Instructions of the Coordinating Center of the Civic Forum for the Local Forums with a Recommendation for Policy Toward the Communists
Annotation
The name "Velvet Revolution" was an oxymoron: revolutions were traditionally violent overthrows wiping away the old regime in order to build a new society. The Communist Party followed this model in Eastern Europe, and opposition groups rejected it in 1989 with their strategy of non-violence. But could this strategy successfully remove power from a totalitarian regime? The problem emerged clearly in the matter of communist participation in Civic Forum, addressed in this November 29 directive from Prague's Coordination Committee. The directive specified that individuals were to be admitted to Civic Forum based upon their acceptance of its program and goals; prior political affiliation was irrelevant. Civic Forum was struggling to define the enemy: was it the communists themselves, or the methods they used? If the Forum condemned all party members because of their ideology, they would be copying the party's methods. Yet the danger of sabotage was real and it was necessary to remove communists from power. The directive posed the dilemma as a question of democracy: the communists' wholesale elimination was unacceptable because "we can only build democracy by democratic means!" Indeed, the inclusion of communists in society supported political pluralism, which the Forum considered essential to a truly democratic system.
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Instructions of the Coordinating Center of the Civic Forum for the Local Forums with a Recommendation for Policy Toward the Communists
Prague, 29 November 1989
In the last two days information is coming from individual Civic Forums in the regions
and especially in the factories and workplaces about communists becoming members, sometimes
with intent to control them. We are democrats and therefore we can not prohibit our fellow
citizens, without regard to their party affiliation, from joining and participating in the new
structures of the civic movement. It is necessary, however, for all who work in them to be honest
followers of our movement, the basic goal of which is, as introduced in the declaration on the
internal organization of the CF from 28 November, “the complete opening of an environment for
the creation of political pluralism and for the organization of free elections in our country.” A
person whose actions are in blatant contradiction with efforts to create a democratic [society]
while fully respecting human rights does not belong here, and it is necessary to expel him from
the Civic Forum. This without regard to his party affiliation. Such an expulsion is especially
urgent in those instances where there is a larger group of opponents of democracy [than honest
members] in the forum. If there is a majority of them anywhere, it is necessary for the followers
of the civic movement to leave the forum, found a new forum, and release a statement about their
action. The opponents of democracy are in the minority, let us not let them rule and frighten us!
In order to avoid such conflicts, we must be careful when accepting new Civic Forum members
and in particular members of its committees, commissions et. al., especially in those cases when
CPCz members are applying for work. It is unacceptable for any kind of group within the CF (for
example, CPCz members, but also others) to assert their so-called party discipline, according to
which all the members of this group are bound to a common plan of action, including those who
would otherwise disagree with the plan.
The existence of various political and social groups, including communist ones, their
activity and their influence over public opinion is, on the contrary, very demanding outside of the
framework of the forums and certainly should not develop into discrimination against any group
during speeches at public gatherings, in workers’ and local presses etc.
We can only build democracy by democratic means!
In some establishments and places, civic activities are coming up against refusals to
negotiate with Forum representatives by the organs of state power, national committees, business
managements etc. It usually occurs where the forums have not yet gained greater support from
fellow citizens or co-workers. Only one thing will help in this situation: turn to the citizens and
factory workers, inform them of your activity and challenge them to take part in it. If you will be
many, no chairman of a national committee or factory director will refuse to negotiate with you.
[Source:USD AV CR , KC OF Archive, file OF Documents—typescript copy A4, 1 p. Translated by Caroline Kovtun.].
Credits
The Civic Forum, "Instructions of the Coordinating Center of the Civic Forum for the Local Forums with a Recommendation for Policy Toward the Communists," 29 November 1989, Cold War International History Project, Documents and Papers, CWIHP (accessed May 14, 2008).