Czech villagers vote on US anti-missile defence shield
Sunday, March 18, 2007
INHABITANTS of a small Czech village began voting yesterday in a local referendum on a US proposal to construct a radar forming part of its anti-missile defence system on a nearby army base.
A total of 90 residents in Trokavec are eligible to vote on the proposed site selected by US military experts at the base, 2km from the village.
Trokavec's mayor Jan Neoral, an independent, who is vehemently opposed to the proposal, told AFP: "We want to appeal to the government so that it knows the inhabitants are strongly against" the siting of the radar, which is being championed by the country's liberal Prime Minister Mirek Topanek.
According to Neoral, six villagers had cast their ballots in the first 15 minutes of polling.
"Everyone has promised to turn out. One of them is actually in hospital, so there should be 89 (voters) in my opinion," he said.
Voters are being asked to react in the affirmative or negative to the following text: "I agree that the mayor's office in Trokavec should undertake the necessary legal proceedings to prevent the construction of the radar station of the United States of America on the military terrain at Brdy."
Whatever the outcome, the vote will only have a "symbolic value" as the government has resolutely refused to hold a national referendum on the matter and instead chosen to seek parliamentary approval of Washington's request.
But neighbouring villages in the forested, hilly countryside around 60km from Prague, also intend to hold their own referendums over the next weeks, Neoral told AFP.
"If the other villages rally behind us, the government's task will be much more difficult," he said. According to a survey by the CVVM institute in March, around six out of 10 Czechs are opposed to hosting the X-band radar.AFP
A total of 90 residents in Trokavec are eligible to vote on the proposed site selected by US military experts at the base, 2km from the village.
Trokavec's mayor Jan Neoral, an independent, who is vehemently opposed to the proposal, told AFP: "We want to appeal to the government so that it knows the inhabitants are strongly against" the siting of the radar, which is being championed by the country's liberal Prime Minister Mirek Topanek.
According to Neoral, six villagers had cast their ballots in the first 15 minutes of polling.
"Everyone has promised to turn out. One of them is actually in hospital, so there should be 89 (voters) in my opinion," he said.
Voters are being asked to react in the affirmative or negative to the following text: "I agree that the mayor's office in Trokavec should undertake the necessary legal proceedings to prevent the construction of the radar station of the United States of America on the military terrain at Brdy."
Whatever the outcome, the vote will only have a "symbolic value" as the government has resolutely refused to hold a national referendum on the matter and instead chosen to seek parliamentary approval of Washington's request.
But neighbouring villages in the forested, hilly countryside around 60km from Prague, also intend to hold their own referendums over the next weeks, Neoral told AFP.
"If the other villages rally behind us, the government's task will be much more difficult," he said. According to a survey by the CVVM institute in March, around six out of 10 Czechs are opposed to hosting the X-band radar.AFP
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