Jan Šejna and Rafo Muñiz: Difference between pages
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'''Jan Šejna''', also '''Sejna''' in English, ([[12 May]] [[1927]], [[Radhostice]] [[Czechoslovakia|CSR]] – [[23 August]] [[1997]], [[New York]]) has risen in [[communist]] Czechoslovakia to the highest political army post of General of the [[Czechoslovak Army]]. After losing political power and influence in the beginning of the [[Prague Spring]], he emigrated to the [[United States]]. |
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'''Rafo Muñiz''' (born 1956) is a famous [[Sephardi]] [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]] [[actor]], [[comedian]], director and, more notably, producer of [[television]] shows and concerts. |
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The son of legendary comic actor and producer [[Tommy Muñiz]] and brother of Pedro Muñiz; who is also a producer and actor, Rafo began acting as the young neighbor of M\"Miguel" in "Gloria y Miguel" in wapa Television then after graduating from high school, with his father as his father's son in law, in the legendary sitcom ''Los Garcia'' (''The Garcias'') on [[Puerto Rico]]'s ''Canal 4' (''channel 4) during the late 1970s. |
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== Life == |
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From there on, Rafo had on and off work as an actor, but by 1985, he became a game show host at [[WAPA-TV]]. By that era also, he established a company named [[Promotores Latinos]], where he performs as company President and main show producer. In 1989, |
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=== Rise to power === |
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During the 50s and 60s, Šejna rose through the ranks of the [[Communist Party of Czechoslovakia]] ''(KSČ)'' thanks to his political contacts and friends – like with Antonín Novotný Jr., the son of President [[Antonín Novotný]] and General Lomský at the Ministry of National Defence ''(Ministerstvo národní obrany, MNO)'' – built up a privileged position in the Czechoslovak People's Army ''(Československá lidová armáda, ČSLA). |
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Since the 1980s, Muñiz has been one of the top music promoters/managers in Puerto Rico, and his firm represented such artists as Ruben Blades, [[Olga Tanon]], [[Gilberto Santa Rosa]], and many others in their concerts in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Panama. Tanon split from his company in 2002, Muñiz, however, kept busy and quickly signed another [[merengue (music)|Merengue]] singer, [[Melina León]] and TV personality, [[Silverio Perez]], to be represented by him. Currently represents Luis Raul, Puerto Rico's leading stand up comedian and internationally renowned singer Jailene Cintron. Some of his proyects in the mainland U.S. include "ViVa Puente" a star studded tribute to the late Puerto Rican superstar Tito Puente in New York, L.A., Miami and Dallas. He has produced concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Jackie Gleason Theater among other venies. |
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In [[1956]], he became Chief of the Secretariat of the MNO, in [[1963]] the Chief Secretary of the Main Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia ''(KSČ)'' at the MNO. In October [[1967]] he was promoted to the rank of General. He fully supported [[Stalinist]] practices of suppression and intimidation. |
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==See also== |
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Before the [[Prague Spring]] of [[1968]] began, the Czechoslovak Communist Party and affiliated members of the Soviet regime sought change through new leadership. Novotný's position as First Secretary (since 1953) and President (since 1957) weakened. |
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*[[List of famous Puerto Ricans]] |
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Soon, there were speculations about Šejna personal participation in the planned military action of the army to support Novotný in the first weeks of 1968. Expecting backlash from reformers, "… General Jan Šejna convinced the presidium of the Main Party Committee in the Ministry of Defense to send to the Central Committee a petition … insisting on Novotný’s retention as first secretary". When Šejna failed at Novotný’s reinstatement through politics, he began plotting a military coup. This effort failed to gain the support it needed. |
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Novotný was finally replaced by [[Alexander Dubček]], a reform minded member of the Czechoslovak party presidium, as leader of the party. |
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[[Category:Puerto Rican comedians]] |
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[[Category:Puerto Rican comedy and humor]] |
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=== Losing power, changing sides === |
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Losing his political influence, Šejna was under investigation for corruption: "… the official case against General Šejna was limited to charges that he had allegedly misappropriated 300,000 crowns ($20,000) worth of state-owned alfalfa and clover seed". However, before he could be arrested he emigrated in February 1968 with his son and 22-year-old girlfriend to the USA. |
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[[Category:Puerto Rican television producers]] |
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News of Šejna’s indictment and defection quickly spread through Czechoslovakia’s increasingly open press. He soon came to be known as "Clover Seed General" for his alleged massive embezzlement of clover. Soon after he was completely removed from power. |
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Šejna was granted asylum in the United States, much to the dismay of Soviet authorities, and became an intelligence source for American agencies and policy makers. According to Czechoslovak [[Ambassador]] Duda, it was ironic that, "Šejna, who represented the worst elements of the conservative clique in Prague, should find haven in the United States". |
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In [[1970]], Šejna was sentenced by Czechoslovak courts ''in absentia'' to ten years in prison, to the forfeiture of his property and loss of all of his official titles and decorations. ČSSR unsuccessfully requested the USA to extradite him. |
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=== Life in the United States === |
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In the following three decades in the United States, Šejna worked as a counterintelligence analyst for the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and later as a consultant to the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] until his death in [[1997]]. He spoke out in interviews and appeared before [[U.S. Congressional committee]]s. |
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=== Facts and fiction === |
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He claimed, "that the Soviet intelligence agency directed terrorist training camps in Czechoslovakia in the mid-60s … the [[Soviet Union]] collaborated with [[North Korea]] in the capture of the [[USS Pueblo (AGER-2)|U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo]] from Pacific waters in 1968 and that [[Cuba]] and [[Czechoslovakia]] worked together to establish drug-trafficking networks throughout Latin America and to infiltrate those in existence … the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia tested drugs on U.S. [[prisoners of war]] during the Korean and Vietnam wars". |
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In his book ''[[We will bury you|We Will Bury You]]'', Sejna gave an insight into Soviet Cold War strategies, quoting [[Konstantin Katushev]], secretary of the Soviet Central Committee: "If we can impose on the U.S.A. the external restraints proposed in our Plan, and seriously disrupt the American economy, the working and the lower middle classes will suffer the consequences and they will turn on the society that has failed them. They will be ready for revolution". |
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He provided a lot of interesting facts about the communist power system and its protagonists. However, he also fabricated some mere speculations. Along with the information he provided concerning covert Soviet strategy, he also gave the West an otherwise shrouded picture of political strife and reform in the Communist state of Czechoslovakia. |
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Šejna is remembered as "one of the highest ranking Communists ever to defect to the West". |
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== Speculations == |
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:''(some of them)'' |
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==== by Šejna ==== |
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* Czechoslovaks participated in [[human experiments]] on US [[POW]]s in [[North Korea]] in the early 50s (see also section [[Ludvík_Souček#Speculations_about_medical_experiments_on_POWs|Speculations about medical experiments on POWs]] in the [[Ludvík Souček]] entry) |
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==== by others ==== |
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* He died "under suspicious circumstances" |
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==References== |
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* [[Peter Hruby|Hruby, Peter]]: ''Fools and Heroes: The Changing Role of Communist Intellectuals in Czechoslovakia'', Peramom Press (Aust.), Potts Point, Australia, 1980 (pg. 171) |
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* [[J.F.N. Bradley|Bradley, J.F.N.]]: ''Politics in Czechoslovakia, 1945-1971'', University Press of America, Washington, D.C., 1989 (pg. 122) |
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* [[Kenneth Skoug|Skoug, Kenneth]]: ''Czechoslovakia’s Lost Fight for Freedom 1967-1969: An American Embassy Perspective'', Praeger Publishers, Westport, CT, 1999 (pg. 55) |
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* [[Jonathan Randal|Randal, Jonathan]]: ''Czech General Who Fled to U.S. Is Linked to Plot to Aid Novotný'', New York Times, New York, NY,: March 7, 1968 (pg. 2) |
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* Memorandum of Conservation with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs [[Walter J. Stoessel]], Jr. March 21, 1968 |
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* [[Louie Estrada|Estrada, Louie]]: ''Gen. Jan Sejna, Czech Defector, Dies'', The Washington Post, Washington D.C.: August 27, 1997 |
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* Sejna, Jan: ''We Will Bury You'', Sidgwick & Jackson, London, England,1982 (pg. 154) |
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* [[Warren Unna|Unna, Warren]]: ''Key Czech General Asks U.S. Asylum'', The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: March 7, 1968 (pg. A1) |
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==Quotes== |
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* Šejna should be judged as a prototype of an opportunist and a schemer brought up by the Communist party.<br>–[[Jan Kalous]]: ''General Šejna – An Object of Interest of the Military Counter-Intelligence'' (English summary) |
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== External links == |
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* Milan Macák: ''[http://vzcr.cz/sejna.aspx Questions About Šejna]'', Military Intelligence of the Czech Republic |
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* Jan Kalous: ''[http://www.mvcr.cz/policie/udv/securita/sbornik8/sejna.html Generál Jan Šejna – předmět zájmu vojenské kontrarozvědky]'' (in Czech, ''General Šejna – An Object of Interest of the Military Counter-Intelligence'') |
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[[Category:Czech-Americans]] |
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[[Category:Czechoslovak defectors]] |
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[[cs:Jan Šejna]] |
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Revision as of 20:53, 7 October 2008
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Rafo Muñiz (born 1956) is a famous Sephardi Puerto Rican actor, comedian, director and, more notably, producer of television shows and concerts.
The son of legendary comic actor and producer Tommy Muñiz and brother of Pedro Muñiz; who is also a producer and actor, Rafo began acting as the young neighbor of M\"Miguel" in "Gloria y Miguel" in wapa Television then after graduating from high school, with his father as his father's son in law, in the legendary sitcom Los Garcia (The Garcias) on Puerto Rico's Canal 4' (channel 4) during the late 1970s.
From there on, Rafo had on and off work as an actor, but by 1985, he became a game show host at WAPA-TV. By that era also, he established a company named Promotores Latinos, where he performs as company President and main show producer. In 1989,
Since the 1980s, Muñiz has been one of the top music promoters/managers in Puerto Rico, and his firm represented such artists as Ruben Blades, Olga Tanon, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and many others in their concerts in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Panama. Tanon split from his company in 2002, Muñiz, however, kept busy and quickly signed another Merengue singer, Melina León and TV personality, Silverio Perez, to be represented by him. Currently represents Luis Raul, Puerto Rico's leading stand up comedian and internationally renowned singer Jailene Cintron. Some of his proyects in the mainland U.S. include "ViVa Puente" a star studded tribute to the late Puerto Rican superstar Tito Puente in New York, L.A., Miami and Dallas. He has produced concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Jackie Gleason Theater among other venies.