The revolution from the perspective of a visiting student












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            * Keys to freedom: The revolution from the perspective of a visiting student
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            This year the Czech Republic celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution - on

            meaningful historic events in the country. The Velvet Revolution is an unforgettable momen
            history. November the 17th is a date that commemorates protests against two dictatorial re
            past: the Nazi occupation in 1939 and the Communist regime 50 years later. The year 1989 s

            oppressive regimes in what was then Czechoslovakia. Since, the country has been free and d
            At the time of Communist rule, the Czech Republic did not yet exist: it was founded in 199
            peaceful “divorce” with Slovakia, with whom Czechs still share strong ties. Czechoslovakia

            Communist regime from 1948 to 1989 and was part of the Soviet bloc alongside Hungary, Pola
            Bulgaria, and East Germany. The Communist regime was nothing if not oppressive: there was 

            speech, media, or much travel. One of the darkest periods, the Stalinist 1950s, saw democr
            public figures or others made into scapegoats, face trumped up charges in political show t
            as Milada Horáková, were sentenced to death. Countless others were sent to prisons or into

            such as in uranium mines.
            POLITICAL THAW IN THE 1960s
            Historically, the 1960s saw a thaw after the deaths of Josef Stalin and Communist Czechosl

            Gottwald - and the dismantling of their cults of personality. Prague, for example, had bee
            largest statue of Stalin in the world (derisively referred to as a ‘meat queue’) at Letná 
            blown up in 1962. The 1960s saw the Czechoslovak government enact liberalized political an

            reforms including greater freedom of expression for the press and the rehabilitation of th
            political purges. This period is known as “the Prague Spring”. The period of “socialism wi
            did not last but ended in an invasion of the Soviet-led forces and occupation of the count

            Reforms were rolled back and a new era of oppression, which came to be known as the Normal
            followed.
            On November 17th, 1989, students gathered in Prague to commemorate Jan Opletal, a national

            the Nazis and was shot at a demonstration in 1939 and later succumbed to his wounds. The s
            had permission to march from Albertov to the national cemetery at Vyšehrad, but they went 
            city center, voicing disapproval of the regime. The peaceful protest ended with brutal vio

            riot police: 600 students were among the many injured. Nevertheless, police violence did n
            the next day they went on strike with theatre actors: this is how the Velvet Revolution st
            on November 9th, the Berlin Wall which separated West Berlin from East Germany, fell; Pola

            were also on the path of democracy. Later on, in 1991, the USSR collapsed.
            THE SOUND OF KEYS SPELLED THE END OF THE REGIME
            Nowadays, the countries of the former Soviet bloc or Warsaw Pact still remember their past

            by celebrating the end of the Communist era. In the Czech Republic, one of main symbols of
            democracy are sets of keys. The sound of the jangling keys is a metaphor that describes th
            communism. This year, 21,000 keys were distributed among people by the H21 Institute non-p

            need to fight for democracy. As Václav Havel said “Truth and love must prevail over lies a
            Petr Bouška, a member of H21 promoting democracy in the Czech Republic.
            THIRTY YEARS ON

            This year the celebration was spirited. A student march was planned from Albertov to Národ
            children, adults and elder people carried Czechs flags. You could feel the spirit of a cel
            air. “It is a special day for students. Thirty years ago, people were fighting against inj

            it is a historical moment. I realize that 30 years ago the conditions were different, and 
            Honza, a CU student, says. He and his companions believe that it is crucial to remember an
            these events. This is because of the critical political situation, “some people worry that

            in danger,” comments Tomasz, another CU student. This day is still important for the young
            “I was not born at the time it was happening but, as a Czech citizen, I feel delighted. We
            free for many years but now we are liberated. I think we reached the goal,” says Danusha, 

            students believe that commemoration is vital to remember that the previous generations mad
            and took enormous risks for the Czech Republic to be free. It is a developed country, an E
            and is considered one the safest countries in Europe.

            Valerie Stupnikova has been studying journalism in Prague within the Erasmus programme. Sh
            If you are an Erasmus student with some experience in journalism or creative writing and w
            Edited by Jan Velinger