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Slovakia: Romani dies

01 July 1995

Mário Goral, a Romani, died on 31 July ten days after he had been attacked by a group of skinheads with steel bars who then poured flammable liquid over him and set him on fire. He had been in critical condition in hospital with third-degree burns on 60% of his body including the top part of his breathing passage. Two suspects have been charged with attempted murder. On the night of the attack between 30 and 60 skinheads armed with bars, sticks and petrol bombs rampaged through the Romani district of the town of Ziar nad Hronom yelling fascist slogans. Several Romanis on the streets were beaten up and an explosive device was thrown through a window landing on a small child, the father managed to hurl it back out of the window before it exploded. Five days later hundreds of angry Romanis held a meeting to protest at the attacks and lack of protection. Emil Sarkezi, leader of the Romani National Party, said it was the 38th series of attacks over the past two years. Other speakers recalled a 1993 attack when skinheads entered a Romani home and threw a four-year-old child against a wall. In court they said they thought the child was a dog and were set free with a warning. Prague Post, 2 & 9.8.95.