PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A leading Czech writer says Gunter Grass should not be deprived of awards after the German author admitted being a former Nazi.
Jiri Djedechek, president of the Czech PEN club, said he will advocate an award given by the Czech authors' organization to Grass, a Nobel literature laureate, not be rescinded, Belgrade's FoNet news agency reported Tuesday.
Djedechek said it would be hypocritical if Czech writers, many of whom were agents of the former communist secret police, now tell Grass, "You, the SS man, return us the award."
The Czech PEN club is to meet Sept. 12 to discuss Grass' recognition of being part of the Nazi German military as a teenager for a short period at the end of World War II in 1945.
Another Czech author Arnoszt Lustig, who as a Jewish boy went through Nazi German concentration camps, said he believes Grass was not a murderer.
"Grass killed only his reputation," Lustig said, adding he was pleased Grass preferred a clear conscience to his reputation and career, FoNet said.
