CZECH PURGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27211, 14 October 1949, Page 7

CZECH PURGE

Communist Paper’s Admission ARRESTS CONTINUE NZPA—Copyright Rec. 11 p.m LONDON. Oct. 13. The Communist newspaper Rude Pravo gave an official admission that unusual ocurrences were taking, place in Czechoslovakia, reports the Vienna correspondent of The Times. Rude Pravo said the Governmen decided “ that those who have been earning 100,000 crowns daily merely by telephoning must now be forced to work.” The newspaper also admitted that a purge was going on' in Government offices. It added that this differed from previous purges « only in that those concerned in the latest round-up were deprived of their liberty. The correspondent says that, although the Czech public is unhappy and uneasy, there is no sign that popular discontent is getting out 'of hand. The Prague correspondent of the Associated Press says that the Czech Government, rqunding up thousands of political suspects in big police dragnets to-night, demanded the surrender of all privately-held firearms. Communists as well as non-Communists are required to surrender their pistols and hunting weapons and even air rifles.

Meanwhile police arrests, which have imprisoned thousands in the past 10 days, are continuing, although on a smaller scale.

People going shopping sometimes find the old owners of grocery stores gone and Communist national adminis-. trators in charge. This strengthens reports that the burge is aimed mainly at wiping out'what is left of the small business middle class. Arrests in the provinces outside Prague were reported to be aimed at picking up members of a suspected underground- movement. Those arrested are being sent to labour camps for “re-education.” Their homes are liable to confiscation.

Prague restaurants and night clubs are almost deserted at night* and streets usually filled with strolling crowds are quiet.