Új Szó, a daily published for Slovakia?s large population of ethnic Hungarians, wrote that an obscenity had been scrawled on the plaque which marks the house where Petőfi stayed when he was in the city ? Petőfi was a judge for the local court. The perpetrator also left a note complaining that previous graffiti had been removed.
Historian and head of the local organisation for Hungarians István B. Kovács told the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) that the previous vandalism of the plaque had not been reported to police. But, because it now appears that the perpetrator is the same person, a report will be submitted, he said.
?Someone has been consciously seeking discontent? for some time, Mr Kovás said. He cited other acts of vandalism intended to ?provoke and slander? the ethnic Hungarian community in Slovakia as well, including a memorial which was burned and a church which was sacked.
The Petőfi house in Rimavská Sobota was refurbished last year by the local organisation of Hungarians and converted into a guest house for visiting artists.
