control of Prague. There won't be a problem. The flow of traffic and security are what could cause problems - at least two times a day. It is a historical town with many inhabitants. There will be a problem." 1.17 3. SV POLICE OFFICERS WALKING BY 1.22 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) CZECH INTERIOR MINISTER STANISLAV GROSS, SAYING "I had a meeting with the FBI director some six months ago and with his deputy some days ago. We evaluated concrete situations. I was pleased when they said our preparations were all right. Very different steps (than the ones you have seen) will be taken against non-violent protetsts." (INCLUDES CUTAWAY TO PRESS LISTENING) 1.45 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 7, 2000) (REUTERS) 5. MV NON-VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION BY COMMUNIST YOUTH/POLICE PRESENCE (2 SHOTS) 1.53 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN HOLDING BEER, SAYING: "Fucking Cretin". 1.56 8. MV POLICE OFFICERS PAN LEFT TO NON-VIOLENT DEMONSTRATION BY COMMUNIST YOUTH/POLICE PRESENCE 2.05 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (RECENT -JUNE 30, 2000) (REUTERS) 9. SLV TRAFFIC PAN RIGHT ANARCHISTS DEMONSTRATION STOPPING TRAFFIC IN CITY CENTRE (3 SHOTS) 2.23 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) 10. LAS BUILDING TILT DOWN SLV EXTERIOR McDONALD'S FAST FOOD STORE, A COMMON TARGET FOR PROTESTERS; SLV EXTERIOR McDONALD'S RESTAURANT WITH TRAM CARS PASSING BY (2 SHOTS) 2.38 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 7, 2000) (REUTERS) 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALICE DVORSKA SPOKESPERSON FOR 'INPEG'(INITIATIVE AGAINST ECONOMICAL GLOBALISATION), SAYING "We believe that this institution (IMF) cannot be reformed and they have to be abolished. We try to prepare another model of society based on the sustainable life." 2.53 12. MV CUSTOMERS SITTING IN McDONALDS RESTAURANT SEEN THROUGH WINDOW 2.56 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DVORSKA, SAYING: "We have the experience, the violence of the demonstrators is very small and ninety per cent of the violence is done by the police." 3.05 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) 14. LV STOCKSHOTS PRAGUE SKYLINE; SLV STREET SCENES; PRAGUEST CASTLE; CHARLES BRIDGE; TOURISTS (8 SHOTS) 3.31 GV ARCHITECTURAL BUILDINGS; CONGRESS CENTRE; WORKERS UPGRADING MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING; MV DOORS OF CONGRESS CONGRESS CENTRE CLOSING (5 SHOTS) 3.54 PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 7, 2000) (REUTERS) 15. SLV EXTERIOR OF SCHOOL AT SPORILOV QUARTER; SCU WOMAN READING NOTICE ON SCHOOL DOOR (2 SHOTS) 4.00 16. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL DANIEL KAISER, SAYING "Children can visit the school club for a whole day during the holidays. We have prepared a sports programme for them. But generally, the parents have taken their own holidays or are relying on the help of their relatives outside, so that children can leave the Republic or at least the town." 4.18 17. SLV PEOPLE NEARBY THE SCHOOL 4.21 18. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) TWO MOTHERS IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL, SAYING: "Children are glad, they have a a holiday." 4.25 19. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING "I won't be here. Yes I am leaving." 4.28 20. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) UNIDENTIFIED MAN, SAYING "I have information that many people from abroad are coming and they are very radical." 4.35 21. (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) UNIDENTIFIED MAN, SAYING: "I think it will end well, nothing will happen." 4.41 22. LV PAN STADIUM; WORKERS PREPARING AREA DESIGNATED FOR "TENT TOWN" WHERE THE PROTESTERS ARE DUE TO STAY; SLV EXTERIOR CONGRESS CENTRE (6 SHOTS) 5.07 23. SCU /TS/ MV STUDENTS PLANTING SEEDS IN THE GROUNDS OF CONGRESS CENTRE (3 SHOTS) 5.18 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 1st October 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PRAGUE AND MILOVICE, CZECH REPUBLIC
- Reuters ID: LVA4ABO89FMZOZRMNBAIGTBO2J75
- Story Text: Prague and other areas in the Czech Republic have been
preparing for the September International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and World Bank (WB) meeting.
Czech police are preparing themselves for the worst case
scenario ahead of the 55th Annual IMF and WB meeting in
Prague, September 25 - 28.
At the former Soviet army base, Milovice, police special
troops have been using molotov cocktails, stones and planks of
wood to train themselves in the event of violent protests
during the conference.
However, police president Jiri Kolar anticipates the
congestion of traffic as the biggest possible disruption in
Prague in the forthcoming weeks.
"The Police are able to take control of Prague. There
won't be a problem. The flow of traffic and security are what
could cause problems - at least two times a day. It is a
historical town with many inhabitants. There will be a
problem," he said.
Czech Interior minister Stanislav Gross assured the
public that they are prepared and urged them not be taken
aback by the hardline police training tactics ahead of the
conference.
"Very different steps (than the ones you have seen) will
be taken against non violent protests," he said.
Protests against the IMF and WB meeting in Prague
started in spring and have continued throughout the summer.
Although they have been largely peaceful, local police have
seen the demonstrations as a barometer for what to expect
during the actual IMF/WB meeting.
Groups of protesters have been varied, ranging from
ultra left wing and communist to ultra right wing fascist
groups.
IMF opposition group, Initiative against Economic
Globalisation (INPEG) favours peaceful protests.
"We have the experience, the violence of the
demonstrators is very small and 90 per cent of the violence is
done by the police," said Alice Dvorska, spokesperson for
INPEG.
The group is preparing an alternative meeting, 'Contrasummit', to
fully express their own ideas.
Despite hopes for peace, tourists have been warned of possible unrest during the time scheduled for the IMF/WB meeting.
The finishing touches are now underway at the Congress
centre ahead of the influx of some 20 000 visitors to the area
at the end of September.
As the visitors pour into Praque, many of its 1,200 000
inhabitants are expected to temporarily vacate the area.
Schools have been given a one week holiday to allow
families to make alternative arrangements, to avoid any
possible violence, traffic disruption or noise pollution.
"I won't be here. Yes I am leaving," said one woman
outside a Prague school.
"I have information that many people from abroad are
coming, and they are very radical," said another passer-by.
To cater for all possibilities, a 200 by 300 metre area
has been cleared on a hill called Strahov to make way for a
"tent town" intended to house over 10 000 protesters from
abroad. Approximately 5000 people have already booked space
in the area in anticipation of the IMF/WB summit.
And as the administration prepares for the forthcoming summit,
students have been planting seedlings in and around the area in preparation for the many visitors attracted by the summit.
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