Social Democrat withdraws candidacy over participation in 1989 student demonstrations

A candidate standing for parliamentary elections for the Social Democratic Party in Liberec has withdrawn his name from the ballot after it was discovered that he was a member of the communist police force that attacked student demonstrators on November 17, 1989. The regional head of the Social Democrats told the news website iDnes that Radek Polma had withdrawn his candidacy on Friday to avoid influencing the election. Archives show Mr Polma as having been a constable in the cordon which rammed and then attempted to disperse the protestors. Mr Polma, who was then 19 years old, says that he had been stationed away from the clashes, in which numerous students were beaten and injured. The Social Democratic Party confirmed last month that he would be removed from the ballot if their candidate was found to have violently opposed the demonstration.