The European Roma Rights Center is an international non-governental organization which works to defend the rights of Roma. On the evening of April 8, 1996 (the day after Easter Sunday) in the village of Zalistie (Hontianske Nemce), in district Zvolen, a 38-year-old Rom named Jozef Miklos died a brutal death in his home which was set ablaze by villagers.They were heard shouting ``We are going to burn Roma!``.The incident began when non-Romani villagers tried to stop Roma from carrying out the traditional Easter custom of ``showering`` women. The villagers then attacked the Miklos home (where 15 Roma including women and children were present at the time) breaking windows, and beating several members of the family. According to witnesses, the Mayor of the town, Jozef Kracin, was unwilling to call the police to intervene, and as thereis no police station in Hontianske Nemce, he was obligated to call police from outside the village. After the Roma successfully defended themselves during the ensuing fight, the non-Roma became angrier and threatened to return during the night and burn the house. The Romani women and children were sent to a neighboring house for protection, while four Romani men remained in the house. That evening, the villagers came back as promised, and broke into the house where Jozef and three relatives were staying. Village men forcibly entered the Miklos home, and began attacking the Roma. Then they took two cannisters of 20liter gasoline, and poured it all over the house, setting it ablaze. Jozef Miklos died in the fire, and two other Roma sustained injuries. A full investigation is under way. Three men have been arrested (none are minors) and charged with the crime of endangering the health of another and the crime of trespass on a private home (Slovak penalcode Article 179, paragraphs 1 and 2). The investigation is the responsibility of the Banska Bystrica district police, and at present, the men areunder criminal investigation. The trial is expected to finish in September.The European Roma Rights Center is deeply concerned about the death of Jozef Miklos, and has urged the Slovak Prosecutor, Judr. Michal Valo and the Slovak Ministry of Interior to ensure that a) a full and impartial investigation is conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death of Jozef Miklos, yet another victim of anti-Romani hatred in Slovakia, and b) that the perpetrators of this terrible crime areprosecuted to the fullest extent possible under Slovak law.