Czech journalists name own TV director

PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Striking journalists have taken over the headquarters of Czech Television and appointed their own director.

He is the station's former finance director Ladislav Paluska, one of nine senior managers who joined protests about alleged political interference in the state TV service before Christmas.

Interim director Vera Valterova, whom the strikers refuse to recognise, asked police for help to clear the offices.

Three policemen arrived and asked the journalists to leave -- which they did without incident -- but Paluska and several other management officials stayed.

The Czech Senate on Wednesday began debating a law aimed at ending the television controversy, which has sparked the biggest public protests in the country since the 1989 fall of communist rule.

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Journalist Bruce Konviser reports on the latest developments from Prague 186K/33 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

Senators were discussing a law adopted early on Saturday morning by the lower house aimed at diluting the influence of politicians over Czech Television output.

The strike was sparked by the appointment of Jiri Hodac as the station's director-general on December 20 and has won massive public support.

Hodac, who denied any bias, resigned last Thursday blaming ill health, but there appeared little doubt that he had succumbed to the mounting pressure. Hodac appointed Valterova as interim director while he was ill.

The television staff say Hodac was a political stooge, chosen to slant news coverage in favour of the country's two main political parties.

The bill's main provision is that future directors will be chosen by a council whose members will be nominated by professional and civic groups -- not politicians.

But the Senate may well send the legislation back because it fell short of demands by many senators that part of the council should be elected by the upper house.

The lower house can override a possible Senate veto.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Law to end Czech TV row faces hurdle
January 15, 2001
Czech MPs act to end TV strike
January 13, 2001
Huge rally as Czech TV boss quits
January 11, 2001
Czech TV boss given deadline
December 30, 2000
Czech TV taken off air amid protest
December 27, 2000

Czech Television
Czech Republic

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