Czech Republic Names New Government

PRAGUE, Czechoslovakia--One of Czechoslovakia's two republics named a government dominated by non-Communists following rallies nationwide yesterday that denounced the Communists and demanded a new federal government.

In the Czech republic, parliament accepted the resignations of 11 ministers in the regional government and sacked Communist deputy premier Jaroslav Tlapak, the state-run news agency CTK reported.

Communist Frantisek Pitra, however, remained as premier of the regional government. The new 16-member cabinet named to serve under him contains nine non- Communist--five non-party people and four from parties traditionally allied with the Communists but now playing a more independent role. Seven were Communists.

The Czech republic's actions could pave the way for similar changes in the federal government, as demanded by angry protesters Monday night.

"They must go!" protesters in Prague chanted in a roaring condemnation of the national Communist leadership. "They lied to us again!"

The euphoria of a week ago, when the popular movement to end 41 years of orthodox Communist rule brought down the old hard-line leadership, appeared to have been replaced by anger that the Communists were reneging on promises of reform.

Opposition leaders threatened to call a general strike on Monday if Communist Premier Ladislav Adamec does not form a new national government by Sunday that includes more non-Communists than the five on the present Cabinet.

Leaders of the Communist-controlled labor organization took the unprecedented step of endorsing a general strike that the opposition has threatened if the national government is not changed this week.

An Interior Ministry announcement said work on dismantling fortifications on the border with Austria would begin Monday. The government said last week some of the barbed wire, watch towers and trip wires would be taken down.

The Civic Forum, under public pressure moving away from its previously stated role as strictly an opposition coalition, said it would propose its own candidates for the government.

People at street rallies in Prague and in the Slovak capital of Bratislava and at least three other cities voiced outrage at the naming Sunday of a coalition government top-heavy with Communists.

More than 150,000 people jammed Prague's Wenceslas Square, chanting "Resign! Resign!"

At least 50,000 people rallied in Bratislava, and CTK also reported protest rallies in the Bohemian city of Usti nad Labem to the north, Gottwaldov to the east and Ostrova on the Polish border.

The Communists hold all the key ministries on the new 21-member Cabinet. Thirteen members are holdovers from the administration that resigned last month under public pressure.

Last week, the Communist Party officially relinquished its 41-year monopoly on power, and Adamec raised people's hopes by promising a coalition government.

Under Czechoslovakia's federal system, the Czech and Slovak governments have responsibility for several areas in which the opposition wants reforms, such as education, justice and culture.

The concessions followed a two-hour general strike Nov. 27, which paralyzed the country.

In another indication of the strength of opposition pressure, a parliamentary commission appointed to investigate the harsh police repression of a student demonstration on Nov. 17 delivered its report.

The CTK state news agency said the committee reported that 1569 riot police used brutal and undue force against the demonstrators. Public outrage at the police tactics helped launch what became 11 straight days of massive pro-democracy demonstrations.