Czech republic - fall of Communism

Czechs celebrate Velvet Revolution

Article published on the 2009-11-17 Latest update 2009-11-17 17:40 TU

People light candles at the memorial for the Velvet Revolution in Prague's city centre
(Credit: Reuters)

A group of 10,000 people, young and old, gathered in central Prague on Tuesday to retrace the steps of a student march 20 years ago that triggered the fall of communism in the former Czechoslovakia. The crowd gathered in Prague near the university campus where the original student march in 1989 set off. The march a peaceful contrast to the student march that was brutally repressed by riot police on 17 November 1989.

Those on the march held Czech republic flags and placards aimed against the Communist party, which is still the third strongest in the country.

Speeches were made through the afternoon and more people poured in with different placards, some decrying the eurosceptic politics of current President Vaclav Klaus.

The march will end in a concert in the city centre where the students were beaten 20 years ago. Among the numerous cermonies marking the day was a wreath-laying ceremony where a neo-Nazi party organised a rally shortly after.

Police dispersed the 300 neo-Nazis, detaining 11 people.