Hana Ponická
Encyclopedia
Hana Ponická was a Slovak
writer and former anti-Communist dissident
. She opposed the Communist government of the former Czechoslovakia
.
Ponická signed the Charter 77
human rights manifesto
in 1977. Charter 77 was inspired by Václav Havel
, a Czech dissident and playwright who later became president of the Czech Republic
after the breakup of Czechoslovakia.
Ponická was arrested in August 1989 for observing the anniversary of the crushing of Czechoslovakia's democracy movement
by the Warsaw Pact
in 1968. She was released from jail three months later.
Ponická helped found the Christian Democratic Movement
, a major Slovak political party
, following the collapse of Communism
in Czechoslovakia at the end of 1989.
Hana Ponická, 85, died in Banská Bystrica
, Slovakia on August 21, 2007, the 39th anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia. A spokesman
for the Christian Democratic Movement, Martin Krajcovic, did not give a cause of death. Ponická was buried in Halič
, her native village located in southern Slovakia.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
writer and former anti-Communist dissident
Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
. She opposed the Communist government of the former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
Ponická signed the Charter 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
human rights manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
in 1977. Charter 77 was inspired by Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
, a Czech dissident and playwright who later became president of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
after the breakup of Czechoslovakia.
Ponická was arrested in August 1989 for observing the anniversary of the crushing of Czechoslovakia's democracy movement
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
by the Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
in 1968. She was released from jail three months later.
Ponická helped found the Christian Democratic Movement
Christian Democratic Movement
The Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the...
, a major Slovak political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, following the collapse of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in Czechoslovakia at the end of 1989.
Hana Ponická, 85, died in Banská Bystrica
Banská Bystrica
Banská Bystrica is a key city in central Slovakia located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of the Low Tatras, the Veľká Fatra, and the Kremnica Mountains. With 81,281 inhabitants, Banská Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia...
, Slovakia on August 21, 2007, the 39th anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia. A spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for the Christian Democratic Movement, Martin Krajcovic, did not give a cause of death. Ponická was buried in Halič
Halic
Halic may refer to:* Halič - a village in Slovakia* Haliç - a village in Turkey* The Golden Horn...
, her native village located in southern Slovakia.