The wrong arm of the law

The Slovakian human rights group Citizen and Democracy [Občan a demokracia] claims that on March 21, 2009, police officers abused Romany children in the eastern city of Kosice. Mobile footage in their possession shows officers ordering Romany children to hit each other before being stripped naked.

“Torture and cruel, inhuman and humiliating treatment represent major breaches of fundamental principles of human rights, the constitution, laws and international accords.” Says Šarlota Pufflerová of Citizen and Democracy. “Such breaches are of particular concern when conducted by police officers or an institution responsible for the protection rather than violation of law.”

The group says that mobile phone footage of the incident not only clearly identifies the officers, but also shows that the officers did not “perceive their conduct as outside the framework of fundamental legal and moral principles that underpin civil service.” The footage is understood to have been taken in a poiice station, and those who can understand Slovak say the policemen were calling the boys “damn” and “f***ing Gypsies”. It was released onto the internet last week.


“The police officers’ collective identification with the intimidation, the entertainment they drew from their conduct and their audio-visual recording that enables easy detection of the perpetrators give ground to a conviction that the atmosphere in the Police Corps of the Slovak Republic tolerates such conduct. It also indicates that the police officers are unlikely to have undergone adequate training and that the police action on Tuesday was by no means an isolated incident. This is, after all, confirmed by a number of other cases involving police officers.” Added Šarlota Pufflerová of Citizen and Democracy.

The organization is now campaigning for the resignation of President of the Police Corps Ján Packa, the Interior Minister Róbert Kaliňák and the Regional Police Director in Košice Juraj Bukuš and has issued an international petition. For more information, contact:

Šarlota Pufflerová

Občan a demokracia 
29. augusta 38
811 09 Bratislava, Slovakia.
mobile: 0905 471 164

tel: +421 2 5292 0426
fax: +421 2 5292 5568

Email: pufflerova@oad.sk
web: www.oad.sk

Watch the incredible footage for yourself. Warning this film contains scenes of violence and nudity http://www.sme.sk/c/4383566/policia-mucila-romskych-chlapcov.html