Rector of Charles University launched the annual Mene Tekel festival












            ******************************************************************************************

            *
            ******************************************************************************************
            This year's Mene Tekel festival focuses on the theme of intellectual resistance against to

            regimes. The ancient Karolinum, the headquarters of Charles University, was thus a perfect
            launching ceremony. Members of the anticommunist resistance, political prisoners, their co
            diplomats gathered in the mess hall along with children and students, who came to receive 

            competition Fighters Against the Totalitarian Regime As Seen By Children.
            The event which marked the start of this year's Mene Tekel festival was the opening of the
            Despite of Political Terror, which consists of smaller but thematically connected exhibiti

            of the Enemies of the State, The Pretty Girl from the Villa by the River, The Patriot's Tr
            Against the Roman Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia in 1948-1960, Josef Cardinal Beran, Ti

            Terror, The Common Thread of Death, and Freedom and Its Lack in Us and Around Us.         
            Rector of Charles University Václav Hampl spoke at the opening, saying: “I am happy to see
            and who work on projects that serve as a warning against the wrong steps we could take.” T
            resistance. The aim of the project is to show the consequences of the communist regime's a
                                                                                                      
            “Visitors of the exhibition will be encouraged to think about our society and whether it r
            the necessary steps to prevent such wrongs from happening”, said the Rector Mr. Hampl. “Le

            respects to the victims of the totalitarian regime, whom this exhibition is dedicated to, 
            be lulled by the thought that these times are long past. Let us not forget to track the pr
            experiencing here and now, so that we one day do not wake up in the past we though was beh

            Also speaking was the president of the Confederation of Political Prisoners of the Czech R
            Naděžda Kavalírová, who, on behalf of the organizers, thanked the Rector of Charles Univer
            providing the space for the project. “It is a great honor for me and for us, political pri

            very grateful for it”, said Ms. Kavalírová.
            The finale of the opening was dedicated to the youngest people in the crowd, who came to r
            the art competition. “One of the main goals of the Mene Tekel project is to address the yo

            and supplement the modern history classes,” said the director of the festival, Ms. Daniela
            was the rationale of the Fighters Against the Totalitarian Regime As Seen By Children comp
            under the auspices of the Deputy of the Mayor of Prague, Ms. Marie Kousalíková.

            The exhibition will be open until March 6, 2010, daily from 10am to 6pm, and includes scre
            documentary films. Entry is free of charge.
            (Lucie Kettnerová)


            Translation: Jaroslav Švelch