CET ON-LINE*28-MAR-96

Thursday, 28 March 1996 Volume 1, Issue 318

Now an e-publication of Central Europe Media Ltd.

-------------------------------------------

NEW SLOVAK PENAL CODE NOT AGAINST DISSIDENTS

-------------------------------------------

Slovakia's justice minister said on Wednesday that ammendments to

the penal code to include punishment for crimes such as

subversion or slandering the republic abroad would not be abused

on political grounds. The law, which allows imprisonment of

people who organise anti-government rallies or spread false

information abroad, was rammed through parliament by Slovakia's

ruling coalition on Tuesday after it had previously voted to cut

short debate on the law. Peter Weiss, leader of the Party of

the Democratic Left (SDL), one of those who had been prevented

from taking part in the debate, said the law was aimed at

creating an atmosphere of fear in the country. Liscak said

participants of peaceful demonstrations would not be punished

according to the law, but added their organisers could face

punishment if they were aimed against the constitutional order

or territorial integrity of the country. The law defines as a

crime "organised public rallies aimed at subverting the

constitutional system...the defence ability of the country or at

destroying its independence". Offenders can be jailed from six

months to three years or fined. If the crime is committed by "an

organised group" the punishment is up to five years in jail.

The law says also those who "with malicious intent circulate

false information abroad harming the interests of the republic"

can be jailed or fined. He said the law, proposed by the

nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS), the junior partner in

the ruling coalition, was part of a deal to gain its support for

the ratification of a friendship treaty with Hungary. The

treaty signed in Paris in March 1995 by Slovak Premier Vladimir

Mecair and his Hungarian counterpart Gyula Horn, had been

opednly opposed by both the SNS and nationalist dissident within

Miciar's own Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS).

Ratification had been postponed several times before opponents

of the treaty finally bowed to party discipline.

--- MMMR v4.50unr * +[periodo di prova scaduto da 50 giorni.]+