BRATISLAVA, Slovakia—Chinese President Hu Jintao left Slovakia on Friday to visit Croatia during his European tour. While the top Slovakian leaders expressed satisfaction over strengthening bilateral ties with China, heated discussion continued in the Slovakian media and public over the clashes between human rights activists and pro-communist demonstrators in front of the Presidential palace that occurred on Thursday.
About one hour before the arrival of the Chinese leader, human rights activists approached the Presidential palace where the two heads of state were to meet. As soon as they unfolded their transparent signs, they were assaulted by a Chinese delegation allegedly there to welcome the president. Some of the activists were physically attacked as the pro-communist Chinese tried to grab their banners and tear them down.
To everyone’s surprise, the Slovak police didn’t initially protect the human rights group. Instead, they allowed the Chinese agents to continue their abuse. The police didn’t step in until the demonstrating participants made multiple calls for help.
Violence of the Chinese Delegation
Several people witnessed the violence in the walk-through on Hodza Square where the demonstrations were happening. When two women held a banner reading “Falun Dafa is good,” a Chinese activist suddenly pushed their backs, causing the women to roll down some stairs. After they landed on the marble floor of the passageway, one of them was bleeding from a wound on her forehead caused by her breaking glasses.
The attacker tried to hide in the crowd. According to the CAS daily newspaper, the Slovak police already have proof that the perpetrator was a member of the Chinese delegation. If convicted, he could face up to two years in prison for causing bodily harm.
Chinese agents also beat up the Deputy rector of the Comenius University, Peter Osusky, who ended up with a torn shirt.
Men in Black
The controversy arose around the Chinese “men in black” with blue nametags and walkie-talkies, who acted like security personnel, and instructed the Chinese pro-communist demonstrators to attack the human rights activists and to steal their signs.
“Who were they and what exactly was their role in the conflicts in front of the Presidential palace when their compatriots aggressively attacked the Slovak human rights activists?” asked the SME daily.
Former Interior Minister Vladimir Palko points out, that if those men were Chinese secret agents or the Chinese President’s guards, their acts could be classified as an infringement on the Slovak Republic’s sovereignty.
The incidents will be discussed in the Slovak parliament next week.