Bush Czech visit marred by protests

Bush Czech visit marred by protests
icWales

Hundreds of protesters carried an effigy of Uncle Sam and staged a mock trial of US President George Bush in demonstrations against his visit to the Czech Republic and American plans to build a missile defence system.

Chanting “Shame on Bush!” and waving cardboard rockets, they rallied peacefully on a square near the medieval Prague Castle before Bush’s evening arrival and scheduled speech today to an international conference on democracy and security.

Growing displeasure over the US drive to put a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland has overshadowed Bush’s stop en route to the G8 summit in Germany.

Opponents contend the shield – which the US says would help protect both it and Europe from a rocket attack by Iran – could make Czechs a target for terrorists and re-ignite Cold War-era tensions between Washington and Moscow.

“We had Russian troops here for more than 20 years, and I was against that, too,” said Karel Janko, 63, a businessman protesting what he called “America’s misguided motives” behind the missile shield.

Communist youth staged a separate demonstration that began outside the US Embassy in Prague, where activists held signs that read “Bush: World Hate Tour 2007”.

Later, they marched to the hilltop castle, where masked anarchists held banners that said “Terrorist Alert: Bush is Armed and Dangerous”.

Several hundred self-described anarchists tried to reach the residence of the US ambassador, but were blocked by riot police. No major incidents were reported.

Polls say that more than 60% of Czechs oppose the idea of hosting the radar system, which would be built inside the sprawling Brdy military zone southwest of Prague, and surveys in Poland suggest just one in four Poles wants the missiles.

Opposition is growing despite repeated US assurances that the rockets would not carry warheads and would be purely defensive, posing no threat to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned yesterday that Moscow could take “retaliatory steps” if Washington proceeds with plans to build the system, including possibly aiming nuclear weapons at targets on the continent.

“Dear Mr President, we would like to welcome you in Prague. But don’t expect everyone will be happy to meet you,” the mass-circulation daily Blesk wrote in an open letter to Bush yesterday. “You are coming here to defend your radar, which most of the Czech people don’t wish to have.”

Bush is today scheduled to meet Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who has shrugged off domestic opposition and contends the missile shield would enhance security in the face of a possible threat from Iran or elsewhere in the Middle East.

Bush will also meet with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who has said he is open to discussing the concept but wants any decision based on detailed talks and expert information.

“We are unable to face the new threats and risks that endanger the free world alone. We are unable to face them without adequate means of defence,” Klaus wrote in a commentary for yesterday’s editions of the Lidove Noviny newspaper.

The US has accused Tehran of covertly trying to gain nuclear weapons capability. Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely peaceful and geared solely toward producing electricity.

Yesterday, Iran’s top security official called US plans for a missile defense shield a “joke,” saying Tehran’s missiles do not have the capability to reach Europe.

“I think Bush is immoral, and I have to say I feel no threat from Iran,” said Margaret Johnova, 24, a university student who joined the protests.

Bush’s visit to the Czech Republic – a US ally that has deployed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan – is his first since a Nato summit in Prague in 2004.

Underscoring Czech displeasure with Bush, the local office of the human rights group Amnesty International was collecting signatures on a letter calling on him to close the US terror detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“It is high time to put an end to discriminatory anti-terrorist measures and respect human rights,” the group said.

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