The number of ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia decreased at an alarming rate during the last decade, indicated the latest census data published by the Slovak Statistical Office. In comparison with the 1991 census, people who declared themselves Hungarian dropped by 47,000, reducing the total number of the Hungarian minority to 520,528 (9.7 percent of the population). Conducted in May 2001, the census showed an increase in the population of Slovakia by 105,000, now totaling 5,379,455. Sociologist László Gyurgyik pointed out that three factors may have led to the dramatic decrease of the ethnic Hungarian community: (1) the growing number of intermarriages since scientific research has demonstrated that 80 percent of children born of inter-ethnic marriages declare themselves Slovak; (2) the systematic break up of compactly Hungarian-inhabited regions carried out by subsequent Slovak governments has led to the gradual elimination of Hungarian-language schools at the primary and secondary levels thereby accelerating assimilation; (3) Political turmoil and fervent anti-Hungarian propaganda, exercised by the authoritarian Vladimír Meciar-led governments, may have intimidated many of the close to 50,000 people who declared themselves multi-ethnic or refused to answer the question of nationality, said Gyurgyík. The Statistical Office has yet to publish figures concerning the native language of the population. In the 1991 census the record showed that a greater number of people in Slovakia—over 600,000—said their native-language was Hungarian. [ Slovak Statistical Office — Population and Housing Census (Bratislava/Pozsony) 2001 and Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) October 31, 2001]

At a meeting in Velke Kapusany/Nagykapos, the National Council of the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) decided to continue participation in the government coalition, concluding that the government parties complied with the conditions relating to public administration reforms set by the ethnic Hungarian party [ see report of August 25, 2001] . The Council also decided to appoint four candidates to run for the office of Head of Region in the upcoming regional self-government election. HCP candidates in the four counties are: József Kvarda in Trnava/Nagyszombat County, Miklós Fehér in Nitra/Nyitra County, Richárd Hamerlik in Banská Bystrica/Besztercebánya County and József Jordán in Presov/Eperjes County. [ Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) October 11 and 15, 2001]

The Slovak Parliament adopted the last of several bills on competencies relating to public administration reform. In their push for continued democratization, the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP) had set adoption of these laws as markers for continued participation in the government [ see report of August 25, 2001] . After the voting HCP President Béla Bugár said, “without the tight schedule set by our party in adopting the set of laws necessary for the implementation of the public administration reforms, the entire process would have been in danger." [ HTMH Observer (Budapest) October 10, 2001]

In Královsky Chlmec/Királyhelmec, eastern Slovakia, a dispute between the Hungarian and Slovak language elementary schools over relocation assumed an ethnic dimension. Currently, the two schools occupy one building but the 80 percent Hungarian-inhabited city decided to build a new school to accommodate the growing number of students. The Trebisov/Tőketerebes District School Board allowed classes in grades 1-4 of both schools to use parts of the new building, which is yet to be finished. However, teachers at the Slovak-language school refused to move because they want two physically separate schools to prevent co-mingling between students even outside the classroom. To be exact, 90 percent of the students who attend the Slovak-language are ethnic Hungarian. Currently, a stalemate is in effect since the Health Department rejected a parental request to move only the Hungarian-language school into the new building due to inadequate capacity. School District Head János Juhász said that the faculty at the Slovak language school seems to be only interested in pursuing its own agenda at the cost of the students. [ Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) October 1, 2001] .

A gang of 15-20 neo-Nazi skinheads assaulted six Roma youth in Prievidza/Privigye, western Slovakia. A 20-year old victim, Marek Baláz, had to be hospitalized after suffering a concussion and several broken fingers. Witnesses say the incident took place near the town’s Billa supermarket. Police have begun an investigation to determine whether the attack was racially motivated and have arrested an unemployed man, Miroslav B, 25, who has admitted he is a Nazi supporter. He told the police " “I am a skinhead and I hate gypsies.” Péter Hortulanyi, spokesman for the Prievidza police, confirmed they are continuing their investigation of the case, including the activities of 15 other men on that night. The incident took place after police halted an illegal neo-Nazi concert in Papradno/Kosárfalva attended by 500 skinheads from Europe and the U.S. The police operation included 150 officers and resulted in the detention of 89 skinheads. [ CKT Czech News Agency (Prague/Prága) October 1, 2001; The Slovak Spectator (Bratislava/Pozsony) October 8, 2001]