ARSON ATTACK ON NGO COMBATING RACISM

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000482

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM AMGT LO
SUBJECT: ARSON ATTACK ON NGO COMBATING RACISM


1. SUMMARY. THE OFFICES OF PEOPLE AGAINST RACISM, AN NGO
THAT MONITORS THE NEO-NAZI MOVEMENT IN SLOVAKIA, SUFFERED AN
ARSON ATTACK LAST WEEK. THE INCIDENT WAS MOST LIKELY
PLANNED TO COINCIDE WITH THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY THAT
COMMEMORATES THE END OF WORLD WAR II IN SLOVAKIA OR MAY HAVE
BEEN A SYMBOLIC RETALIATION FOR A SKINHEAD DEATH LAST WEEK.
SLOVAK POLICE OFFERED SHORT-TERM PROTECTION AND WILL CONNECT
NEW ALARMS DIRECTLY LINKED TO EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE
EMBASSY IS EXPLORING A DONATION OF SURPLUS COMPUTERS OR
OFFICE FURNITURE TO GET THIS NGO (A FORMER DEMOCRACY
COMMISSION GRANTEE) BACK ON ITS FEET. END SUMMARY.


2. ON THE EVENING OF MAY 6, AN ARSONIST SET FIRE TO THE
OFFICE PREMISES OF PEOPLE AGAINST RACISM, AN NGO THAT
MONITORS THE NEO-NAZI MOVEMENT IN SLOVAKIA. AN EMPLOYEE OF
THE ORGANIZATION WAS IN THE OFFICE, NOTICED THE FIRE, AND
WAS ABLE TO ALERT AUTHORITIES QUICKLY. THE GROUP'S
COMPUTERS, PHOTOCOPIER, AND OTHER OFFICE EQUIPMENT WERE
DESTROYED, WITH NO INSURANCE. ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR,
THE GROUP RECEIVES E-MAIL AND PHONE THREATS FREQUENTLY, BUT
HAD DOWNPLAYED THE POTENTIAL SECURITY THREAT TO ITS OFFICE
AND STAFF. SKINHEADS ALSO PHYSICALLY ATTACKED THREE
ACTIVISTS LAST WEEK WHILE THEY HUNG POSTERS FOR A PAR EVENT.
AFTER A STAFF MEMBER CAME TO THEIR AID, THE SKINHEADS FIRED
UPON THEM FROM FOUR TO FIVE METERS AWAY WHILE LEAVING THE
SCENE.


3. SKINHEAD VIOLENCE USUALLY COINCIDES WITH SPORTING EVENTS
OR ANNIVERSARIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST SLOVAK STATE,
WHICH WAS A NAZI PUPPET REGIME. PEOPLE AGAINST RACISM
SUGGESTED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS PLANNED NEAR THE PUBLIC
HOLIDAY THAT COMMEMORATES THE END OF WORLD WAR II IN
SLOVAKIA. SPECIAL ADVISOR FOR RACIALLY MOTIVATED CRIME AT
THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR PAVOL DRAXLIR TOLD POLOFF THAT
TENSIONS ROSE LAST WEEK AFTER NEO-NAZIS ATTACKED A 54-YEAR
OLD ISRAELI CITIZEN AT A BUS STATION, WHO DEFENDED HIMSELF
WITH A KNIFE AND KILLED HIS ATTACKER. JANA KVIECINSKA, THE
DIRECTOR OF THE SECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE, TOLD POLOFF THAT THESE LATEST CONFRONTATIONS PROVE
THAT THE WORK OF PEOPLE AGAINST RACISM IS IMPORTANT AND
WORTHWHILE.


4. POLICE ESTIMATE THAT SLOVAKIA HAS 500 ACTIVE NEO-NAZI
MEMBERS AND NEARLY 3000 SYMPATHIZERS. THIS YEAR, POLICE
DEVOTED MORE RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE, BUT OFFENSES HAVE NOT
DECREASED AND PROSECUTION REMAINS WEAK. THE POLICE OFFERED
PEOPLE AGAINST RACISM SHORT-TERM PROTECTION AND WILL CONNECT
NEW ALARMS DIRECTLY LINKED TO EMERGENCY SERVICES. IN THE
FUTURE, THE ORGANIZATION IS LIKELY TO RELOCATE CLOSER TO
POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

WEISER

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