Czechs mark 20th anniversary of start of Velvet Revolution

Czechs on Tuesday began to mark the 20th anniversary of the start of the Velvet Revolution with a series of commemorative events, exhibitions and concerts across the country. In Prague alone around 20 special events are being staged on November 17. Czech television will during the afternoon and early evening recreate the events surrounding the students’ march in Prague whose brutal suppression sparked the civic protests that were to topple the Communist regime.

Around 4,500 people took part in a march retracing the students’ steps 20 years ago. The event organised by the civic association Opona will end in Narodní třída with speeches and a concert. Speakers will include Chinese journalist Kao Ju and Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov. The students’ demonstration of 1989 had been authorised by the authorities to mark international students’ day and the martyrdom of Jan Opletal and other students during the Nazi occupation of the country 50 years earlier.