Richard Field's encounter with Hungarian politics

Here is a man who in the best American tradition wants to help. He thought before the last elections that he would like to support a party he considered to have good intentions. That party was LMP. In addition, he established the American House Foundation that is working with the Hungarian Red Cross and other non-governmental organizations on issues of poverty, homelessness, and social exclusion. And what is the result of his endeavors? According to the latest twist in official government communication, not only did "foreign business interests" stir up trouble in peaceful Gyöngyöspata but according to last night's late-night news on MTA the American businessman who has been living in Hungary for a number of years might even be in cahoots with Russian intelligence forces that for some strange reason are using the Gypsies in their efforts to destabilize the countries of Eastern Europe. According to the report, the Hungarian national security forces are definitely investigating.

While Hungarian secret service officers are madly looking for Russian agents and "foreign business circles," the Hungarian parliament decided to investigate on its own. I mentioned already yesterday that a young Fidesz MP, Máté Kocsis, will be heading the investigation. Knowing the Orbán government's methods, they will surely find some culprits whose sole purpose in life is to smear Hungary's reputation. Yesterday I asked Richard Field to send me the English translation of his original letter to Mr. Kocsis in which he makes it perfectly clear that he has no intention of appearing before his subcommittee.

Here is his letter.

Dear Mr. Kocsis:

The American President Abraham Lincoln once said "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts."

The facts of Gyongyospata are well documented and speak for themselves.  If you are curious about what happened in Gyongyospata between March 3rd and March 19th, I suggest you read my article which appeared in the March 26th edition of the Budapest Times "A Call to Alms" a Hungarian translation of which you will find attached.

Abraham Lincoln also said "You can fool some people all the time, all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time."

As for your kangaroo court, I have no intention of appearing before it as I have already issued a statement.  However, I would add the following:  When I arrived to Gyongyospata at 7:30 am on Friday morning to assist with the evacuation of Gyongyospata's women and children, I did not see a single policeman.  If you study the photographs of the evacuation carefully, you see not one policeman.  I was able to drive in, put 276 people on six buses (with milk and snacks for the short journey to safety) and drive back to Gyongyos for additional provisions without a single policeman checking my documents or so much as asking me what was going on.   It was only upon my return from Gyongyos that I encountered a large police presence (for which I am grateful to Minister Pinter) and had my documents checked.

The buses carrying Gyongyospata's women and children to safety had already departed when the "400 police" arrived.  That does not mean they would not have arrived anyway had the evacuation not taken place.  But it does mean that I and others had good reason to fear for the lives and safety of Gyongyospata's Roma residents when putting them on the buses.

But don't take my word for it.  You don't even have to take the word of Gyongyospata's Roma (which you and the political propaganda machine owned by prominent businessmen with close ties to Fidesz have persistently disregarded).  Just ask the six bus drivers.  

If, through my actions, I have harmed the international reputation of Hungary, a country I deeply love, then I very much regret it.  However, if called upon to protect Hungarian citizens from fascist thugs in the future, I will do so without hesitation should it be in my power to do so.  Because protecting the lives of Hungarian citizens is more important than sparing any government or political party embarrassment.

With freedom comes the responsibility to protect society's weakest members.

 Richard Field

 Chairman

American House Foundation

As referenced in his letter, Richard Field wrote a detailed description of the situation in Gyöngyöspata on March 26. It appeared in the Budapest Times under the title "A Call to Alms." In this article we can read what actually happened in Gyöngyöspata where vigilantes terrorized the Roma inhabitants of the village for a good two weeks. It is also clear from the article, which reflects Field's personal experience, that the Hungarian policemen on the spot instead of getting rid of the vigilantes fraternized with them. We do know from other sources that more than 20% of the police force sympathize with--and perhaps at the elections even voted for--Jobbik, a neo-Nazi party.

The government story of foreign "provocation" is getting fancier and fancier. Zsolt Semjén, deputy prime minister, not only suspects foreign involvement but calls the events at Gyöngyöspata "obvious provocation coming from several directions, including foreign interest groups." In a mysterious manner he indicated that "there are very considerable forces whose interest is to paint an unfavorable picture of Hungary." But there are also groups within Hungary with evil intentions. One is Jobbik, a party that by showing that the Roma problem is a serious one can justify its existence in Hungarian political life. The other Hungarian party that is guilty of blowing up the events in Gyöngyöspata is LMP. According to Semjén LMP by exaggerating the Roma problem can pose as "a defender of human rights against the impotent state."

Richard Field's work on behalf of the Gypsies through his foundation is, of course, quite distinct from his generous contribution to LMP. But LMP wants to make sure that no one conflates the two and is distancing itself from Field's activities. András Schiffer, the spokesman of LMP, denied any solidarity with the American businessman and in fact announced that the evacuation of the Roma women and children was too hasty. Mr. Field just didn't think of the consequences, said Schiffer. The argument he used is practically identical to the line pursued by Fidesz politicians. The foreign reaction to the word "evacuation" was harmful to Hungary. It was an exaggeration. A good description of the whole shameful interview can be found in a reader's reaction (Ed Carping's note) in Amerikai-Magyar Népszava. 

Mr. Field will not appear before the subcommittee, but it seems that LMP "will gladly join the work of the committee." I guess their politicians think that they can "clear the good name of their party." But knowing the outcome of the parliamentary committees' deliberations nowadays I wouldn't bet on it. The script is already written.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Kirsten]

I think that Hungary is watched by other countries independently of the incident in Gyöngyöspata, it only confirms that there is reason to watch carefully. (For Jozsi and others: not to harm Hungary but in their own interest.) With LMP being now so fearful I start to admire the bus drivers for their courage.

[An]

LMP is a huge disappointment.

[Mutt Damon]

Yeah, the first reaction is "Schiffer buried himself" with this. But let's not forget that his a clown in Planet Hungary Circus. Hi is flip-flopping between pleasing the average uneducated Hungarian, who is still buying the "the press conspiracy to smear the country" excrement tauri, and the strong criticism of the Orban government. I think it is pretty ballsy to flatly say "the Orban government is responsible for this". Let's see what shakes out. My problem with the LMP is that they too "green". So let's go easy on them on this. They are the best Planet Hungary got for now.

I just don't like their name ... I'll launch another party: ABF (Anything But the Fidesz).

[An]

I think my main problem is with LMP is that their political survival is more important for them than standing up for the right thing. And this is not the first time. OK, I understand, this is politics, but then, practically, what they just showed that politics cannot be different. Just the contrary to what they led their supporters to believe.

Hats off to Mr. Fields, who had the guts to do the right thing.

[Mutt Damon]

Funny! Exactly. Schiffer's nose should be rubbed into this with this slogan "politics cannot be different". That's why they have to loose this stupid name. Not politics, the politicians should be different. But again if you don't survive you won't be able to stand up for something. So let's be understanding.

I agree Field is awesome. Is there something in Hungary like the "Man of the Year" (sorry, person of the year) award? He should be nominated.

[adbe]

SHAME ON SCHIFFER AND THE LMP! Looks like Mr. Field is the only human being left in that country. Thank you Mr. Field.

[someone]

I think the whole world would forget about Gyongyospata in a week or two if not for the circus they are creating NOW, after what happened. Investigation about some kind of conspiracy in village that no others then Hungarians can pronounce its name of. Csilleberc is not easy to pronounce either. It is done and over with, but they drag it on. Of course everyone is involved from the government wants a piece of the action, so they can justofu their existence, and can pick up their pay-cheque. What is happening in Hungary is a circus and it has nothing to do who is on the left or the right, Orban does it for himself.

[Odin's Lost Eye]

To quote from an article in the Budapest Times concerning the events in Gyöngyöspata * “The siege lasted for two and a half weeks. During this time most Roma families, fearing for their lives and the lives of their children, confined themselves to the relative safety of their homes” *.

If this report is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, then the perpetrators of this act are without doubt breaking many laws, which Hungary is obliged and bound by international treaty (at least two such treaties), to respect and enforce.

By allowing such a disgusting and illegal activity to take place the Government of Hungary its self stands indicted not only for aiding and abetting those crimes committed in Gyöngyöspata’ but of the worse crime of allowing it to happen. No amount of spin and innuendo from the government publicity machine can absolve them of their responsibility in the matter.

But as I was taught –“Never mind whose fault it is. How do we fix it?”-. The only reason why such things can exist is because good folk turn a blind eye to them.

[someone]

Odin's Lost Eye: "If this report is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, then the perpetrators of this act are without doubt breaking many laws, " I am sure it is true, and those who come up with the lame lines that "no blood was flowing" (Jozsi Ba) are simply simpletons. I am sorry but anyone who thinks that intimidation is not enough to cause concerns is just obnoxious or "simple". There are two kind of intimidations, one is the fear of humiliation, the second is the fear of physical harm. THese idiots in their uniforms are guilty of intimidating the Roma population, and everyone with a half a brain knows that. In a Just Society there is no room, not tolerance and lastly no acceptance of such actions. THen again, Hungary in its current state is not a Just Society.
And here is a quote from Pierre Trudeau
"The Just Society will be one in which all of our people will have the means and the motivation to participate. The Just Society will be one in which personal and political freedom will be more securely ensured than it has ever been in the past. The Just Society will be one in which the rights of minorities will be safe from the whims of intolerant majorities. The Just Society will one in which those regions and groups which have not fully shared in the country’s affluence will be given a better opportunity."

[Odin's Lost Eye]

The last words of my previous post was that ‘How do we fix it?’ Surely there more than enough first class minds out there to get it sorted. The usual answer is money.

No money is only part of the answer. Vona and Jobbik have invented a ‘sound byte’ (Gipsy Crime) which has stirred up this hornet’s nest. All the ‘Gooks’, ‘Psychos’, ‘Bully boys’ assorted ‘Banda-Log’ other ‘Nurks’ have jumped on the band wagon.

We saw them at Gyöngyöspata. It is but a short step from there to a Kristallnacht and there to the Einsatzgruppen and all the other horrors.

Recently our tame troll wrote * “You, sir (Mr. Field) obviously organized a provocation action which must not remain without consequences” * signed ‘Johnny Boy’ (See The Orbán government and the Roma issue -23rd April 2011). Here I presume ‘Johnny Boy’ is threatening Mr Fields for taking terrified people out of danger to somewhere they would not be frightened. Do not try, 'Johnny Boy', to tell you did not mean what you wrote I have spoken my native language for a very long time and know a threat when I see one!

The Hungarian Government suppress these nurks and if it does not do so ‘PDQ.’ Then they must be reminded of the consequences.

[Troll Paul]

The really damming thing about all this is that it takes an 'outsider' to do something - anything - to help the Roma.

Once again, Hungarians are standing back and watching while their country slides back into the Middle Ages.

[Eva S. Balogh]

Paul: "The really damming thing about all this is that it takes an 'outsider' to do something - anything - to help the Roma"

László Bartus of American-Hungarian Népszava wrote an absolutely damning opinion piece about this: "Az amerikai." http://nepszava.com/2011/04/velemeny/bartus-laszlo-az-amerikai.html

[Paul]

Thanks, Éva.

Google's translation software wasn't quite up to most of that article, but I think I got the gist! I'd love to be a fly on the wall when JB reads that...

His reference to members of the German football team visiting a Roma village "to show solidarity" intrigued me - do you have any more information on that?

Is this typical of the 'political slant' (as JB would put it) of Népszava?

[Eva S. Balogh]

Paul: "Google's translation software wasn't quite up to most of that article, but I think I got the gist! I'd love to be a fly on the wall when JB reads that.."

László Bartus usually doesn't mince words. He is very hard hitting. When I read the article I said to myself: "Oh, my, Hungarians will be furious reading this stuff." Amerikai-Magyar Népszava is a liberal paper.

[hu-au]

Idezet a nepszava.com-bol:

Végre bepótolhattam a lemaradásomat a kommentek végigolvasásával, és … noha lezárhatatlan a téma, mégiscsak megpróbálkoznék valami érdemleges javaslattal. Mélységesen sajnálom Csilla tapasztalatát, mert magam is átéltem, de én másféle következtetésre jutottam, mint ő. Azért mert nehéz az együttélés, nem elmenekülni kell, hanem a nehézségekkel kell szembenézni. Nincsen egységes recept, mert ahogy a magyarok is különbözők, úgy a romák is különböznek egymástól, de a megértésük nélkül nem fogunk előbbre jutni. Itt élnek közöttünk, kiirtásukat fel se vesse senki, mert ezen az alapon minket is ki lehetne irtani az erősebb jogán. Amire korábban szerettem volna kilyukadni, hogy a munkahelyteremtés és a gazdaság megerősítése nélkül esélytelen a segélyezés, mert nem lesz miből segélyezni, és a segély hasznot hajtó és értelmes sőt a romák által is szívesen vállalt munka hiányában a szórakozásra és a léhaságra valamint a szenvedélybetegségekre, alkohol és nikotin abúzus kevésnek fog bizonyulni. De vajon ez a kormány gondol-e a gazdaság fejlesztésére? Hallottunk bármilyen programot, vagy annak tervezetét? Ha lennének ilyenek, biztosan kiszivárgott volna. De ilyenek nincsenek, és ez a legnagyobb baj, meg ez a egyik legnagyobb árulás nemcsak a magyar nép, hanem Magyarország minden lakója ellen. A mai magyar értelmiség előtt /és a regnáló hatalom képviselői előtt/ nem lebeg az ország fejlesztésének terve. Tehát, nekünk kell gondoskodnunk előrelátó módon válságtervekről. Fel is ajánlottam a polgármesterünknek, hogy készítsünk válságterveket: 1. Fel kell mérni, hogy a faluban hány családban vannak fél éven keresztül munkaviszonyban nem lévő családtagok. 2. Környezettanulmányt kell végezni, hogy hogyan lehetne őket önsegitő tevékenységekben menedzselni. /Kertjük művelése, – gyomirtás, gépi munkák ingyenes elvégzése, állattartásra való hely kialakítása stb… /egyelőre a segély mellett/. Ha van valamilyen szakmája, vagy hajlandósága valamilyen munka betanulására, akkor abban lehetne segíteni. 4. A falu élőhelyének javítására programot kell kidolgozni. ilyenek pl: A földekhez vezető utak kátyúzása, vízleeresztése, árok tisztítása, útfásítás a későbbi tüzelő és vadon is megtermő gyümölcsök termesztésére való tekintettel. A patakparton tanösvény kialakítása. Egyszóval próbáljon meg a falu egy gazdálkodó önkormányzatot kialakítani, faluboltot, falu műhelyt létrehozni, hogy lehessen hol a többletet értékesíteni, vagy az elromlott szerszámot megjavítani. Tippeljetek milyen fogadtatása volt az ötletemnek? Megkímélek mindenkit a találgatástól. lesöpörték az asztalról. A képviselőtestületig sem jutott el a javaslat. Ebben a hónapban négy helyre törtek be a faluban, /nem romák/ egy időben ezzel a szomszéd faluban 8 helyre. Én nem erőltethetem rá az ötletem olyan emberekre, akik nem akarnak többletterhet vállalni. Feltehető, hogy a polgármester nem akart felesleges kockázatot vállalni. Ő ismeri az önkormányzat pénzügyi helyzetét, és ezzel ki is merültek a lehetőségek. A nép tehát öregszik, és egyre kiszolgáltatottabb helyzetben van, a helyzet éleződik… De azért én nem mondanék le a megoldásról. Nem olyan családból származom, hogy a kudarc elkeserítsen. Magam kezdek el mellékvállalkozni, de majd jönnek a megszorító intézkedések, amiken nem fogok tudni segíteni. De legalább megpróbáltam. A szomszéd család gyermekei 10 éves ikrek önállóan járnak a falu imaházába. Igen embernek kell őket tekinteni! Ha valami eltűnik a házamtól, biztos lehetek hogy nem ők vitték el.
VA:F [1.9.3_1094]

[Nick]

This dubious American man writes:
"I did not see a single policeman. If you study the photographs of the evacuation carefully, you see not one policeman."

One can find a picture in no time which refutes his claim: http://naplo-online.hu/image.aspx?id=b9a3cddf-0aae-4ae2-b3c8-0b8d625f0b13&view=d687bb3a-509a-49ca-b43e-cbc038e76e5b

[Eva S. Balogh]

Nick: "This dubious American man writes"

The "dubious American" is Richard Field. Could you tell me why he is dubious?

[Johnny Boy]

"Could you tell me why he is dubious?"

Isn't it clear for you from the link Nick provided that Field is lying?
Or you just don't care?

[Mutt Damon]

Is it just me?? But I can't f*ing see anything on this picture. What am I supposed to see??

[Eva S. Balogh]

Mutt Damon: "Is it just me?? But I can't f*ing see anything on this picture. What am I supposed to see??

The policemen present. If you don't see them, keep looking. Perhaps they will emerge.

[someone]

Nick: I think the point Mr Field was making that there was no police presence in the village BEFORE the evacuation. "If you study the photographs of the evacuation carefully, you see not one policeman." Indeed we cannot find any policeman on the photographs. As far as the policeman "fraternized" with the uniformed thugs there are very few articles to support that. Of course I see way way back some sort of vehicle that may or may not be a police vehicle but there is no police presence. So, Flying F00K Johnny Boy, who is lying or you jut don't care. (I am sorry everyone for the use of f00k, but this is what Johnny used to, as he exhibited to us on several occasions on this blog, so I just want to make him feel comfortable. In my household, we do not use such language.)
http://tinyurl.com/3k93eoh
http://tinyurl.com/3vw7692

[Johnny Boy]

Mutt Damon: "Is it just me??"

Yes it is. Look at the upper right corner of the picture and you clearly see a police car. It's only Field and Eva who don't want to see it so they can keep lying.

someone: "I think the point Mr Field was making that there was no police presence in the village BEFORE the evacuation"

No he wasn't, he was referring to the process of "evacuation" and he is clearly lying as the picture proves it, whatever you do or deny.
The "evacuation" was overseen by the police because it was no evacuation but an organized holiday.

[Mutt Damon]

Ha. Are you actually serious? And how do you know they are leaving and not arriving?

[Mutt Damon]

"The "evacuation" was overseen by the police because it was no evacuation but an organized holiday."

Why do the cops show up for a vacation trip? Vacation Police? Orban's idea of the law and order? "Comrade, do you have a permit to go to Balaton?"

[someone]

Johnny Boy: A single police car (and we do not know if that is what we really see there) ain't police presence. If there would of been many police around, it would be easy to come up with a better photo, that shows all the other police man, wouldn't it? You have to come up something better then that Nick and Johhny Boy. Also the picture was taken when the roma families are already marching for a while. How do you know where Mr Field was that that point? He was the one who got the roma families, and he could of been on the bus as far as I am concerned by the time the police showed up. There were dozens of reporters, the police had to show up eventually to save face. The bottom line is that there were NEVER there to protect the Roma and that comes up clearly from the articles. Johnny Boy, you are also contradicting yourself, you say it was a vacation, but if you are right, why would the police had to show up at the first place. I still do not buy that Roma women would leave their husband for Easter, but that is just me.