The Orbán government and the Roma issue

In the last six weeks I wrote twice about the renewed activities of the Hungarian far right in villages with a large Roma population and the government's lack of any meaningful response to the clearly illegal activities of these groups. I was pretty prompt on March 3, 2011 when I reported on the appearance of an until then unknown organization called "For A Better Future Civic Guard" which on that day decided to descend on Gyöngyöspata, a village of 2,800.

Almost three weeks went by and, although many liberal organizations and the two democratic parties urged the government to do something, nothing happened. It was at this point that on March 24, 2011, I wrote another piece entitled "The far-right is active and the government is silent." Since then a whole month went by and the Orbán government refused to do anything. In fact, they often tried to minimize the problem or act as if the police did a splendid job and thanks to their presence there were no clashes or disturbances.

Most likely if these paramilitary organizations had decided to suspend their activities, at least for a few months, the government wouldn't have done anything to put an end to vigilante "order." I'm pretty sure that the Fidesz leadership expected that the groups' enthusiasm for patrolling streets and asking for Gypsies' IDs would peter out. Here and there a few policemen appeared in the villages where these groups showed up, but the encounter between the police and the vigilantes was cozy. I wouldn't be surprised if some members of the police force, perhaps even the great majority, harbor very similar feelings toward the Roma as the overwhelming majority of the population at large.

But the far-right members of these paramilitary organizations didn't stop. On the contrary, their activities became increasingly threatening. Another group called Véderő (Defense Force) appeared in Gyöngyöspata on April 18 where the group "purchased" for one forint a 1.5 acre lot with a run-down house where they planned to have "military exercises." Their headquarters could be approached only through the Gypsy section of town. In fact, within a few days they established a "military camp."

Meanwhile these events in Hungary didn't go unnoticed abroad. The American ambassador, Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, urged the Hungarian government to act: "instead of talk, concrete steps must be taken." She reminded Viktor Orbán that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had announced that they are committed to the human rights of the Roma.

Then came the news reported by the Associated Press and published in practically all major English-language newspapers that "hundreds of frightened Roma women and children were bused" out of Gyöngyöspata. As usual, in Hungary there are two versions that circulate about this flight of over two hundred people from the village where the Defense Force set up camp. The non-governmental version is that Richard Field, an American businessman living in Hungary, realizing the plight of the local Gypsies, turned to the Hungarian Red Cross on April 19 and asked them to find accommodations for the women and children for the Easter weekend. The government version is that the "weekend camping" had been organized much earlier and had absolutely nothing to do with the presence of the Defense Force or the fright of the Roma in Gyöngyöspata. I leave it to my readers to decide which explanation is more plausible.

While about half of the village's Gypsy population was evacuated or went on a weekend vacation, take your pick, the Hungarian government decided that it could no longer sit on the fence. After all, Hungary, which came up with the idea of a European-wide Roma strategy, can't possibly allow paramilitary organizations to terrorize the local Roma population. As it is, Hungary is not offering the best model for handling the Roma problem. Just as Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, argued, while one of the thirteen main issues tackled by the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union was creating a European Roma policy, it was practically looking the other way when on its own land Roma were being maltreated. He rightly pointed out that Hungarian Gypsies face blatant discrimination, living in shanty towns, facing an atmosphere of hostility, unemployment, lower life expectancy, prejudice, school segregation. According an estimate, less than one percent of Roma earn college degrees.

In any case, perhaps because of the evacuation of the Gypsy women and children, Sándor Pintér, minister of interior in charge of the police, decided to move. Or, probably more precisely, he got the green light from Viktor Orbán to put an end to the activities of the paramilitary groups. Their first move was against the Defense Force. They arrested eight members, including Tamás Eszes, the head of the organization, shown being led away on the photo. Moreover, the government published an ordinance:

from here on any person who appears in uniform will be fined 100,000 forints. 

Zoltán Balog, protestant minister and spiritual advisor to Viktor Orbán, is in charge of Hungary's Roma policy. Until now I haven't seen any concrete proposals concerning his plans to solve this huge human and social problem. Earlier I had the distinct feeling that Balog would love to drop the whole problem in the laps of the churches. After all, he said, the churches are really better equipped to handle the problem than the government. Lately I have heard less of this brilliant idea. Perhaps the churches resisted Balog's plan.

Every time Balog opens his mouth he says something outrageous. He seems to look upon the problem simply as a burden on the non-Gypsy population. If the country doesn't do something within a few years, he says, it will be stranded with an ever-growing Roma population that must be supported. More Roma, more money. But surely, the blatant discrimination, the indescribable poverty, lack of education, unemployment must be remedied quite independently of our pocketbooks.

Viktor Orbán wanted to save himself from openly turning against these paramilitary organizations that are closely connected to the neo-Nazi party, Jobbik. According to some estimates 30% of Fidesz voters sympathize with Jobbik and, as it is, Fidesz has lost about 600,000 voters since last April. There is a fear that if the government turns against the Jobbik-sponsored vigilantes Fidesz will lose a large portion of those who have difficulty deciding whether they belong to Fidesz or Jobbik.

Just to give you an idea of the intricate connections between the two right-wing parties, here is a family story. Sándor Lezsák is an important Fidesz member of parliament. In fact, he is one of Fidesz's deputy speakers of the House. Lezsák's son-in-law, a filmmaker, is a Jobbik party member whose name only recently surfaced in the media. Apparently, he is the one who was responsible for "celebrating" Hitler's birthday on Jobbik's N1TV, an Internet television station. It's often difficult to decide where one party starts and the other ends. Right now my Hungarian friends worry that it will be Jobbik that will benefit from the decline of Fidesz.

 

Comments

[Jano]

A good addendum to this:

http://kuminszerint.blog.hu/2011/04/23/gyongyospata_a_felelem_logikaja?utm_source=ketrec&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=index

[Mutt Damon]

I don't think it was government ordinance. The cops simply charged them with assault. Something like assumption of "attempted battery" based on the cloths they were wearing. In short: they were arrested on a private property for wearing the wrong pants. Way to go Sandor Pinter (minister of interior)! I guess this was a lot cheaper then beefing up the law enforcement presence in hotspots like this village. Don't get me wrong, I'm not identifying with the Hungarian KKK. I'm saying that the law and order is rapidly deteriorating.

[Kirsten]

Éva: "There is a fear that if the government turns against the Jobbik-sponsored vigilantes Fidesz will lose a large portion of those who have difficulty deciding whether they belong to Fidesz or Jobbik."

Perhaps it would be good to let people reveal their preference, so to speak. I would like to know how large the part of the population is that prefers or at least sympathises currently with law and order policies delivered through Vedero and the like. When I read this news on Spiegel first, I got a different impression from reading it here. In the German text it sounded as if Viktor Orban was finally willing to demonstrate who is in charge of public order, perhaps by means that are a bit too much for some but in the end these "alternative police forces" could be put in their place. From Eva's blog I would think that Fidesz cannot decide whether they prefer to have the ultimate control of the public space (which is also a question of 1) being able to control it and 2) reconciling the opposing interests of protecting Roma and "punishing" them for being different) or whether (in the absence of any such ability or possibility) they must dabble. If Fidesz has this unresolved issue of what it wants more (control of public space at the "cost" of protection of Roma, or anti-Roma sentiments), people may decide instead of them what they consider to be more important. Needless to add that this does not show either (in addition to the many other fields) that Fidesz would have any clue how to deal with the current problems.

[someone]

Kisrten:"Perhaps it would be good to let people reveal their preference, so to speak." I so agree with Kirsten on this. Let's get out the cat from the bag, and at least the nation (and in some of the EU) will know what they have to deal with. THe reason why this would not happen as Orban's interest is not the interest of Hungary, it is his sole interest. By being clear about what is acceptable and what is not, yes he would risk some of his ultra right base (like JB). Orban is not so bright to realize that at the same time he would also gain support from the left... He does not wan the risk.

So, why did they finally do something, and why now? I think the pressure was way to big on Orban. Let's face it he's done squat in the EU as President. He done nothing that couldn't be dealt with without him. THe only thing left to save face is to stick with one of his popular program, the minority, specifically the Roma Program. I bet you anything, that his phone got hot from phone calls from every direction (probably even from China) about why isn't he doing something.

For me it is very hard to believe that the women Roma population asked for a holiday away from their husband at Easter, but that is just me. Also, why it is jthat the exact time the government steps in and start arresting the "military" scums? Such a coincidence does not exist. They had weeks to act. As independent the Red Cross is, they would not make this move without being consulted with you know who.

[Eva S. Balogh]

Kirsten: "When I read this news on Spiegel first, I got a different impression from reading it here."

Of course, this is my personal take on the subject. I don't think that Orbán is too keen on being the defender of the Gypsies. It is not a popular position to take in Hungary. But then there are the European obligations that would compel Hungary to do something about the situation. A real dilemma for Orbán, I think.

[Karl Pfeifer]

It is a dilemma for Orbán and his party. And they have - so they believe - found the right answer. They (Pinter and Szijjarto the govt spokesman) claim, that the Roma were in no danger in Gyöngyöspata and that the action of the red cross was just an easter excursion of Roma women and children. This is a blatant cynical lie.
And things are complicated because one of those who took the initiative to do something about it was the American investor Richard Field, the same, who helped LMP with 55.000 $. So for Fidesz it is all part of a great conspiracy of LMP with Jobbik according to Fidesz MP Máté Kocsis

[Odin's lost eye]

No one has yet asked ‘what is the cause of the problem’. Like most almost all intractable problems it has its origins in the past. The original Roma seemed to have left northern India for some (probably religious) reason. This seem to have occurred at about the time of the beginnings of the Mogul empire. The exact when and why is unknown.

They seem to have been metal workers and to this day they seem to have an inborn manual dexterity required for metal working and the use of musical instruments. What on earth are you saying Odin? It is the ability to repeatedly touch the same point time after time accurately.

They became itinerant always looking for work. If there was not enough work in one place they would wander on (sometimes going back to an earlier place where they knew was work). If there was enough work to support them all year they would settle down and quietly fade into the native population. If not they would travel on. visiting the next place with a feast or Saints day. You still see this sort of behaviour amongst the as I call them ‘Usual Suspects’ who appear at the local festival and other markets selling the same junk to the locals. Especially those things the local shop keepers do not sell because of the low demand. They sell tools ladies ‘fancy goods’ which are too flimsy to be used at work, toys etc.

Why did the Roma collapse? Well once again Johnny Boy those you can blame for this are those stupid naïve foreigners especially those filthy wicked Anglo Saxons with their revolting (to you) wish for liberty.

Under pressure of population expansion they invented modern agriculture (Jethro Tull et al) where 1 farming family could feed not 5 but some 15 families.

Secondly under the pressure of demand for raw materials they invented the great ‘Force Multiplier’ -the steam engine- to pump water from their mines (see Newcomen). It was later to power their industries.

Under the pressure of war they started to invent the basics of mass productions and from this the realised the need for standardisation etc.

The Roma however learned their trade which was passed from grandfather and father to son. Because this type of teaching was purely internal within their own society, literacy was not needed. They lost out.

They may have known of the screw thread but they never learned of the works of Maudsley or Whitworth so in a way their skills which were purely manual became extinct. After all I can go to a ‘Bolt (English) bolt’ (Hungarian) and buy any screw I want for far less than a Roma could make it for me. Oh by the way io can make them myself.

What to do about it? The Roma have to retain their undoubted manual skills but have to become literate and catch up on some 300 years of technology

[Jo Peattie]

My son has a friend (his father is a Lutheran minister)- my son has picked up certain views from this child- undoubtedly picked up from his parents. My child now thinks that brown skin is bad and wishes that his lovely brown eyes could be blue or green- because brown is dirty. What hope is there for this country if such prejudice is evinced from kids as young as 5?

[John T]

Jo - on current form, there is no hope.

[Józsi Bácsi]

I believe a two-state solution would work.
Gypsies who prefer their old tribal way of life should be given a piece of land and some seed money (from the EU) to start their own country.
Those who are willing to integrate into civilized society, but were held back by the rest, would be given all the help they need to catch up.
How about that?

[someone]

Józsi Bácsi: "Gypsies who prefer their old tribal way of life should be given a piece of land and some seed money (from the EU) to start their own country. " How about doing the same for Hugarians? Where would you stop? How about people who do not agree with the Orban government, should be shipped out too? THe "white" Hungarians who do not work and leave on welfare? Anyone who commit some crime should be also shipped (we can start with Orban)? Oh, I forgot, there is a place for that, called jail!!!!! It is a "democratic" process actually, as People must be proven guilty to get in there, does not matter if they are black, white, Jews, Chinese, gypsies and so forth. I like that idea.

[Antifa-Hungary]

The members of the neonazi organization Vedero threatening the Roma in Göngyöspata are free. There was not any truculence said the local court in the town Eger, Heves county. To tell the truth the act was not a truculence really. In Hungary there is a simply collective law-braking. Hungary has breaken the Treaty of peace with Hungary. Signed at Paris, on 10 February 1947 - for many years now: http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/2/2/00002058.pdf
And the world allows. So the international treaties are absolutely good for noting, since they can disregard with impunity.

[Kirsten]

Jozsi, the idea is even a bit in line with European thinking in that it suggests a "national" solution for all, every nation should have its own "cage". I do not think that the nation state is the only possible solution for European problems, but in some way it is what Europe has been witnessing also after 1989. (But the integration process has also been under way, so there are also some issues that make integration desirable or outright necessary.)
I think that there are nevertheless some problems with it. The first is practical: which part of Hungary (I am sorry to remind you: traumatised already through Trianon) should be given away? I am afraid that this would be a delicate issue. The other is ethical. The fact that you may be born into a traditional setting, be it religious, national or otherwise, and being raised in this "world", does that mean that you should never get a chance to change? I think that many people in Europe are actually descendants of little educated peasants. A change towards the current state ("civilised society" as you call it) was not for all the most obvious and easy way. What you suggest is that one could, by pushing a button, change people considered "uncivilised" to become "civilised" according to some definition. That is impossible. But it is possible to slowly allow for change if people are patient and generous enough and do not destroy all traditions. This is of course theory because in practice you have to take into consideration all the evil that people are able to undertake. (Because you are a Rom you do not get a job, and because you have never had a job, you are considered not suited for working at all, in sum: uncivilised.) What is missing in Hungary is an impartial police that would treat all people, Roma and non-Roma, by the same standards. Then you could more easily determine what exactly is "civilised" and what is not. And those Roma (and Hungarians) who do obey by the rules (primarily the written ones, not some ideas what is civilised according to some "traditional Hungarian noble habits stemming from the middle ages") need not be "devalued" simply because they are from a Roma family (or a less noble area than Budapest).

[Mutt Damon]

Jozsi: Thank you for volunteering your land for the cause.

I think he is joking ...

[Kirsten]

@I think he is joking ...

Good that I made an essay on integration of it :-)

[Richard Field]

http://nepszava.com/2011/04/magyarorszag/richard-field-hivatalos-kozlemenye-a-gyongyospatai-helyzetrol.html

[Johnny Boy]

You, sir (Mr. Field) obviously organized a provocation action which must not remain without consequences.

[Eva S. Balogh]

Johnny Boy: "You, sir (Mr. Field) obviously organized a provocation action which must not remain without consequences."

You are something else. Facts don't seem to make the slightest difference to you.

[Mutt Damon]

@Johnny: Can you please elaborate on the nature of Mr Field's "crime"? Who did he provoke (besides you and your KKK buddies)?

[Eva S. Balogh]

Johnny Boy: "a provocation action which must not remain without consequences."

My question is: what consequences do you have in mind?

[David]

Provocation? I suppose organising a group of skinheads for "military training" beside the gypsy ghetto sounds like a provocation to me. Responding by evacuating the vulnerable sounds a like common sense.

[bubu]

David: " I suppose organising a group of skinheads for "military training" beside the gypsy ghetto sounds like a provocation to me."
You are liying or ignorant. The members of the Vedero were not skinheads.

[Eva S. Balogh]

Bubu: "The members of the Vedero were not skinheads."

They look fairly bald to me.

[Paul]

"Right now my Hungarian friends worry that it will be Jobbik that will benefit from the decline of Fidesz."

It will. Right now in the East it already is.

Meanwhile we argue with trolls about how short The Guards' hair was.

[someone]

Johnny Boy; "Mr. Field) obviously organized a provocation action which must not remain without consequences." What was his provocation exactly? It is my understanding from Fidesz, that the plant to send the Roma on vacation was planned ahead long time ago. You should send a letter to Orban and demand some clarification!!! Do it now!

bubu: "You are liying or ignorant. The members of the Vedero were not skinheads." No, Sir. You are ignorant. Actually you believe that the Vedero is made up from the Sisters of Mercy to protect the Roma? Give me break bubu!