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Czech president accused of scrapping Holocaust survivor medal due to Dalai Lama

Published 10/21/2016, 12:54 PM
Updated 10/21/2016, 01:00 PM
© Reuters. Czech Republic's President Zeman addresses the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York

© Reuters. Czech Republic's President Zeman addresses the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York

By Robert Muller

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech President Milos Zeman decided against awarding a state medal to a Holocaust survivor after the man's nephew, a Czech government minister, met exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama against the president's wishes, the minister said on Friday.

The Czech Republic has been engulfed in political furor over the Dalai Lama's meetings this week with Culture Minister Daniel Herman against the wishes of the Chinese government - which sees the Dalai Lama as a separatist - and Zeman, who has strongly pushed for a closer economic relationship with China.

The drive to focus on Chinese investments has met opposition from many corners of the EU member country whose post-communist policy set by the late leader Vaclav Havel strongly promoted human rights. Havel was a friend of the Tibetan monk and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Herman confirmed in a text message to Reuters that the president's office had requested he cancel his meeting with the Tibetan monk or his uncle would not be granted an award.

Herman's uncle George Brady, 88, was supposed to receive the honor for his lifelong campaign for Holocaust remembrance at an annual celebration at Prague Castle, the seat of the president, next Friday on Czech state day.

Brady survived Nazi persecution, including the death camp at Auschwitz, where his sister and parents perished.

"My uncle informed me he had been contacted by the president's office with information that his award was being prepared. Now there is news that this has been postponed for this year," Herman told Reuters.

Asked if he was given an ultimatum not to meet the Dalai Lama in connection with the award, he said: "Yes."

A spokesman for Zeman declined to comment directly on Herman's statement. He said the president had completed the list of nominees "some time ago" and had not subsequently dropped anyone.

The office never releases the names of the recipients of the state medals before the traditional ceremony.

George Brady moved to Canada after the war. In 2000, a suitcase with his sister Hana's name surfaced in a Tokio Holocaust Museum, whose director discovered her relation to George. Hana's suitcase later inspired a book, theater play and a film.

© Reuters. Czech Republic's President Zeman addresses the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York

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