Dear Colleague / Friend,
(My apologies if you have received this already):
13 February marks the anniversary of the liberation of Budapest from Nazi
rule by the Red Army in 1945.
On 12 February 2005, an explicitly fascist political group, calling itself
the "Blood and Honour Cultural Association," held a rally in one of Budapest'
largest squares. Official permit for the rally was issued by the Budapest
Police Headquarters on grounds that "Blood and Honour" is a legally
registered organisation in Hungary. (On 1 December 2004, acting on an
indictment by the Hungarian Public Prosecutor's Office, a lower court
actually annulled "Blood and Honour's" registration on grounds that its
activities were in blatant violation of Hungary's constution. As the decision
was appealed, the case is still pending so that the lower court's ruling was
not in force on 12 February 2005 yet.)
According to a press release issued by the Hungarian Police Headquarters, at
about 10:20 pm, 12 February 2005, a 22-year-old Indian tourist was assaulted
by eight perpetrators, described as fascist skinheads. The attackers severely
beat up the victim, and continued kicking him after he was already lying on
the ground. The attackers stole the victim's video camera and fled only after
one of the victim's family members drove a car into the gang.
The assault could only have taken place because of two acts of negligence on
part of the Budapest police. First, the Headquarters neglected its
responsibility to protect the Hungarian constitution by allowing a fascist
rally to take place in a public place in downtown Budapest. (The incident
occurred at one of the most prominent tourist sites.) Second, the same police
force obviously failed to fulfil its duty to protect the safety of public
space.
If you are as concerned about this event, and the implications for the spread
of racist and xenophobic violence in EU- and NATO-member Hungary, as I am, I
invite you to consider writing to the Hungarian Minister of the Interior--the
occupant of the office in the Hungarian state hierarchy whose job it is to
oversee the activities of the police--at the email addresses below. I also
include the Minister's fax number and a sample email. If you do use the
sample text, please don't forget to insert your name, occupation and
employer's name at the bottom. Of course please feel free to revise the
letter. I would be grateful if you could cc: the message to me at
[log in to unmask]
Thank you.
József Böröcz
Sociology, Rutgers University / Institute for Political Studies, Budapest
______________________________________________________________________________
email: [log in to unmask]
and [log in to unmask]
fax: (36 1) 441 1720
Dr Mónika Lamperth
Minister of the Interior
Republic of Hungary
Dear Madam Minister,
I am writing to express my concern over racist, xenophobic violence in
Hungary, and the deplorable neglect of duty on part of the Budapest police to
maintain public order and protect the safety of Hungary's visitors, as
exemplified in the recent life-threatening assault on an Indian tourist
following a fascist rally in Budapest. I would like to use this opportunity
to encourage you to take decisive measures to find and bring the perpetrators
before the law, and to use your office to prevent such acts of violence from
occurring again.
[signer's name]
[signer's occupation]
[signer's employer]
______________________________________________________________________________
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