Bohumil Řeřicha

“I was so committed that I would mow grass with a scythe, dry it, and take the money I earned for the hay and pay it into the public coffer of the pig-breeding production unit. I remember that in 1988 our local ROH branch had the highest solidarity mark of all the companies in the North Bohemian Region. Why do I say that? The contributions of everyone who had sold hay to the farm were then evaluated, and those who had taken a tractor, driven into the Doupov military zone, mowed, turned, and dried the grass and delivered the hay - at the farm’s expense - they were given huge gift baskets. And I, who had mowed the grass by hand and paid the money into the public coffer, I got a picture. It didn’t make sense.”

“I must confess my failure, and I would like to apologise to all the citizens of this country for my Communist history. I would also like to express my deepest and sincerest remorse to those who suffered, who were persecuted, to their families, and especially to those who died or when killed by the Communist regime. I’ve written a number of texts on the topic. No one much cares for such apologies, but I must say that admitting my guilt liberated me. I feel free, but the guilt remains. I admit that I still feel it and I will feel it until the end of my life.”