THE PARTIES united in the People’s Platform have submitted the necessary signatures to convene a special parliamentary session on Ombudswoman Jana Dubovcová and her report of the June 2013 police raid of a Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou.
Opposition members aim to use the session to express their serious concerns over the government’s failure to let Dubovcová speak at its January 8 session, as well as to get parliament to discuss the ombudswoman’s report on the possible violation of human rights during the police raid and to require the cabinet to do something about the inadequate premises that serve as the ombudswoman’s office, the TASR newswire reported on January 23.
MPs from the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) and Most-Híd pointed out that Dubovcová turned to the government over the police crackdown at a Roma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou, which she saw as an example of inappropriate use of force.
“Human rights form the basic constitutional principle of our society,” said Béla Bugár, chair of Most-Híd, as quoted by TASR. “It is the ombudswoman’s office that is charged with their supervision. The government, however, has refused to hear her out and, thus, takes Slovakia away from the path of democracy to somewhere else.”
Ján Figeľ of KDH added that the government’s approach to the issue represents an “arrogance of power”.
“Sadly, Smer acts more and more as a state party that is not fond of any supervision,” he claimed, as quoted by TASR.
SDKÚ chair Pavol Frešo agrees, saying that silencing the discussion is unacceptable in any democratic society.
“They have insulted a woman rather harshly,” Frešo told TASR. “I believe that these gentlemen should apologise.”
Source: TASR
To read more about this story please see: Prosecutor to target Moldava police raid
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
