Among the group that’s traveled to Brussels to raise the issue of the anti-ballistic missile or ABM defence system is Jan Noreal – the mayor from Trokavec

He’s campaigned at the European parliament numerous times on the radar-base issue. He says he’s surprised how little MEPs know on the subject.

“I was here in 2007 and was very surprised by the lack of information made available to the MEPs. I’ve come back with it. I consider the MEPs my representatives on the European stage. It’s important they know,” said Neoral.

Because of the strength of public sentiment at home, Mr Noreal has helped form the League of Mayors against the Radar Base. Over a 130 mayors support his fight, 13 out of 14 regional heads in the Czech Republic support the cause. But they face an uphill struggle.

The radar base plans, a pet project under the Bush Administration, have already been ratified in the upper chamber of the Czech parliament, and it’s now down to the lower house’s vote.

He feels that a change in president in the US, and a more conciliatory tone regarding the project from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are positive.

Clinton earlier this month said if it doesn’t work, it won’t be built.

But Noreal says he continues the fight, and won’t cease until the plans are completely dropped.

“Demonstrations, petitions, poster campaigns and online, trips such as this one. We try to do everything to make people know that there are people out there fighting for them and their views,” Neoral said.

Despite poll results, protests, even hunger strikes, opposition views to the radar base in the Czech Republic these people say, get little media coverage there. They say it’s as if they are invisible. But they intend to make Europe and its politicians hear them and start debating on an issue that affects them and the rest of the world and decide whether they are for or against the US’s plans.