From hungary-report-owner Mon Mar 18 09:22:43 1996 Received: from localhost (daemon@localhost) (fnord) by nando.yak.net (8.6.5/8.6.5) id JAA02323; Mon, 18 Mar 1996 09:22:43 -0800 Received: from localhost (daemon@localhost) (fnord) by nando.yak.net (8.6.5/8.6.5) id JAA02314; Mon, 18 Mar 1996 09:22:26 -0800 Received: from jbrown@isys.hu () via =-=-=-=-=-= for hungary-report@hungary.yak.net (2312) Received: from kingzog.isys.hu (KingZog.iSYS.hu [194.24.160.4]) (fnord) by nando (8.6.5/8.6.5) with ESMTP id JAA02304 for ; Mon, 18 Mar 1996 09:21:34 -0800 Received: from [194.24.161.32] (dialup-1-032.dial.isys.hu [194.24.161.32]) by kingzog.isys.hu (8.7.Beta.11/8.7.Beta.11) with SMTP id SAA03843 for ; Mon, 18 Mar 1996 18:21:08 +0100 (MET) Date: Mon, 18 Mar 1996 18:21:08 +0100 (MET) X-Sender: jbrown@mail.isys.hu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: hungary-report@hungary.yak.net From: jbrown@isys.hu (Jennifer Brown) Subject: The Hungary Report 1.42 Sender: owner-hungary-report@hungary.yak.net Precedence: bulk Reply-To: hungary-report@hungary.yak.net ======================== The Hungary Report Direct from Budapest, every week Also available on the World Wide Web (http://www.isys.hu/hrep/) No. 1.42, March 18, 1996 ======================== SPONSORED BY: iSYS Kft., providing full Internet solutions for companies and individuals in Hungary. For further information, send e-mail to , view our World Wide Web home page (http://www.isys.hu) or call (+36-1) 266-6090. ALSO BY: Hungary Around the Clock, the most comprehensive daily English-language news service on your desk by 9 am each morning. For a trial subscription, contact Kingfish Communications. Call (+36-1) 351-2440. Fax: (+36-1) 268-1462. Internet: Kingfish@dial.isys.hu ======== CONTENTS BRIEFS IMF loan gives nod to Hungary Protests mark March 15 anniversary U.S. State Department reviews Hungary's human rights record Horn designs blueprint to curb black market Hate crime law gets stronger Slovak territory reorganization worries Hungarian lawmakers Military plans cut backs Hungarian woman to be evaluated in the flesh NUMBERS CRUNCHED Hungarians favoring NATO membership Rise in consumer prices in February Drug addicts under treatment in Budapest The age of a typical Hungarian car Surplus revenues from tourism in 1995 -------------- WACKY AS USUAL Hungarian newspapers misread the fine print FEATURE STORY Life gets tougher on Budapest's streets PARLIAMENT WATCH Sorry, no Parliament Watch this week! The Hungary Report is also supported in part by: MTI-Econews, a daily English-language financial news service. For online (fee-based) subscription information, contact the Internet address: . (It's not automated -- write a nice note.) ====== BRIEFS By Jennifer C. Brown Copyright (c) 1996 ------------- GENERAL NEWS Protests mark March 15 anniversary Hungary celebrated its 148th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution against Habsburg rule on Friday amidst several anti-government rallies and protests staged by opposition parties. On Thursday night the largest opposition party, the Smallholders staged a "Good-bye to Government" rally, in which a petition drive was initiated to unseat the current government coalition, reports Magyar Hirlap. Prime Minister Gyula Horn on Friday accused Smallholder leader Jozsef Torgyan of inciting hatred following a speech in which he described Horn's government as "pseudo-liberal disgusting worms and vultures." Also airing his views was Istvan Csurka, the leader of the far-right Hungarian Justice and Life Party. An estimated 12,000 came to Szabadsag square Friday afternoon to listen to him read out a 12-point petition calling for the resignation of the government. Csurka also warned of a mass migration of Israeli Jews into Hungary, calling them "persons jaded by Middle East tension." Recently-acquitted Fascist skinhead Albert Szabo, along with other skinhead supporters, mounted the stage and allegedly smashed an amplifier with crowbars. President Arpad Gonz, spoke publicly on the demonstrations, said the demonstrations cast a dark pallor on the commemorations. The two governing parties may take action against the Smallholders for Torgyan's inflammatory speech, reported Nepszabadsag. --------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMICS IMF loan granted to Hungary The International Monetary Fund approved a two-year USD 387 million standby loan Friday, opening the way for Hungary's admittance into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), reports the Budapest Business Journal. Membership in the OECD is also viewed as an important step toward membership in the European Union. Securing the loan depended on keeping the 1996 social security funds' deficit under HUF 17.8 billion and the national deficit under 4%. The Parliament passed the social security fund budget last week, allotting HUF 700 million for home medical treatment and HUF 700 million for preventative care. In an interview with the radio program Central European Media, chairman of Parliament's Economic Committee Tardos Marton said Hungary may have difficulties adhering to IMF loan requirements, such as a 1.2% monthly forint devaluation, a decrease in inflation to 20% and an introduction of market prices in the energy sector by 1997. The IMF loan isn't expected to be actually spent but rather, is considered to be a strong sign of the international community's confidence in Hungary's economic development. ----------- SHORT TAKES A U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT REPORTS THAT HUNGARY could do better in some areas of human rights. The examples given by the report were the treatment of gypsies and the fact that prosecutors can initiate arrests before trials. The report stated that there were few incidences of anti-semitism last year aside from graffiti and Hungary general respects basic civil and political rights. PRIME MINISTER GYULA HORN HAS INITIATED A SIX-STEP PLAN TO beat the black market. The Prime Minister's office plans to create central investigation bureau to deal with economic crime staffed with 50 to 60 legal and financial experts. Other steps include separating the state administration from the business sector, halting double ownership of banks, increasing the internal control of the ministries and creating a separate court to deal with economic crimes. PARLIAMENT PASSED LEGISLATION TO PUT MORE MUSCLE INTO punishing hate crimes by defining what constitutes a hate crime or a racist attack, reports the Budapest Sun. The bill, originally proposed two years ago, was passed following the acquittal of far-right skinhead Albert Szabo, who has been charged of inciting hatred towards Jews twice. YOUNG DEMOCRAT ZSOLT NEMETH CALLED THE REORGANIZATION OF electoral districts in Slovakia a mild form of ethnic cleansing. He said the 75 sub-districts planned will make up 75 electorate constituencies, thus allowing for fewer Hungarian MPs in the Slovak parliament, reports Nepszabadsag. Foreign Ministry state secretary Istvan Szent-Ivanyi said he's anxious to have the Slovak-Hungarian basic treaty ratified because it would ban the reorganization. The Slovak parliament will begin a debate on the Hungarian-Slovak basic treaty March 26, according to Magyar Nemzet. SOME 11,000 FEWER SOLDIERS WILL SERVE IN THE HUNGARIAN army by the end of the year, announced Lt. Gen. Sandor Nemeth, chief of staff of the Hungarian Armed Forces last week. The total number of soldiers will be decreased to 70,000 and 60,000 within two years, according to Magyar Hirlap. HUNGARY IS HOLDING THE FIRST ROUND OF ITS FIRST NUDE BEAUTY contest in Debrecen on April 16, reports Magyar Hirlap. Some 79 contestants, who will receive between HUF 5,000 to HUF 10,000 for participating, have already signed up. The winner, to be decided in Budapest this fall, will win HUF 250,000. Organizer Arpad Fekete told the daily the contest is merely a business and will be no more offensive than legal pornographic magazines. ------------------ NUMBERS CRUNCHED * Amount of Hungarians in favor of Hungary's membership in NATO (U.S. Information Agency): Two-thirds * Percentage rise in consumer prices in February, up from January's 4.4% and up 28.3% from the same time last year (Central Statistical Office) : 2.3% * Number of drug addicts undergoing treatment in Hungary (National Institute of Addiction): 800 * The age of a typical Hungarian car, up from 9 years in 1990 (Car Importers Association): 10.9 years * Surplus revenues from tourism in 1995 (National Bank of Hungary): US$ 658.6 million -------------- EXCHANGE RATE March 14, 1996 (National Bank of Hungary) US dollar - 146.08 (buying), 147.53 (selling) Deutschemark- 99.21 (buying), 100.19 (selling) -------------- WACKY AS USUAL Hungarian newspapers misread the fine print Four newspapers in Hungary took an International Herald Tribune advertising supplement about Hungary's bright economic outlook a little too seriously last week, reports the Budapest Business Journal. Napi gazdasag, Magyar Hirlap, Vilaggazdasag and Nepszava summarized the article without mentioning that the article was a paid advertisement. Each of the editors had their own excuses for writing about the "positive reviews" Hungary's economy received in the influential international publication. Napi gazdasag's business news editor Sandor Rathy said he got the story from the Hungarian News Agency (MTI), but MTI's domestic news editor Robert Frankl pointed out that the news service indicated that the stories were paid advertisements. The supplement featured advertisements for Hungarian tourism and the State Privatization and Holding company. It also carried a story that put a serious gloss on the sale of Budapest Bank to General Electric Capital Services and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), calling it a "major vote of international confidence in Hungary's newly revived banking sector," the BBJ wrote. =========== FEATURE STORY Life gets tougher for Budapest's homeless By Emmanuelle Richard Life on the streets is not an easy option. Bad weather, hunger and violent vigilantes all combine to make homelessness a dangerous business. In a country with rising unemployment, jobs are scarce and the opportunity to regain a respectable place in society is slim. Now a new menace is haunting Hungary's estimated 50,000 homeless. Networks of racketeers are forcing them to pay "protection" money and pass on their earnings from begging and street jobs, social workers say. If the homeless, many of whom are burdened with criminal record, refuse to cooperate, they are cajoled or even beaten. If they agree to the villains' demands they find themselves embroiled in illegal schemes than can land them in prison. One scheme is to use the homeless to give out fake parking tickets at an improvised car park. This scam is particularly lucrative near lake Balaton in the summer, where unwitting German are often the target. Others are less subtle. Social workers working at homeless shelters speak of permanent racket of beggars in the Castle District which uses homeless people to beg for money which is then handed over to the mafia. Attila Gaspar from Delta, a group of ambulance drivers who help people without shelter, said many of his patients claim the district is run by a Romanian "godfather". They say a newcomer to the Castle District can't beg freely for long. The Romanian's thugs force the beggar to hand over earnings or move on. In summer-time homeless people are sometimes brought from Romania. Their "boss" provides the food. They give him their collection. "According to our workers on the street, 20 percent of the 20,000 homeless in Budapest are flanked by a pimp," says Gyorgy Mezei, president of the Olivier Twist foundation. "Without a so-called "minder", they stand every chance to be robbed and beaten." Although police they are not aware of the emergence of such a mafia, according to people living on the street, avoiding the tentacles of this emerging "street mob" is becoming more difficult. Dezso, 54, who has been living on the street with a broken arm for months said, "Staying independent requires a strength that we simply don't have. Hunger, cold and alcohol all weaken you so much that you are not able to act on your own initiative. You meet bad people and fall into the trap." The homeless as well as social workers say these lawbreakers are largely foreigners, often Romanians or Ukrainians. Mezei said a majority of this "homeless mafia" is composed of lower-class Gypsy swindlers. "Hungary has become a little America," said Mihaly, a homeless person living at Nyugati railway station, referring to Budapest's emerging rackets. Mihaly speaks of "certain circles" who manage the homeless, but is afraid to give details. "Speaking out is rather tough, for the homeless have nobody to speak to" explained Eva Kiss, head of the Department of Social Affairs at the Budapest's city hall. "They don't dare to talk to our social workers and even less to the police," she said. Even when the odd policeman is prepared to make an effort to help the homeless, winning their confidence is not easy. Istvan Kapusi, a detective at Budapest's District I, co-operated with a snack bar to arrange regular handouts of pastries to the dozen permanent homeless people living in the station. He also used to offer cigarettes but his attempts at conversation didn't bear fruit. Mezi says that social workers working with the homeless have tried to encourage homeless people to work and, for example, sell newspapers in the streets by the traffic lights. They turned livid and said they would rather stay jobless instead of getting involved in such a dangerous connection. "Hungary nowadays reminds me of the situation in Bertold Brecht's "Threepenny opera," said Mezei. "In the play, the paupers fall prey to a criminal syndicate. By the end, they are just like glove-puppets in the mafiosi's hands." How one homeless man survives Istvan Varro, 47, is homeless and spends his waking hours at Nyugati metro station. Known as "Istvan the King", he is fiercely independent and does not allow profiteers to approach him: "I would never work for anyone but myself" he says, banging his hand on his chest. Istvan starts every working day with his crown -a cap covered up with various decorations including a Hungarian flag, a deodorant fir tree or Burger King straws. Although he only sleeps four hours on a bench or in a metro car, Istvan has enough energy to go to the market and buy dozens of snowdrops. With some ivy picked up in a square, he can make little bouquets that he sells until noon. "Each bouquet costs me HUF 20, I sell it at double the price so that I manage to make some HUF 800 forints daily with this business," he says. This is one of the latest of 36 jobs Istvan has had in his life. He has worked as a miner, a chimney sweep, a carpenter and a gas fitter. Since he was thrown out by his second wife and became homeless in 1985, his health has deteriorated. Asthma and an injured leg prevent him from moving too much, so Istvan supplements his HUF 10 000 monthly pension with less physical activities. Day in, day out, Istvan sets up a stand with cardboard boxes that he puts down in the subway. He sells anything he has collected: a bird shelter, half of an orange, a brand-new green pullover and a "Love and Hygiene" handbook. Most of these wares come from barters with other homeless people at Nyugati metro station. But his efforts only bring in loose change. In the afternoon, Istvan, who would make a model Father Christmas, sings on the escalators. He knows he can get people's attention with his raucous voice and they fill his plastic glass with coins. "Old Hungarian songs are my favorites and theirs too," he says, pointing to a sticker of Hungary's first king, St Stephen (Istvan), on the top of his cap. When in a good mood, he sings refrains from Transylvania to the rattling of his cane. When not, he groans, showing his bruised leg and parts of his black and blue body. "I get robbed so often," he grumbles in his beard, rummaging in a bag crammed with medicines and pain-killers. Suddenly, as if to prove this point, a bunch of teenagers appear from nowhere, pick up the plastic glass full of coins and escape on the metro. Istvan lets out a torrent of abuse. Later he explains the regular Nyugati station crowd steal each other all the time. Once they thieved his monthly pension on his way back to the post office. Istvan the King looks after himself. He mostly drinks orange soda and goes to the bathhouse once a week on a prescription of a social GP. He says he is resourceful enough not to get involved with dangerous schemes: "I was never sent to jail and I don't want to be". Istvan hopes his son, who is living with his former wife, will succeed in his studies and become an electrical engineer. As for himself, his dream is to become an actor like his late mother. "Look, I can imitate French actor Louis de Funes making faces in "Fantomas," he laughs as a passer-by jumps. * * * Emmanuelle Richard is a freelance journalist who works for French Radio, the European and the Budapest Week. =========== FINAL BLURB The Hungary Report is free to readers. 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Brown, Editor Tibor Vidos, Parliament Watch Attila Beno, Magyar Net Watch * * * For its briefs, The Hungary Report regularly consults the news sources listed below -- for information about subscriptions, contact them by email: The Budapest Business Journal <100263.213@compuserve.com> & Budapest Sun <100275.456@compuserve.com> Budapest Week <100324.141@compuserve.com> Central Europe Today (free online) , as well as most Hungarian-language media (e-mail addresses to come). ================= END TRANSMISSION