Slovak and Czech academics and students have given their support to the call for freedom of speech, independent media and the importance of education, which will be made at the demonstration Let’s Stand Up for Decency in Slovakia, announced for today. The demonstration will follow last week’s march in honour of murdered Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner, archaeologist Martina Kušnírová. Speeches will be delivered in Bratislava and many other places across Slovakia and worldwide, including Prague, Brno, London, Barcelona, Berlin, The Hague, Helsinki, Brussels, Bern, Copenhagen, Sydney, Toronto, Stockholm and Paris.
The organizers of the gathering, planned for late this afternoon in Bratislava, have asked universities to show their support. “We would like to continue the debate so that it embraces the whole of society. As academics, who best understand the inevitability of freedom of speech, we ask you to support our demands. Your support will be a strong expression of the symbolic stance of universities against immoralities in our country and a demonstration of your backing of values such as education, freedom and solidarity,” wrote the organizers in a letter they sent to universities.
Their call and demands have been already supported by 15 Slovak universities. These include Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia’s oldest university. “The university has advised the deans of its faculties to grant a free Friday afternoon, when the gathering should take place,” said Branislav Slyško, Press Officer of Comenius University. “Many of the faculties support this idea,” he added.
Earlier, Rector of Comenius University Karol Mičieta and President of the Academic Senate of the university Daniel Ševčovič appealed to state authorities and police to do everything in their power to investigate and solve as soon as possible the brutal murder of the journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner, archaeologist Martina Kušnírová, and many related serious cases. “This should be done not only out of respect for journalistic and human courage but also to ensure the indisputable role of freedom of speech and the protection of the media and journalists as basic pillars of a democratic society,” they stated.
Czech students have added their voices to the appeal. The following statement has appeared on a student Facebook profile: “When political subjects in the Czech Republic, Slovakia or other countries actively create a situation whereby assaults on journalists and degradation of their work become a standard, we consider this situation intolerable. We appeal to these authorities to show respect as citizens and human beings and to change this behaviour immediately. Media work of a high standard is a major factor in a democracy. If this should decline, it will cause problems not only for journalists but for society as a whole.”
Students have organized peaceful demonstrations in Brno, from 5pm on Comenius Square (Komenského náměstí), and Prague, from 5pm in front of the Slovak Embassy at 12 Pellé Street.
An official statement on the whole situation, with an expression of condolence to the families of the two murder victims, was released by the Slovak Rectors Conference, which condemned the violence against democracy, freedom of speech and the media. “Such actions are inadmissible and must not be tolerated. We consider it very important for the academic community to be part of the public discussion on social and ethical issues and the development of a democratic civil society,” stated President of the Conference Rudolf Kropil.