FAR-RIGHTISTS MARCH IN SUPPORT OF CONVICTED SKINHEAD (Czech Rep.)

24/7/2010- About 150 far right's fans marched through Svitavy this afternoon in support of Vlastimil Pechanec, a skinhead who serves a prison sentence for murdering a Romany. As a march against racism was held in the same town earlier Saturday, the authorities are afraid that a possible conflict may broke out between participants in the two events. Chanting slogans such as "This is no law-abiding state," "Political trials" and "Pechanec is no murderer," the supporters of the extreme right have arrived at Svitavy's central square where speeches are to be delivered. The march has been accompanied by mounted police and watched by a police helicopter. Earlier this afternoon, about 30 opponents of racism marched through Svitavy, including members of anti-fascist and anti-racism groupings and also young communists and other left-wing supporters. They were joined by local Romanies. The anti-racism march stopped at the night club where Pechanec in 2001 stabbed a 30-year-old Romany, Ota Absolon, twice in his abdomen. Absolon was rushed to hospital but succumbed to the fatal injury. Court sentenced Pechanec to 17 years. Absolon's girl-friend died from cancer in 2002. The couple had two small children. Pechanec defended himself at court saying the whole trial was fabricated and evidence made up. Far-right fans hold meetings in Svitavy, a town with about 17,500 inhabitants, in support of Pechanec every year. An anti-racism meeting was held in the town last year as well.
© The Prague Daily Monitor