A MEASZ levele a három közjogi méltóságnak

Budapest, October 23, 2012

Dear Political Dignitaries,

Mr. President of Hungary, János Áder,

Mr. Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán,

Mr. Chairman of Parliament, László Kövér,

The presidium of the social organization, the Hungarian Alliance of Resistance and Anti-fascist fighters (MEASZ) – Unity for Democracy informs you about the following resolution and at the same time requests you to make the necessary steps.

MEASZ was formed on May 15, 1945 and is as old as the European peace. In 1989 the present Prime Minister gave a memorial service to the members of our organization during the reburial of the martyrs of 1956, namely in all the five reburied coffins former members of MEASZ rested. MEASZ also took part in the roundtable meetings which laid down the basis for a peaceful regime transition. Our organization gathers all those who were on the side of an anti-Hitler coalition of armed and political resistance fighters, as well as those young people who – based on the moral legacy of the former resistance fighters – stand up for the cause of democracy and peace against racism, anti-Semitism, and all forms of exclusion.

Unfortunately nowdays the far-right ideas and opinions are widely spread. These question and do not accept the victory of the allied countries and the Paris Peace Agreement of 1947. Hungary’s far-right Jobbik party known for its nationalist, racist, anti-semitic rethoric and for its denial of democracy, is becomming even louder. Swear words against Gypsies and Jews became a daily habit of everyday life. This party’s parliament members clarify the Jews living in Hungary as undesirable and heat up the accusation against them with the so-called blood libel committed in Tiszaeszlár (Hungary) during the end of the 19^th century.

The glorification of the Horthy-regime and of its regent, Horthy is intensifying. Some do not want to remember when and why Hungary entered the Second World War on Hitler’s side, how and why we became the last satellite of Nazi Germany. Hungary declared war against the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the United States. Some forget that on January 12, 1943 the Second Hungarian Army was defeated at the Don River. It is clear that the regent Horthy, Prime Minister Bárdossy and the general staff were responsible for Hungary’s entrance into the war and for the tragedy of the Second Hungarian Army.

Another unforgivable sin of Horthy and his government is that after the German occupation on March 19, 1944 more than six hundred thousand Hungarian jews, gypsies, handicapped people, members of minority churches, gays, and last but not least anti-fascist resistance fighters – all those who did not fit the requirements of the Nazi clear-race or those who stood up politicaly and with arms against the Nazi terror – were sentenced to death. Horthy nominated Döme Sztójay, a convinced Nazi-man as prime minister and gave him a free hand.

Nowdays however not those are praised with recognation who have done something for the peace or for the democracy and independence of Hungary, but the supporters of the Horthy-regime are recognized, such as Albert Vass, József Nyirő, Cecil Tormay. The name Albert Vass is glorified by streetnames, sculptures, in contrast with Mihály Károlyi, who opposed entering the First World War, distributed his own estate and fields, turned againts Horthy, Hitler, the Nazi-theories, and even the Rákosi-regime. The great number of changed streetnames show that there is no place for the resistance fighters against the Horthy-regime and Nazi ideology in our homeland. Even the name of a faithful catholic writer, a Kossuth Prize-winner, Józsi Jenő Tersánszky cannot be survived, eventhough he saved many lives during the Holocaust.

In Hungary several paramilitary groups, reminiscent of Nazis can freely hold trainings and marches intimidating the population and thus violating the Paris Peace Treaty. In the summer of 2012 the neo-fascist revisionist youth camp was banned in Serbia, however was admitted by the government office in Szeged and supported from different state and public funds.

After the change of regime the extreme right-wing views and ideas in the field of culture were represented by the writer István Csurka and his followers. Since February 1, 2012 according to the decision of the mayor of Budapest, who is committed to the FIDESZ (Alliance of Young Democrats) – Christian Democratic Party, the right-wing received a theatre (Új Színház) whose financing is subsided from public expenses.

The slanderous polemics which was created around the Nobel Prize winner-writer Imre Kertész is shocking. He is mentioned only as a Hungarian-born writer due to his Jewish origin. The well known WWII martyr, poet Miklós Radnóti, who converted his Jewish beliefs into Christian, is interpreted as a man “who became Hungarian”.

MEASZ organized a rally against the right-wing tendencies, after which a right-wing group in a mean-spirited way attacked and assaulted Vilmos Hanti, the president of the organization.

Political circles want to make a morally and financially impossible situation for the MEASZ, which stands up against the far-right. The present government is not willing to provide assistance to the organization, and even László Kövér, the Speaker of the Hungarian parliament prohibited to carry on the handing out ceremony of the Miklós Radnóti Anti-Racism Award in the parliament building, which was accustomed to be done every time since the creation of this prize 12 years ago. To justify his step, he wrote that he disagrees with the practice of democracy by MEASZ. The anti-fascist movements are honoured and recognized organizations all over the world. Unfortunately in our homeland the judgement of MEASZ profoundly changed during the last two years.

According to the above mentioned facts the Presidency of MEASZ respectfully requests the Supreme Dignitaries of our homeland to act more decisively and consistently against the far-right tendencies. Do not let the paramilitary groups disturb our peaceful life and intimidate us!

MEASZ firmly rejects all groundless accusations! We request the government to change its refusing stance against the MEASZ and on the ground of previous practice to recognize its raison d'être. We also request the support of our work in a similar extent to other civil society organizations. We claim that the Radnóti Anti-Racism Award ceremony should be held continuesly in the Hungarian Parliament.

We would like to seriously work together with the prevailing government for the benefit of our homeland and its citizens, for our compatriots living abroad.

(This resolution will also be sent to international organizations, for example to the European Union, to the International Alliance of Resistance Fighters, to the World Alliance of Veterans, to the human rights movement For the World without Nacizm, to the World Jewish Congress, to the Anti-defamation League and also to the press.)

Waiting for your responce, sincerely

Vilmos Hanti

President of MEASZ

2012. november 2.