People in the Czech Republic are getting ready to mark the 15th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, when mass demonstrations forced the Communist Party to give up power. This report from Rob Cameron:

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The exact course of events is still shrouded in mystery; some historians say Czechs will never know the truth. But for many people the anniversary is an important reminder that the Communist Party still exerts considerable influence in Czech politics. The party, now in opposition, is the third biggest in parliament. Critics say it's never been held properly accountable for the excesses of the past. Worse still they say, former Communists are slowly creeping back into positions of power and influence, under the noses of an apathetic public. Wednesday's anniversary culminates in a recreation of the student march that started the Velvet Revolution. Organisers say this anniversary is more than just an exercise in nostalgia - for them, it's a wake-up call to society.

Rob Cameron, BBC, Prague

Listen to the words

chant
Words or phrases that are repeated again and again by a group of people

tense
Feeling very nervous and worried

stand off
A situation in which neither side in a fight or battle can gain an advantage

fateful
Having an important, especially bad, effect on future events

shrouded in mystery
unknown for sure

exerts
Uses power to have a particular effect

apathetic
Not excited about something and not caring whether it happens

culminates
The highest point of development, or the most important result, of a process

nostalgia
Slightly sad feeling of remembering happy events from the past

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