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The First Officially Permitted Demonstration of Opposition Forces in Prague

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The First Officially Permitted Demonstration of Opposition Forces in Prague 10. 12. 1988 The first officially permitted demonstration of opposition forces in Prague. This takes place on the occasion of the visit of French president François Mitterrand to Prague. casova osa-A.indd 1 09.10.19 15:50 The Palach Week – demonstrations and events commemorating 20 years after the self-immolation of student Jan Palach and ruthlessly suppressed by the security apparatus. Václav Havel and others imprisoned imprisoned 15. - 21. 1. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 2 09.10.19 15:50 4. 6. and 18. 6. 1989 Elections take place in Poland with a sweeping victory for the Solidarity movement. casova osa-A.indd 3 09.10.19 15:50 Charter 77 drafts “Several Sentences”, a petition criticising the political circumstances and lack of freedom in the country. By autumn the petition is signed by some 40,000 people, including a number of well-known artists. 29. 6. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 4 09.10.19 15:50 21. 8. 1989 More demonstrations take place, this time on the occasion of the anniversary of the 1968 occupation; once again they are ruthlessly suppressed. casova osa-A.indd 5 09.10.19 15:50 Several thousand citizens of the German Democratic Republic try in Prague from where they try to leave for the West through the embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. From August to October 1989 casova osa-A.indd 6 09.10.19 15:50 18. 9. 1989 Hungarian communists reach an agreement with the opposition on opening the road to pluralist democracy. A month later the transformation is anchored in the constitution. casova osa-A.indd 7 09.10.19 15:50 More demonstrations, this time on the occasion of the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918. The demonstrations are again ruthlessly suppressed. 28. 10. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 8 09.10.19 15:50 11. - 13. 11. 1989 Environmental protests in Teplice against the unsustainable condition of the environment casova osa-A.indd 9 09.10.19 15:51 Canonisation of St. Agnes of Bohemia 12. 11. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 10 09.10.19 15:51 17. 11. 1989 Student demonstration on Národní třída brutally suppressed by security forces; this ignited social change. casova osa-A.indd 11 09.10.19 15:51 The Civic Forum platform was established in Prague and the Public Against Violence platform in Bratislava. These movements call not only for the investigation of the police intervention on Národní třída, but also for talks on change 19. 11. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 12 09.10.19 15:51 from 20. 11. 1989 Most higher education institutions on strike casova osa-A.indd 13 09.10.19 15:51 Mass protests in Prague and other places in the country from 20. 11. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 14 09.10.19 15:51 night of 21. to 22. 11. 1989 The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (CPC) starts calling in People’s Militia units to Prague; in the end, no intervention order is given. casova osa-A.indd 15 09.10.19 15:51 CPC leadership resigns 24. 11. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 16 09.10.19 15:51 25. 11. 1989 Almost half a million people demonstrate on the Letná plain in Prague casova osa-A.indd 17 09.10.19 15:51 Almost half a million people demonstrate on the Letná plain in Prague 26. 11. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 18 09.10.19 15:51 27. 11. 1989 Two-hour general strike casova osa-A.indd 19 09.10.19 15:51 Parliament revokes the leading role of CPC in the Constitution 29. 11. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 20 09.10.19 15:51 4. 12. 1989 Borders open casova osa-A.indd 21 09.10.19 15:51 A new government headed by Marián Čalfa and without a communist majority appointed; immediately afterwards president Gustáv Husák resigns the State Security command orders the shredding of vast amounts of documents 10. 12. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 22 09.10.19 15:51 11. 12. 1989 The beginning of the removal of the Iron Curtain on the borders with the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria casova osa-A.indd 23 09.10.19 15:51 People’s Militias dissolved 21. 12. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 24 09.10.19 15:51 28. 12. 1989 Alexander Dubček elected Speaker of the Federal Assembly casova osa-A.indd 25 09.10.19 15:51 Václav Havel elected President of Czechoslovakia 29. 12. 1989 casova osa-A.indd 26 09.10.19 15:51 23. 4. 1990 The name of the state changes to “Czech and Slovak Federative Republic” casova osa-A.indd 27 09.10.19 15:51 The first free elections take place; the winner is the Civic Forum with 51 percent of the vote; the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (CPC) gets 13 percent June 1990 casova osa-A.indd 28 09.10.19 15:51.
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