1987. április (33-52. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

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2.4/0 littl* Rukftell Street, LONDONI, WC.i • Ttl. 01-4&O a/ 26 • G. Ura Sii

50/1987 /E/ 28th April, 1987

Letter to the General Prosecutor of Slovakia

Here is the full text of the letter sent by the "Committee to Defend the Rights of the Hungárián Ethnic Minority in Czechosloyakia', to the General Prosecutor of the Slovak Socialist Republic on the 16th of March, 1987 /See alsó Newsletter 32/1987 of Hungárián October Information Centre/:*

Committee to Defend the Rights of the Hungárián Ethnic Minority in Czechoslovakia

To: General Prosecutor of Slovakia

Re: Attacks against Hungárián institutions in Bratislava

General Prosecutor of the Slovak Socialist Republic, ulica Cervenej Armady 8,

812 85 Bratislava

Dear Sir,

You are most probably aware of the fact that during the night of 8th to 9th March 1987, as yet unknown offenders set fire to the headquarters as well as the rehearsal roora of the Hungárián főik song and dance ensemble 'Mlade Srdcia'

(Youthful Hearts). During the same night a building housing the Central committee of Csemadok and the entrance to the editorial office of the daily Uj Szó were alsó damaged. It means that during a single night, four different buildings in Bratislava, all belonging to Hungárián institutions and organisations, were damaged. This indicates unequivocal1y an organised action directed against the Hungárián ethnic minority. It is therefore nőt a case of a fortuitous or isolated incident. Further, it is to be noted that Csemadok's signboard has frequently been damaged, the entrance of the Uj Szó qditorial office has alsó been demolished in the pást, and the institutions have been abused with anti-Hungarian graffiti; the statue of Sándor Petőfi has been regularly defaced and covered in dirt, the sign above the entrance to the Hungárián bookshop in Bratislava, at the time when the bookshop carried Hungárián books exclusively, was vandalized several times, the employees of Hungárián institutions are often subjected to threatening telephoné calls, children who converse in Hungárián on public transport are.frequently reproved fór this by Slovak adults and young Hungarians have been beaten

* This English translation of the letter was given to us by Palach Press Ltd. /London/

ZG