Czech Republic: Former Czech President Supports Human Rights and Quitting the CCP

On October 1st 2005, more than two hundred democracy advocates from various countries in Europe gathered in the old town centre in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. Sponsored by The Epoch Times, the gathering and parade was to support nearly five million people quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The first president of the Czech Republic and the bishop wrote letters to support the European citizen’s righteous actions.

After receiving invitations to the gathering as well as to a symposium entitled “A World Without the Communist Party” that was going to be held on October 3rd at the Czech Parliament, the first President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Vaclav Havel, wrote a letter of support to the organisers since he could not attend due to foreign visits.

The letter went, “As far as communism is concerned, it does not matter whether it is Central European, Eastern European, South America, Asian or the Chinese government, which represents communism in Asia. Although I deeply respect the victims of Czech Slovakia (victims from the Communist era), I am sure we still do not understand the profound suffering of the Chinese people, such as the trauma of the Cultural Revolution. As such, I am very pleased and appreciative that you can study this issue and further publish your findings. Our conclusion should not only protect us from misery under totalitarian rules, eliminate them, but also protect us from being naively deceived by their variants disguised as democratic ideologies.”

In addition to being the first President of the Czech Republic and a warrior against totalitarian communist rules, Mr. Havel is also a poet and a playwright with a rich personality. During his term as President, Mr. Havel actively promoted democracy and human rights. From international politics and morality’s standpoints, he holds no illusion of the various forms of communist regimes. His modesty along with his lack of political dealings made him one of the well-respected heads of state.

The Czech Republic’s bishop Vaclav Maly was greatly moved by the parade and gathering to support nearly five million people withdrawing from the CCP on the National Day of Mourning (1st October). In a support letter on the 16th of September, he wrote:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, allow me to express my deepest respect for those who participate in this parade across Prague today to show your concern about China’s future. In China, many honest and brave people are still being persecuted for their beliefs.

Freedom cannot be resisted, as demonstrated by your repeated concern on China’s human rights and democratic process. Your concerted efforts are support for those with extraordinary courage who risk their lives to destroy the totalitarian rule that concerns with only the economy but not democratic freedom. Only when China becomes a democratic country, can it benefit all countries in the world.