Opponents of Temelin threaten with permanent border blockade

Austrian opponents of the Czech Temelin nuclear power station have threatened to stage a "permanent" blockade of the Czech-Austrian border crossing at Wullowitz/Dolni Dvoriste. The blockade is to start on Wednesday, December 11. Their goal is to achieve a re-opening of the energy chapter prior to the EU summit in Copenhagen. They say if they fail to receive a permit for the permanent blockade of the border crossing from the authorities, they intended to go on a hunger strike.

Temelin, situated in south Bohemia, some 60km from the Austrian border, was put on-line in October 2000. It has been sharply criticised by both politicians and anti-nuclear activists in Austria and Germany who claim that it is unsafe due to its combination of Soviet and Western technology.