Stuha

STUHA (Studentské hnutí – a Czech student movement; also the

Czechoslovak Communist régime. It was gradually formed by Prague students in the late spring and early summer of 1989. The movement was the catalyst that mobilized the university students, later culminating in the demonstration and march at Albertov, Prague

, and then on to the city centre, on 17 November 1989.

History

The Stuha movement was formed in summer 1989,

ideologies of the main actors, as well as their getting involved in specific political activities, also led to the winding down of the movement. Three of the main founders soon became deputies to the new Federal Assembly (the Czechoslovak

parliament).

Before that the leading figures of the STUHA movement had met on 9 November 1989 (the day the great 19th century

Socialist Youth Organization

(Socialistický svaz mládeže – SSM) and winning over SSM members who were willing to take part in a mass demonstration for democratization of the régime. This new strategy became the source of conflict within Stuha, but was ultimately pushed through and contributed importantly to the success of the movement for democratic change.

It was very likely STUHA that had considerable influence on the course of events during the student march from Albertov up the hill to the Vyšehrad national cemetery and then, without permission, to the centre of Prague on the evening of 17 November 1989. And it is probably the moderation of this determined group that was reflected in the character and course of the first phase of the public demonstrations and their gradual

Ladislav Lis

, in organizing and moderating the demonstration at Albertov.

Aims and achievements

Among the important work of the STUHA movement was the awakening of the student body and its interest in civil liberties, human rights, and genuine democratization of the country. The aim was also to create another link between the dissident movement and students of what has popularly been called the 'grey zone' (people who did not support the régime but who did not openly come out against it).

References

^ Jan Vidím o hnutí Stuha (Jan Vidím on the Stuha movement; in Czech
^ Martin and Marek Benda, Monika Pajerová, Milan Růžička, Václav Klaus (Preface) Studenti psali revoluci (Students wrote the revolution). Prague, 1990

External links

Velvet Revolution on web project of Institute of Contemporary History, Prague Detailed documentation, textual and visual, of the Velvet Revolution partly in English.
The Velvet Philosophical Revolution, City Journal, Winter 2010
Velvet Revolution on totalita.cz Detailed day-to-day history with key documents quoted (in Czech only). Shortened version was used as a source for Chronology above.
Velvet Revolution on Prague-life A shortened version of the Velvet Revolution.
"In the footsteps of November 17" – Czech.cz
After the Velvet, the Existential Revolution? dialogue between Václav Havel and Adam Michnik, English, salon.eu.sk, November 2008
The Velvet Oratorio An oratorio based on the events of the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution Diary English translation of an authentic diary of a student participating in the revolution plus scans of US articles from that time
PDF, zpráva Czechoslovak secret-police report on the student demonstration Albertov 17 November 1989 (in Czech)

[1] Jan Vidím o hnutí Stuha (Jan Vidím on the Stuha movement; in Czech

[2] Martin and Marek Benda, Monika Pajerová, Milan Růžička, Václav Klaus (Preface) Studenti psali revoluci (Students wrote the revolution). Prague, 1990

History

Aims and achievements

References

Further reading

External links