Czechs living abroad discuss the dirty dealings of restitution
Many Czechs who emigrated in the second half of the 20th century, never dreamed that their homeland would see the end of communism, let alone have the opportunity to get their stolen property back. Though it's been 14 years since the Velvet Revolution, emotions over past property and belongings are still vivacious. This was apparent at the Conference for Czechs Living Abroad, in which thirty-two countries were represented by individuals, their lawyers, and representatives from various independent Czech and Slovak associations. The issue of property restitutions was the main focus last Friday.
A myriad of exasperating cases in property restitution were shared at the Conference for Czechs Living Abroad at Charles University at the end of last week. Controversy over the restitution of unlawfully confiscated property is old news and proves to be even more difficult for those who fled the Czech Republic. Though it is unclear what this conference will eventually achieve, the platform to speak in itself evoked a renewed sense of optimism over the issue. Secretary of the Czech Coordinating Office of Canada, Jan Sammer, agrees.
"There has never been a conference like this before. To say the word restitution was almost as if you said a dirty word. Nobody wanted to hear about it and even now people are afraid to talk about it because the highest political personalities in this country didn't want to hear about it."
For those who are unable to obtain their Czech Citizenship their difficulty with restitution is symbiotic. One must be a Czech citizen in order to pursue a restitution lawsuit. A law passed in 1993 had increased limitations such that one must also have a permanent residency in the Czech Republic. Many Czechs abroad claimed false residency by using an address of a friend or family member. Their standpoint being: why be honest to a bureaucracy that is stealing from you?
It appears that in most restitution cases, either one perseveres using whatever methods are possible, or one grows apathetic and drops their case. Senator Seitlova who chairs the senate committee for Czechs abroad, commented.
"I would like you to realize that out of all of the post-communist countries, the Czech Republic has gone the furthest in dealing with its restitution cases. On the other hand, my colleagues and I commissioned a study and we found there were a number of cases in which the Czech Republic didn't comply with either national or international law. Of course this is inexcusable but it is not only effecting ex-patriots but also Czechs who remained in the country."
An audience member retorted Seitlova in saying that in no post-communist country had so much property been stolen.
Though government representation and open admission to the inadequacies in the judiciary was commendable at the conference, the fact still remains.
"Property is property, so if someone steals your property it should not only be returned but the perpetrators should be punished."
Milos Suchma, the head of a Czech and Slovak association in North America.
