Post by yeni on Dec 17, 2008 18:16:18 GMT -5
www.politics.hu/20081217/court-dissolves-hungarian-guard-claiming-rightwing-group-insults-roma-minority
December 17, 2008, 10:04 CET
news
Court dissolves Hungarian Guard, claiming right-wing group insults Roma minority
By MTI
The Budapest Municipal Court dissolved the right wing paramilitary Hungarian Guard, which is registered as a "tradition supporting and cultural association," in a Tuesday evening decision.
In explaining the decision, the judge referred to a march staged by the organisation in Tatarszentgyorgy (C), and said that speeches about "Gypsy crime" made during the event had insulted the dignity of the local Roma minority.
The judge also noted that Hungary's public dignitaries and the parliamentary parties had all condemned the event, which was widely associated with rising anti-Roma sentiment.
The general public might have gotten the impression that "here comes the Guard and it will restore order," which cannot be accepted under our constitution, the judge said, adding that triggering fear in itself was a violation of the rights of others.
Hungarian Guard head Gabor Vona told reporters that his organisation would appeal the primary court decision.
www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/246751,banned-nationalist-paramilitary-group-vows-to-march-on--summary.html
Banned nationalist paramilitary group vows to march on - Summary
Posted : Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:48:07 GMT
Author : DPA
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Budapest - While Hungary's government and Jewish community leaders welcomed a court ruling Tuesday that an extreme nationalist group must disband, the paramilitary Hungarian Guard vowed to continue. "The symbolic effect of the disbanding of the Hungarian Guard is far greater than its concrete significance," said the leader of the governing Hungarian Socialist Party's parliamentary caucus, Ildiko Lendvai, on Wednesday.
The verdict was also welcomed by the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities, which represents one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe.
"The Hungarian Guard case was a test of Hungarian democracy, in which the justice system proved adequate," the federation's legal representative Oszkár Egri told the local news agency MTI on Wednesday.
Jewish leaders have been criticising the Hungarian Guard since it was set up 18 months ago, saying that its black and white uniform and use of the medieval red and white Arpad flag are reminiscent of the wartime Arrow Cross fascist party.
The Hungarian Democratic Charter, a group set up this year on the initiative of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany partly in reaction to the rising profile of the extreme right, said in a statement that it was "relieved" by the verdict.
"The verdict strengthens our resolve that in the future we must continue to stand up against exclusion and the threat of violence," said the group.
One important group that remained silent on the issue on Wednesday was the centre-right Fidesz party, Hungary's largest opposition group, which has a commanding lead in opinion polls over the governing Socialists.
Fidesz spokesman Peter Szijjarto said it would be a "very unfortunate thing" for a politician to comment on a court verdict that is not legally binding.
Whatever has been said in the wake of the verdict, the controversial, uniformed nationalist group has made it clear that it has no intention of melting away.
The president of the Hungarian Guard, Gabor Vona, said the group "naturally" intends to appeal the verdict.
In a statement issued after the ruling, the leaders of the Hungarian Guard called into question the legal basis of the court's verdict, which they described as "subjective."
The leaders of the nationalist organization said the judge's summing up had confirmed their suspicions that the prosecution and the court had been acting under political pressure.
As the presiding judge pointed out on Tuesday, the ruling by the court of first instance applies only to the official registered Hungarian Guard Cultural and Traditional Association.
The group's leaders quickly drew a distinction between that body and the "Hungarian Guard Movement" as a whole. Movements, they asserted, are not subject to the same legal restrictions as associations.
Constitutional lawyer Gyorgy Kollath agreed. "The Guard movement can remain even if the Hungarian Guard Association is dissolved," he told MTI on Wednesday. He described the verdict of the court as a significant legal development.
"This is a bold verdict. It says that if on a single occasion the running of an organization causes fear in a section of society, to the Roma or to Jews, then that organization's activities are unconstitutional," said Kollath. He also noted that the decision of the court is subject to appeal and therefore not yet legally binding.
In an interview published on a far-right website, Vona said the group will continue its activities whether as a new association or in a different form. He added that he expects a wave of new volunteers in the wake of the court ruling.
Budapest Municipal Court ruling, handed down on Tuesday evening, said that the Hungarian Guard had violated the right to dignity of the local Roma community when it held a rally in the village of Tatarszentgyorgy, some 30 kilometres from the capital Budapest. In December 2007, members of the group marched through the village and gathered to listen to speeches calling for action against "gipsy crime."
The judge noted that public figures, among them, President Laszlo Solyom, had condemned the group's actions at the time. He added that the idea that the Hungarian Guard exists in order to maintain law and order must not be allowed to form in the public consciousness.
As well as president and founding member of the Hungarian Guard, Gabor Vona is also president of the radical nationalist Jobbik Movement for a Better Hungary, which hopes to gain a seat at the European Parliament in next year's election.
The Hungarian Guard held its inaugural swearing in ceremony in August 2007. Since then its membership has swelled to several thousand. It has since held numerous demonstrations as part of a campaign against "gypsy crime" and its uniformed members have become a regular sight at anti-government and nationalist demonstrations.
December 17, 2008, 10:04 CET
news
Court dissolves Hungarian Guard, claiming right-wing group insults Roma minority
By MTI
The Budapest Municipal Court dissolved the right wing paramilitary Hungarian Guard, which is registered as a "tradition supporting and cultural association," in a Tuesday evening decision.
In explaining the decision, the judge referred to a march staged by the organisation in Tatarszentgyorgy (C), and said that speeches about "Gypsy crime" made during the event had insulted the dignity of the local Roma minority.
The judge also noted that Hungary's public dignitaries and the parliamentary parties had all condemned the event, which was widely associated with rising anti-Roma sentiment.
The general public might have gotten the impression that "here comes the Guard and it will restore order," which cannot be accepted under our constitution, the judge said, adding that triggering fear in itself was a violation of the rights of others.
Hungarian Guard head Gabor Vona told reporters that his organisation would appeal the primary court decision.
www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/246751,banned-nationalist-paramilitary-group-vows-to-march-on--summary.html
Banned nationalist paramilitary group vows to march on - Summary
Posted : Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:48:07 GMT
Author : DPA
Category :
News Alerts by Email click here )
Create your own RSS
News | Home
Budapest - While Hungary's government and Jewish community leaders welcomed a court ruling Tuesday that an extreme nationalist group must disband, the paramilitary Hungarian Guard vowed to continue. "The symbolic effect of the disbanding of the Hungarian Guard is far greater than its concrete significance," said the leader of the governing Hungarian Socialist Party's parliamentary caucus, Ildiko Lendvai, on Wednesday.
The verdict was also welcomed by the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities, which represents one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe.
"The Hungarian Guard case was a test of Hungarian democracy, in which the justice system proved adequate," the federation's legal representative Oszkár Egri told the local news agency MTI on Wednesday.
Jewish leaders have been criticising the Hungarian Guard since it was set up 18 months ago, saying that its black and white uniform and use of the medieval red and white Arpad flag are reminiscent of the wartime Arrow Cross fascist party.
The Hungarian Democratic Charter, a group set up this year on the initiative of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany partly in reaction to the rising profile of the extreme right, said in a statement that it was "relieved" by the verdict.
"The verdict strengthens our resolve that in the future we must continue to stand up against exclusion and the threat of violence," said the group.
One important group that remained silent on the issue on Wednesday was the centre-right Fidesz party, Hungary's largest opposition group, which has a commanding lead in opinion polls over the governing Socialists.
Fidesz spokesman Peter Szijjarto said it would be a "very unfortunate thing" for a politician to comment on a court verdict that is not legally binding.
Whatever has been said in the wake of the verdict, the controversial, uniformed nationalist group has made it clear that it has no intention of melting away.
The president of the Hungarian Guard, Gabor Vona, said the group "naturally" intends to appeal the verdict.
In a statement issued after the ruling, the leaders of the Hungarian Guard called into question the legal basis of the court's verdict, which they described as "subjective."
The leaders of the nationalist organization said the judge's summing up had confirmed their suspicions that the prosecution and the court had been acting under political pressure.
As the presiding judge pointed out on Tuesday, the ruling by the court of first instance applies only to the official registered Hungarian Guard Cultural and Traditional Association.
The group's leaders quickly drew a distinction between that body and the "Hungarian Guard Movement" as a whole. Movements, they asserted, are not subject to the same legal restrictions as associations.
Constitutional lawyer Gyorgy Kollath agreed. "The Guard movement can remain even if the Hungarian Guard Association is dissolved," he told MTI on Wednesday. He described the verdict of the court as a significant legal development.
"This is a bold verdict. It says that if on a single occasion the running of an organization causes fear in a section of society, to the Roma or to Jews, then that organization's activities are unconstitutional," said Kollath. He also noted that the decision of the court is subject to appeal and therefore not yet legally binding.
In an interview published on a far-right website, Vona said the group will continue its activities whether as a new association or in a different form. He added that he expects a wave of new volunteers in the wake of the court ruling.
Budapest Municipal Court ruling, handed down on Tuesday evening, said that the Hungarian Guard had violated the right to dignity of the local Roma community when it held a rally in the village of Tatarszentgyorgy, some 30 kilometres from the capital Budapest. In December 2007, members of the group marched through the village and gathered to listen to speeches calling for action against "gipsy crime."
The judge noted that public figures, among them, President Laszlo Solyom, had condemned the group's actions at the time. He added that the idea that the Hungarian Guard exists in order to maintain law and order must not be allowed to form in the public consciousness.
As well as president and founding member of the Hungarian Guard, Gabor Vona is also president of the radical nationalist Jobbik Movement for a Better Hungary, which hopes to gain a seat at the European Parliament in next year's election.
The Hungarian Guard held its inaugural swearing in ceremony in August 2007. Since then its membership has swelled to several thousand. It has since held numerous demonstrations as part of a campaign against "gypsy crime" and its uniformed members have become a regular sight at anti-government and nationalist demonstrations.