Prague protesters stopped at Czech border

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ... September 21, 2000

Activists Stopped and Czech Border - Call the Czech embassies - tell them to let all through.

Contacts:

Jobst 49-0170-3418-814

Susanah 49-0173-4433-488

Altenberg, Czechloslovakia

Approximately 75 bicyclists (participating in a ride from Hannover, Germany to Prague, Czechloslovakia as part of the upcoming demonstrations against the IMF and World Bank meetings in Prague) are being held illegaly at the Czech / German border area known as Altenberg.

The cyclists were participating in a 600 kilometer ride that was to put them in Prague in time for the events related to the meeting of the two controversial
institutions of global finance - the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

When they arrived at the Czech border, they discovered that some Americans and Italians (with a group calling itself "Ya Basta") were not being allowed in and were not being given clear explanations by the Czech. officials there. The caravaners also learned that the officials had a list of international activists and are now claiming that persons are being excluded from entering based on "activist profiling." Also, the Czech officials were not communicating with the
bicyclists in any language that travellers could comprehend. This coupled with the failure to give any explanation for not allowing the travellers through comprises a breach of normal legal procedures for border crossings there. Acitivists there feel that this represents a politically-motivated action to thwart their legal, polititical activities.

Upon first learning of the profiling and exclusion of the Americans and Italians - the cyclists decided to "be in solidarity" with the peoply from "Ya Basta" and to remain at the border area. Later, they decided to go through and to pressure the authorities inside Czechlosovakia to let them pass. The cyclists were allowed passage, but their supply vehicles were held at the border. When attempting to retrieve their supplies, the cyclists were told that, if they went back onto the German side of the border, they would not be allowed back in to Chechloslovakia for another 10 days - conveniently when all events related to the IMF/WB would be finished. They remain at the border - tired, hungry and cold. Their situation is deteriating as the border region is high-altitude and very cold. They have weathered some precipitation and this has added to their discomfort and exposure. Some among them are getting ill.

Please, pressure the Czech embassy nearest you to let all the people cross freely as they normally do. It should also be noted the Prime Minister of Czechloslovakia had formerly promised (during a broadcast) that he would not keep world cititizens or activists from entering the country during the WB/IMF meetings there.