H. E. Vladimir Meciar
Prime Minister
Office of the Government of
the Slovak Republic
Bratislava
Slovakia

Vienna, 19 March 1998

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI) is most concerned about the safety of Eugen Korda, Slovakia correspondent for the Prague-based TV station, Nova Television.

In what appears to be the latest incident of harassment against the journalist, Korda’s new car was seriously damaged by unidentified persons on 18 March. The tires of his new Opel Corsa were slashed, the body work damaged, and the windows smashed with an iron bar, which Korda found lying in front of his house door.

Korda, who is not popular among the supporters of the Slovak government, has been harassed in the past. In a report to Parliament in 1995, the head of the Slovak secret services (SIS), Ivan Lexa, mentioned a certain Eugen K in connection with what he called “anti-Slovak elements.” Korda’s previous car was damaged three months ago, he has received threatening phone calls, and he is constantly being followed by unidentified persons.

Last year, the car belonging to journalist Petr Toth was torched by unknown persons. Toth was investigating the 1995 kidnapping of former President Michal Kovac’s son and the alleged involvement of the SIS in the crime.

IPI, the global network of editors and media executives, is deeply concerned about the increasingly hostile climate for journalists in Slovakia and fears that Korda is being harassed for exercising his profession. We therefore urge Your Excellency to initiate an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident, and to ensure that Korda is permitted to carry out his work without fear of harassment.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director