Brno, Czech Republic: Civil society and state representatives meet, hold press conference on recent tragedy. Saturday a commemorative ceremony will be held, not a demonstration
In response to the recent tragedy in Brno, an extraordinary meeting was held at the South Moravian Regional Police Directorate between representatives of nonprofits, the Romani community, the Czech Government Commissioners for Human Rights and for Roma Minority Affairs, the Ukrainian Initiative for South Moravia, and representatives of the city and the Regional Authority. The aim of the meeting was to find a common solution and start a constructive dialogue about the consequences of the tragedy and the current situation.
“Everybody agreed, in a very constructive atmosphere, on the same view of the situation, in the sense that it was an isolated incident with tragic consequences. Tensions are being especially fed by disinformation on social media and subsequently in the mass media sector,” said police spokesperson Pavel Šváb in a joint statement delivered after the meeting.
“Police representatives repeatedly assured all involved that the investigation is being conducted in a standard way and those in attendance expressed their full faith in the process,” Šváb said. Jozef Daniel, the director of the Brno Team initiative, stressed that on Saturday there will be a commemorative ceremony there and called on anybody who is planning to visit the site with a different intention not to bother coming there at all.
“It will be informal, we will light candles, say a few words about the person, and that’s all. We decidedly will not be tarring everybody with the same brush,” Daniel said at the press conference.
A representative of the Ukrainian community also expressed condolences to the bereaved and outlined the steps the community will be taking against those who disseminate disinformation. Czech Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs Lucie Fuková and Human Rights Commissioner Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková each condemned (among other things) the principle of collective guilt and the abuse of this tragedy by interest groups attempting to disseminate hate and divide society.
“We are endeavoring to make sure the principle of collective guilt is not applied in association with the tragic event that happened in this city. Our common aim is to support the bereaved and also contribute to stabilizing the situation. The police are working very conscientiously and doing their best to complete the investigation of this case as quickly as possible,” said Laurenčíková, who then visited the improvised commemoration site where the tragic events unfolded last Saturday.
“I lit a candle for Nikolas here. I am very sorry he lost his life,” the Czech Government Human Rights Commissioner posted to Facebook.
