The 10 Romany families evicted from their homes in Vsetín, east Moravia, last fall may be given government money to repair their houses. Deputy Džamila Stehlíková of the Green Party said Feb. 19 that she plans to submit the 1.5 million Kč ($69,541) plan to Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister Jiři Čunek, chairman of the Christian Democratic Union and the former mayor of Vsetín, who first evicted the families,opposes it.

A weeklong cultural festival against totalitarian rule called Mene Tekel opened in the upper house of Parliament Feb. 19. Politicians, students and former political prisoners are expected to attend the event. Between 1948 and 1989, 241 people were executed for alleged anti-communist activities under the regime, according to the Czech News Agency.

Czechs who are subjected to illegal wiretaps on their phones may be entitled to compensation, Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil said Feb. 19. A Criminal Code amendment has been drafted that requires police to disclose the nature of the wiretapping to their subject within one year of the case. If that is not done, the wiretapping could be ruled illegal and the victim could claim compensation, Pospíšil said.