NATO SUMMIT PRAGUE       Nov 20-21 2002
Up To 4000 Protestors Vs 12,000 Police

The NATO summit, which took place on November 20 and 21, was the largest convention ever held in Prague: 46 heads of state 2,500 delegates 3,000 journalists. The Prague Summit was widely referred to as a meeting designed to take forward the further transformation of the Alliance with topics including:
- new challenges and new threats;
- operational capabilities;
- the enlargement process;
- partnership and cooperation, with sections on NATO and Russia, NATO and Ukraine, the NATO-EU strategic relationship, and the Mediterranean Dialogue;
- and NATO's commitment to the Balkans.

Despite very large numbers of riot police effectively occupying the streets of the city and the tightening of border controls, up to 4000 anti-war protesters descended to Prague for a week of actions and demonstrations to show their opposition to NATO's war machine. Security measures during the Summit included: Closing to cars and pedestrians of areas surrounding the Prague 4 Kongresove centrum, Prague Castle and Obecni Dum, 500 security cameras monitoring visitors and residents, tightening of borders and keeping out 'marked' protesters.

Thurs 21st Today a defiant demonstration (number estimates range from 1200 to 4000 approx) marched around the NATO conference centre in Prague. First splitting in two then rejoining, the march had samba style drumming, many banners and black flags. A truly huge number of corporate press accompanied the demonstration which lasted for over 3 hours. There was no reported clashes, and not one thing was damaged. The protesters did however do exactly what they said they would do, and took their opposition to NATO and militarism to the streets in the main demonstration of the conference, all of this despite a huge propaganda and intimidation campaign against them. See imc praha report, pic and the new Black Bloc debate.

report 1, report 2, afternoon bridge march, nato dumped at bridge + pic

Earlier in the day a tiny peace protest summed up just what the anti nato protesters had been facing in Prague. See peace walk report

Summary of the events here.
Photo galleries 1 and 2.
Download Prague IMC radio coverage (cz, eng, deutsche...) here.
For more coverage and pics check imc prague, imc belgium, imc germany,

Wed 20th Up to 1000 protestors gathered on the streets of the Czech capital Prague today where George Bush, among others, are attending the NATO conference protected by 12,000 police, soldiers and even US Air Force jets!.

"People had gathered at the bottom of wencelass square and moved off further up Na Prikope street at about 5.10pm In the surrounding streets packs of corporate journalists prowled around looking for the action as protestors staged an Argentinian style noise protest against the NATO delegates dinner. Despite the hysteria of the media and state the demonstration passed peacefully." See Report 1, Report 2 plus pics

The protests began on sunday with a demonstration involving around 200 people.

Wednesday general precis
Background, paranoia and convergence space closed
Tuesday general report
Cz police raid pub meeting
Cz media claim 'leaders' pose as independent media
Report of indymedia spook - cia scare

Latest info: IMC Praha | Anti nato site news | Radio Stream