(Dieser Artikel ist auch in deutscher Sprache verfügbar)
On 11 October 2008 Prague hosted the DIY Carnival which marched through the city centre in the name of the worldwide initiative "Freedom not Fear".
Starting with a concert of several music groups on the river island Stvanice, more than 1000 people wearing masks outnumbered crowds of tourists on the fancy streets of the Old Town and protested against increasing surveillance within the society. The colourful parade ended up at sunset, but some of the participants reunited later that night on the occasion of Big Brother Awards benefit concert which was organized by EDRi member Iuridicum Remedium.
"The recent level of restrictions which criminalize majority of our society is alarming. It is another step towards state where police is competent to arbitrary bully people on the streets," said Jan Nemec, the spokesman of the Freedom not Fear initiative in Prague, in his public speech. "Let your voices be heard and express your resolute protest against these oppressive measures," called Jan Nemec on the participants.
However, the organization of the DIY Carnival did not go that smoothly as might be observed from its results. The parade had to take an alternative route, because the municipal authorities banned the original one on the bases of their fear that the carnival could turn into a street party.
Subsequently, the organizers have lodged an appeal with the court that was later dismissed. The final decision is still pending, though. "The hearing on the ban took place on Friday, just one day after we received an email notification, while the rules of the administrative court grant at least ten days for preparation," commented the first instance decision Helena Svatosová, lawyer from the NGO Iuridicum Remedium, who initiated proceedings in this matter before the Highest Administrative Court.
The official FnF Prague website (only in Czech)
http://freedom-not-fear.cz/
Iuridicum Remedium report(only in Czech)
http://www.bigbrotherawards.cz/cs/svoboda_m%C3%ADsto_strachu_celosv%C4...
Press coverage by the Czech TV (only in Czech)
http://www.ct24.cz/domaci/31917-prahou-prosel-protestni-karnevalovy-pr...
Press coverage by cultural review A2 kulturní týdeník (only in Czech)
http://www.tydenika2.cz/archiv/2008/43/sejdeme-se-v-masce
Pictures from the event(only in Czech)
http://www.ct24.cz/gallerywindow.php?at_id=31917&cnt=4&pop=2
(contribution by Vaclav Mlynarik - EDRi-member Iuridicum Remedium)