The paramilitary National Guard (NG), established by the extreme rightist
National Party last year, has attracted some 2000 people, including many former
career soldiers and police, the Czech daily Pravo writes today, referring to NG
Commander Michal Kubik.
The first members are to serve as commanders. The training is to start later
this year, Pravo says.
The NG is planning the public oath-taking ceremony for this October, on the 90th
anniversary of Czechoslovakia's establishment, it ads.
Kubik told Pravo that out of the 2000 candidates for the NG membership, only a
faction would undergo an entry interview.
Pravo says the data given by the NG cannot be checked.
The first 90-day preliminary training started in January. This year, there will
be four of them, Pravo writes.
"As it is mostly attended by former career soldiers, senior officers from
international missions, professional rescuers and senior police officers, this
part will be rather easy," Kubik said.
Interior and Defence Ministry representatives have no information that former
career soldiers and police officers are joining the NG, Pravo writes, adding
that they do not consider Kubik's claim trustworthy.
The NG leadership said in January it would legally exist as a civic association
within a year.
Its activists say the NG will focus on "help and service to the nation."
"It is a paramilitary organised group that will be used not only for our
meetings, but also if there is a need during a disaster," National Party
chairwoman Petra Edelmannova said last year, adding that NG members may help
during future floods.
The NS is a nationalist party registered since autumn 2002. At first, the
Interior Ministry refused to register it, but the party turned to the Supreme
Court that cancelled the decision.
The NS is against the EU and foreign immigrants, criticises wasteful provision
of welfare benefits and demands the ban on all drugs and restoration of capital
punishment.
In the 2006 general elections, the NS obtained 0.17 percent of votes.
vybrali.sme.sk
