Mgr. Marián Sedílek

“Some time ago we had a meeting and a colleague reminded me of an event, of which I lack memory. We expressed distrust towards professors. We had a lustration list and we had to say a name of a professor and yes, we agree, no we disagree, and I was reading it. Dada Bombíková said to me, that she lacked courage for that, so I took it. I was reading it. It was unpleasant, I had mixed feelings, even when I was merely reading it, I carried the message which decided about destiny of some people. On the other hand, I calmed myself with the notion that it was a collective decision, not mine. We had some interesting discussions, when the people started to attack us for daring to do this. They claimed, we should be grateful for being accepted and threatened to name everyone who was accepted only because of contacts. And Milan Novotny came forward, confessed he was accepted because of contacts, which is wrong, and we want to change it.” “And how did this expressing of trust and distrust look like? Were there any professors?” “Yes, we read a name and we said, in principle, whether we think they should stay at the university. It was yes or no.” “And the ones who received had to leave the department?” “Yes, more or less. We decided about that.”

"It was Monday, I think the 13th of November, when the proces with The Bratislava Five took place and we attended the manifestation in support of these people before the kridlo of Justicny palac. Since I really enjoyed photography, I took pictures of this event. It finished in the morning around 9 and we returned to the university for history of scientific communism. We got on a tram on current Americke square and albeit I did not notice it, I was followed by two men, when I was entering the elevator at the university. They asked to speak with me, about the photographs. They said I also took pictues of members of secrete police, which si forbidden, and they want the film. And I must admit I submitted it/gave it to them. I was scared. They were so persuasive, that I simply gave it to them. I even said them, I have some private pictures on the film, my daughter was small. I asked whether they would return it to me, they said, of course. Of course, they did not return it. Only upstairs in lecture hall did I realise what I have done, because everyone attended was pictured there. On the other hand classmates consoled me, that I was not the only one taking pictures, and they have us nevertheless. This was my only experience with state police, but I feel guilty about handing the film to them even today."