[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DEMOCRACY'S DICHOTOMY IN SLOVAKIA

                                 ______


                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 1995

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
concern over recent events in Slovakia.
  Since coming to office last winter, members of the current ruling 
coalition in that country have repeatedly sought to limit public 
discourse, control public debate, and quash public criticism of the 
government. They have portrayed those who disapprove of the 
government's policies as enemies of an independent Slovakia, and those 
who disagree with Prime Minister Meciar are depicted as ``anti-
Slovak.'' The media and the right of free expression have been special 
targets of the current regime.
  A few weeks ago, I, along with the co-chairman of the Helsinki 
Commission, Senator Alfonse D'Amato, and the ranking Members, 
Representative Steny Hoyer and Senator Frank Lautenberg, sent a letter 
to Slovak Ambassador Lichardus to express our profound concern 
regarding this trend. Unfortunately, events since then raise even more 
questions about the authorities in Bratislava. I would like to mention 
three specific incidents to illustrate my point:
  In late August, the office of Bishop Rudolf Balaz was subjected to an 
unannounced police search, allegedly in connection with purported 
illegal antiquities trading. This intrusion came, not coincidentally, 
after the Bishops Conference described Prime Minister Meciar's efforts 
to oust President Michal Kovac as destabilizing.
  Shortly after that, the President's son, Michal Kovac, Jr. was 
kidnaped and literally dumped in Austria. Moreover, the investigator 
charged with looking into this case was removed from this inquiry after 
announcing that witnesses had been intimidated and there were possible 
links to the security forces.
  Last week, Frantisek Miklosko, the deputy chair of the Christian 
Democratic Party--who had been in Washington just a few months ago--was 
beaten up by three thugs in front of his home.
  Ironically, Mr. Speaker, as the ruling coalition continues to delay 
or even reverse the establishment of democratic institutions and market 
reforms in Slovakia, average Slovak citizens have shown an 
unprecedented degree of activism: tens of thousands of people have 
demonstrated in Bratislava this year, 100,000 have signed a petition 
calling for freedom of speech, and, after Bishop Balaz's office was 
searched, 3,000 clerics demonstrated to protest government intimidation 
of Catholic Church officials.
  Mr. Speaker, as parliamentarians reconvene in Bratislava for the fall 
session and once again take up legislation that will define the pace 
and parameters of Slovakia's democratic transformation, they might do 
well to look at a chapter from recent Polish history: when 100,000 
people--in a country of only 5 million--take to the streets to protest 
you policies, you should pay attention.

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