Former political prisoners meet at former labour camp site at Jachymov

Former political prisoners jailed by Czechoslovakia's Communist regime in the 1950s, met at the former site of a notorious labour camp at Jachymov, west Bohemia, on Saturday to commemorate the memory of those who suffered and those who died. The 1950s saw the establishment of some 15 forced labour camps in Czechoslovakia that jailed some 100,000 prisoners. The annual event organised by the Confederation of Political Prisoners saw a number of speakers address the current political situation in the Czech Republic - with a number of speakers warning of growing influence of the Communist Party.

Every year, the memorial event is attended by fewer survivors: this year's ceremony was attended by some 400 people.