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Prague protesters vow to carry out banned march |
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September 23, 2000
PRAGUE, Czech Republic, SEPT 22 (AP) - Vowing to defy a court order, anti-capitalism activists said Friday they will try to shut down traffic on Prague's main freeway Tuesday as the IMF and World Bank open their annual meetings. "This ban only shows the low level of democracy in the Czech Republic," said Alice Dvorska, a spokeswoman for the Initiative Against Economic Globalization, which hopes to disrupt the bank summit. "But any ban is nothing in comparison with what happens in Third World countries on a daily basis," Dvorska said. Earlier Friday, three activists were blocked at the German-Czech border, but about 50 more rode into the Czech Republic on bicycles to join the planned protests against the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The cyclists had been stuck at the border since Wednesday, when officials refused to allow an American and two Italians go across. Most of the others in the group came in without incident in the morning, protester Cyanne Loyle said. The protest organizers have predicted a turnout of up to 20,000 people. But there has thus far been little evidence of a massive gathering in the Czech capital. Czech government officials said Friday they were expecting as many as 15,000 people and they had plenty of extra police on hand to ensure order. The Czechs said they were happy to have any protesters in town as long as they remain lawful about delivering their gripes about the IMF and World Bank, institutions that critics say aggravate troubles in the Third World. "We are here to prevent any form of violence against people and property," said the Czech finance minister, Pavel Mertlik, in a news conference. "We welcome the protesters to Prague. They are coming with a message that should be discussed." Protesters, meanwhile, lashed out at a municipal court decision issued Thursday, upholding a government ban on the march through Prague on Tuesday. Officials said the march would snarl traffic. "The shocking decision to ban the march won't stop us from protesting against global capitalism, here and around the world," said Alex Callinicos, a self-described anti-capitalism activist. Perhaps more ambitiously, the activists say they hope to surround the convention center where the IMF and World Bank delegates will meet, to prevent them from leaving. |