19 March 1998
Alert
Concerns for safety of journalist
Incident details
Eugen Korda journalist(s) harassed(IPI/IFEX) - 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
1998. 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 service (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.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
incident, and to ensure that Korda is permitted to carry out his work
without fear of harassment
Appeals To
H.E. Vladimir Meciar
Prime Minister
Office of the Government of
the Slovak Republic
Bratislava
Slovakia
Fax: +427 5315 487
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
Source:
International Press Institute
Spiegelgasse 2/29
A-1010 Vienna
Austria
ipi (@) freemedia.at
Phone: +43 1 5129011
Fax: +43 1 5129014
@globalfreemedia
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