[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 71 (Monday, May 20, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          VIOLENCE IN SLOVAKIA

                                 ______


                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 20, 1996

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I am alarmed by recent violence 
in Slovakia that may be part of a larger pattern of politically 
motivated violence. During the weekend of May 4-5, a device that may 
have been a handgrenade exploded in front of the home of Bela Bugar. 
Mr. Bugar is not only a member of the Hungarian minority's opposition 
coalition, he is also, according to opinion polls, its most popular 
member. Shortly before that incident, Robert Remias, a former policeman 
who has been questioned in connection with the kidnaping of President 
Michal Kovac's son last year, died when his propane-fueled BMW 
exploded.
  Although it is not yet certain who is responsible for these acts, it 
is clear that violence coincides with politics in Slovakia at a 
suspiciously high rate. I also recall, for example, that Frantisek 
Miklosko, the opposition leader of the Christian Democratic Movement, 
was assaulted by unknown attackers near his home last August; Peter 
Toth, a journalist investigating the Kovac case, has also been 
assaulted; last April, a bomb went off in the car of Arpad Matejka, a 
member of the Prime Minister's party.
  The Helsinki Commission, which I chair, is no stranger to Slovakia. 
We were a close observer of developments there well before the breakup 
of the Czechoslovak Federation in 1992 and have issued two major 
reports on that country. Since last summer, I have been joined twice by 
Senator Alfonse D'Amato, the Commissions' cochairman, and the 
Commission's ranking minority members, Representative Steny H. Hoyer 
and Senator Frank Lautenberg, in sending letters to Slovak Ambassador 
Lichardus regarding continuing challenges to the democratization 
process in his country.
  Although the Commission has raised a number of serious concerns in 
these letters, we have, remained generally optimistic about 
developments in Slovakia. Last week, for example, I hosted a conference 
in New Jersey on business opportunities in Central Europe, where I 
discussed some of the positive economic changes in Slovakia that are 
creating new opportunities for Slovak society as a whole. I appreciate 
the willingness of the Slovak Parliament to consider the views of a 
number of international interlocutors regarding draft legislation and 
note the active and constructive role of the President and the 
Constitutional Court in guiding the passage of legislation consistent 
with democratic values and human rights norms. I commend Prime Minister 
Meciar for his decision last week to seek, in his words, a wider 
democratic discussion of the draft law on the protection of the 
Republic. Most of all, I have been greatly heartened by the increasing 
involvement of Slovak citizens in all areas of public life.
  The message sent by the most recent developments in Slovakia, 
therefore, is all the more discouraging. And that message is dangerous: 
take on a high political profile, and you are possibly a more visible--
and more likely--target of violence.
  I welcome the May 9 statement of the Government of Slovakia 
condemning acts of violence and promising a thorough investigation of 
these matters. I believe it is particularly important that the death of 
Robert Remias be examined in an open and transparent manner, in a 
manner that makes information available to all those concerned with 
this case, and in a manner that will foster credibility in its results.
  Mr. Speaker, the Helsinki Commission will continue to follow closely 
developments in this case, and I expect to report further to this body 
as information becomes available.

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