Stranica 1 [1]
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CZECHO-SLOVAKIA: RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AND LABOR CAMPS.
Economy and labor. :
ring the month of May, the Czech Fuel ana Power Minis try
came out with a new regulation. Drastic and daily cuts were announce:
reducing the elect&ic consumption in factories, working places,
shops and homes. Blame for the existing shortage was officially put
on those consumers who use power in an irresponsible way. At the sam
time a re-enforced propaganda campaign continued assaulting the lack
in working discipline shown in the mining areas, especially Kladno
and Ostravae :
A month later, in June, Prime-Minister Zapotocky presided
@ great party meeting. He took advantage of that occasion to deliver
a violent speech against those who mistake farttrrma factories for
thorough farese He explained that official statistics had shown that
25% of the Republic's labor f ree, that is approximately one million
men, have changed their working place in the current year. Special
"fluctuation commissions" set up by governmental order to study the
reasons for such detrimental labor instability, concluded, according
to the Prime Minister to frequent "sabotage", especially from doctors
who issue certificates not corresponding to existing needs.
These two facts, taken at random from a series of similar
reports, show the weaknesses of Czech production. “ince the expulsim
of the whole German<speaking population - the most industrious and
active part of the population - the country's agriculture, trade,
mining and industries never recovered and has always been lagging in
comparison to established production norms.
Governmental declarations and propaganda have proven unable
to fill out the gap. @oal and electricity are soaringly lacking, thus
paralyzing industrial production. And with poor agricultural output,
prices of living are high and rations low. What is worse still,
armament production kt is hit: the greatest sin that a satellite
can commit in the eyes of Moscow. It is thus for the government a
question of life and death to increase production at any cost,
especially in the fundamental emterprises: the coal output and the
urenium mines.
Forced Labor.
Since "free labor" cannot be brought to full productivity,
the gove nment has only one solution: the increasing use of forced
Forced labor is held in different types of camps: military,
priests! and religious’, general, youth and women's campSe —
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