Imrich Močko

“Well, during the communism, the former Ministry of Interior, those were the hundred percent solid communists. When the coup happened, the Velvet Revolution, few of them resigned, and others left. They turned their coats over and dealt with us the same way as before. Catastrophe. In 1991 I received a rehabilitation decree, thus I was rehabilitated. But not that long ago, about two months ago, I sent it back to our minister. I asked him to place it in the mirror as I don´t need such a certificate. They were the ones responsible that, for over 40 years, I wasn´t a human in their eyes. What have I received for that? Alms? Not even a pension, nothing. So why did they give me such a scrap of paper? I don´t need that paper, I told them. You know, ever since that moment, when communism fell, none of their members had access to me anymore. If any of them came, I would never let him leave. I also remember that in times, when being the politically unreliable person, there was a State Security member from Topoľčany, named Benčík, who used to come and inspect me, too. He was so nasty, always drunk… My goodness, such people had terrible power back then!”

“Back then it was before elections, right before the first elections in liberated Czechoslovakia. There were four political parties – Labor Party, Freedom Party, Democratic Party, and the Communist Party. We all, my friends, the notary, and the priest, were supporters of the Democratic Party, not the Communist one. One of the members, named Cina, was promoted to a staff constable and he called us to the tavern. Where else would we go in the village? So we went for a coffee, some shots and to eat something small. However, when we arrived, all the tables were taken since it was on Saturday. Only one table next to the stove was free, but it was heaped with some leaflets. We sat down and the commander moved the pile towards me saying: ‘Throw it in there!’ And so I threw it to the box near the stove. The barmaid, she was a Russian, reported that action and me to the Ministry of Interior in Prague. And can you believe that from the Prague´s Ministry of Interior there came a committee to investigate my case? Accusing me of what a horrible crime I committed! And so I just laughed at them. I told them: ‘Excuse me, please, but I only hope you know what it was. Electoral leaflets. Pieces of paper.’”