Who is scared of the news?

While Slovakia suffers an unacceptable high rate of corruption - according to the World Economic Forum, the rating has plummeted from place 76 to 126 during Fico's government - while during the previous government the rating was place 44 (in 2003). This obviously is going to reflect somewhere in the economic dynamism of the country. Ranking 126, whether we like it or not, is not to be underestimated. Therefore, externally involved stakeholders - like the American Chamber of Commerce has taken the initiative with entrepreneurs to step in. But not just in Slovakia alone, equally the neighbouring Czech Republic has gotten the same honour.

Today's Sunday's political discussion programmes on the Czech TV extensively aired discussions, including the Executive Director the said Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic Mr Weston Stacey, as well as top managers of the Czech Chamber of Commerce and Transparency International. The opposite is the case in Slovakia. Although - so far what we managed to find - one article appeared in the economic newspaper hnonline.sk, not one minute of media coverage could be found on the television nor the radio. Why?

While attending anti-fascism demonstrations, this afternoon, the situation was such, that a neo-fascist movement would march before the Presidential Palace on the very day when 71 years ago the cleric-fascist Slovak State of Jozef Tiso was proclaimed. A couple hundreds of democratic minded citizens would demonstrate against this. A reporter of the non-stop news network TA3 commented in front of the camera, that the police separated two extremist groups. In my view, a reporter, who apparently has no other label for a democratic oriented group of citizens, who stand up against freedom-deprivation and intolerance ,as being 'extremists' should seriously reconsider his job and hand in his badge. To my great relief, this was not broadcast on TV as such, yet the mere fact, that he committed this gross faux pas is however grave enough.

What remains enigmatic is why this continuous disfiguring of facts, providing half truths or even ignoring it. Are they indeed so servile to the powers from above, that anything that could damage the image is nervously muffled away? Today was a sad day, which should have been dedicated to commemorate especially the victims of Mr Tiso terror. And while we met some friends in the streets of Bratislava, the whole matter is not giving me a good feeling after all.

MS

While Slovakia suffers an unacceptable high rate of corruption - according to the World Economic Forum, the rating has plummeted from place 76 to 126 during Fico's government - while during the previous government the rating was place 44 (in 2003). This obviously is going to reflect somewhere in the economic dynamism of the country. Ranking 128 is not to be underestimated. Therefore, externally involved stakeholders - like the American Chamber of Commerce has taken the initiative with entrepreneurs to step in. But not just in Slovakia alone, equally the neighbouring Czech Republic has gotten the same honour. Today's Sunday's political discussion programmes on the Czech TV extensively aired discussions, including the Executive Director the said Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic Mr Weston Stacey, as well as top managers of the Czech Chamber of Commerce and Transparency International. The opposite is the case in Slovakia. Although - so far what we managed to find - one article appeared in the economic newspaper hnonline.sk, not one minute of media coverage could be found on the television nor the radio. Why? While attending anti-fascism demonstrations, this afternoon, the situation was such, that a neo-fascist movement would march before the Presidential Palace on the very day when 71 years ago the cleric-fascist Slovak State of Jozef Tiso was proclaimed. A couple hundreds of democratic minded citizens would demonstrate against this. The a reporter of the non-stop news network TA3 commented in front of the camera, that the police separated two extremist groups. In my view, a reporter, who apparently has no other label for a democratic loving group of citizens, who stand up for freedom and tolerance as being 'extremistst' should resign at his own request, at least. To my great relief, this was not broadcast on TV as such. The mere fact, that he committed this faux pas is however grave enough. What remains enigmatic is why this continuous disfiguring of facts, providing half truths or even ignoring it. Are they indeed so servile to the powers from above, that anything that could damage the image is nervously muffled away? Today was a sad day, to commemorate especially the victims of Mr Tiso terror. And while we met some protest friends in the streets of Bratislava, the whole matter is not giving me a good feeling after all. MS

While Slovakia suffers an unacceptable high rate of corruption - according to the World Economic Forum, the rating has plummeted from place 76 to 126 during Fico's government - while during the previous government the rating was place 44 (in 2003). This obviously is going to reflect somewhere in the economic dynamism of the country. Ranking 128 is not to be underestimated. Therefore, externally involved stakeholders - like the American Chamber of Commerce has taken the initiative with entrepreneurs to step in. But not just in Slovakia alone, equally the neighbouring Czech Republic has gotten the same honour. Today's Sunday's political discussion programmes on the Czech TV extensively aired discussions, including the Executive Director the said Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic Mr Weston Stacey, as well as top managers of the Czech Chamber of Commerce and Transparency International. The opposite is the case in Slovakia. Although - so far what we managed to find - one article appeared in the economic newspaper hnonline.sk, not one minute of media coverage could be found on the television nor the radio. Why? While attending anti-fascism demonstrations, this afternoon, the situation was such, that a neo-fascist movement would march before the Presidential Palace on the very day when 71 years ago the cleric-fascist Slovak State of Jozef Tiso was proclaimed. A couple hundreds of democratic minded citizens would demonstrate against this. The a reporter of the non-stop news network TA3 commented in front of the camera, that the police separated two extremist groups. In my view, a reporter, who apparently has no other label for a democratic loving group of citizens, who stand up for freedom and tolerance as being 'extremistst' should resign at his own request, at least. To my great relief, this was not broadcast on TV as such. The mere fact, that he committed this faux pas is however grave enough. What remains enigmatic is why this continuous disfiguring of facts, providing half truths or even ignoring it. Are they indeed so servile to the powers from above, that anything that could damage the image is nervously muffled away? Today was a sad day, to commemorate especially the victims of Mr Tiso terror. And while we met some protest friends in the streets of Bratislava, the whole matter is not giving me a good feeling after all. MS