Final Word from Friday, March 23, 2007
Czech journalists aren't so different from Czech politicians. Both are careful about engaging in direct criticism of their colleagues' dirty practices because of the avalanche it could start. In the matter of Police President Vladislav Husák, Martin Fendrych of Týden magazine came close yesterday to breaking the journalistic code of silence. He told Czech Radio and Czech TV that the campaign against Husák is clearly an organized leak. He stopped short of directly saying that the "leaker" is Interior Minister Ivan Langer (or someone close to him) and that the "leakee" is Jaroslav Kmenta of MFD, but he made it clear enough. There are two distinct issues. Husák's indiscretions are indeed serious and need to be addressed. But running him out of office with an orchestrated campaign is also a serious infraction. Like Husák, both Langer and Kmenta need to be called on the carpet.[Czech Republic MF Dnes Television smear ODS]