by Johnny Glitterfist
Photos from techno.cz

Apparently I am a 'dangerous person' an 'obsessed person with anarchist proclivities and international links who provokes massive violent demonstrations, fuelled by alcohol and drugs, against the peaceful society' according to Mr Paroubek.

I was due to play Czech Tek on Friday and Saturday but couldn't reach it because of police blockades.

I am an English teacher and music producer living in Prague. I pay tax. I respect my neighbours. I am not an anarchist. I have strongly held left-wing and liberal political beliefs. I do not agree with ČSSD but I do not believe this automatically makes me an anarchist. I do not provoke violent demonstrations, and neither do my friends involved in Czech Tek, in fact mainly we are pacifists. Some of my friends, including those who played are actually teetotal and don't take drugs. But that's irrelevant. How many politicians drink too much coffee or smoke countless cigarettes or cigars? These are also by definition drugs.

Normally day to day we live peacefully, as part of peaceful society. We regularly play the same kinds of music as at Czech Tek to the same type of people every month in clubs in Prague without trouble. Just young people dancing to music and enjoying themselves.

The function of the police. That is to protect and serve the people? Surely not to beat people dancing at a legally held party?

I wasn't at Czechtek, but a lot of my friends were. The accounts were horrific. Many were beaten, often for defending a girl or young woman from an attack by a policeman. One was beaten asking how to leave! The use of force should be the last resort after negotiation and discourse between the two parties involved. Such action should only be taken in scenes of danger or violence and extreme provocation. Many of the people had actually sat down in peaceful protest and did not attack the police.

Mr Paroubek's misconception of techno fans is endemic of modern politicians, sitting in ivory towers with no real idea of the people they are dealing with. He seems to forget that Czech-Tekkers represent a part of his electorate, and I for one would never vote for him now. People who listen to techno and jungle etc, and go to such raves as Czechtek, may not look much different to the people programming your websites, working at your local bar, serving food in your local restaurant etc because actually they are normal peace-loving, intelligent people who just like an alternative to the mainstream entertainment offered to them.

The behaviour of the police and the government was inexcusable. That sort of thing should not happen in today's world.

Already this has made the foreign news, and while it tries to be objective (unlike MF Dnes) you still see words such as "police beat ravers as they ran to their cars".

The Czech people, and the world, are now watching as to what will now happen. President Klaus' voice of support for the people or Czechtek was a welcome surprise.

I would like to see Paroubek, 1. formally apologise, 2. resign, and 3. a change in the police, which removes the on-going corruption and belief by them that the public should look up to them, rather than vice-versa.

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