CZECHOSLOVAK JOURNALS CRITIZED FOR BALKING AT NEW CENSORSHIP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01314R000300450039-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: April 6, 1969
• Content Type: NSPR

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NEW YORK DTI ,ES
Approved For Release 2004/10/29 : 3j4-f3pf 88-01314R0003
Russian installations' March,'211
CZeC,h0S10Va11 iaurna1 following a Cticchaslavak ice-1
hockey victory over the Soviet
? ? x~
team.
dents. long cominited to, suc
f
C
:
'
h
-- A - action,
or ~;a
rtns
riticized
Two Soviet Aides Arrive ,, ..;..:.....,:, ,
the Soviet Defense Minister,,
and Vladimir S. Scmyonov, 'a+
By ALVIN SfiUS:iElt Deputy Foreign Minister, ar
Mr. Smrkovsky's ouster, lon-
soug ht by Moscow;. could touch,
off strikes by workers and stu
apxtal'01710K,wYcri97mm rived March 24 without a
PRAGUE, April 5-T11e. EX- Czechoslovak invitation. They'
ecutive'Committee of the Com- Soviet officials were reported
d
lea
ers, that Runsslan tanks
sued a scathing attack on the would move unless the party
mass media today for, balking took drastic steps.. Their visit
at be restoration of tight ten- coincided witli repeated uncon-
sorship. firmed -rumors of Soviet troop
The ruling eight-member tom- movements.
mittee accused journalists in thelCzechoslovak Presidium uon
the press, radio and television Wednesday announced new
of insincerity, protection. of,presscurbs, threatened the djs-.
"antisocialist forces," defiance cipline of party members, and
of party policy and irresponsi-;rebuked Josef Smarkovsky, a
1, ,,, ? liberel member. of the Presidi-[
the 21-member-Presidium that
journalists had helped stir up
anti-Soviet feelings to a point
of crisis in recent weeks; the
Qmmitte made clear that the
party would not brook any sign
of resistance to the decision,
made under Soviet pressure, to
reimpose prepublication censor-
ship.
' The angry declaration was
-touched off by a response to
the party's decision by the
'Czechoslovak Union of Journal-
.Ists. The union's statement in-
dicated. Opposition to
prepubli-cation censorship and said
journalists preferred to con-
tinue to take the responsibility.
for what they published.
The. union expresed fear that'
the,. new curbs would lead to
"serious weakening" of the re-
lations between the mass media
and millions of citizens.
"Honest newspapers, the same
as radio and television," thel
journalists said, "are always a
true reflection of all that by
h' h t 1'v ' o
re
es-a mur r
While the inclination of the
reform-minded ' trade union
leaders and of people in gen-
eral is to forego. any strikes
and massive demonstrations
now; the Executive Committee
implied in today's statement
that the party wanted to head
off even a passive show of de-
fiance, particularly from the
press.
Tight Ideological controls
and a marked strenthening of
the party's leading role were
the order of the day., ' '
The cxecutive'committee re-
self-censorship remain,. saying
they had not shown responsi-.
bility in the, past.. .
to newspapers to prepare desks: -?!:
for government-picked censors
who will clear all articles.
Magazines.' are sending their
material to a central office for
clearance.. There have ? 'been
staff changes at Rude Pravo,
the party newspaper, attacked
by. the Presidium for insu'ffi-
y r
w lc soc
of its problems and anxieties: iI ciently supporting party resolu-
Tight controls on the mass1Itions, and at least throe tcle-
media were lifted in March,ltvision programs have. been dr-
1U68 as a major part 'of the:lete.d from listings,' lhciudrng~
liberalization movement, just discussion program scheduled
two months after the progres='for today.
live forces under Alexander The key, to possible trouble
Dubcek assumed power' from hinges on what happens next;
whether, for example, the party
The reiaxa
nin Novotn
~
t
y
-
n
o
. tion ordered by the leaders was follows up the implied threat to
d dismisses
k
y an
formally approved by the Na'. Mr Smrkovs
tional Assembly last June, and. him from his high party posts,
until this week, the mass media! leaving him only with the dis-
had been operating under self-; tinction of deputy chairman of
censorship with guidelines. .j the National Assembly.
New' limitations imposed on! An ominous sign was seen by
the press under a Central Cor -I his supporters today in an artl-
mittee resolution in November 'do in Rude Pravo, which said
after the Soviet-led invasion` it was important "when speak-
were more apparent than real, ins; about the-leadership to keep
, The reirnposit}oA~ gyp - 116 11 rqs,
,ship reficctcd Sovi .t ' pressure and not r~'I'it941I~n?'
ufte Cccch?.riotere, ,attacked bcrR ~;:?,,,;,,r ,+, .rc.
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