Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUDAPEST819
2009-11-16 17:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
HEATED CONFRONTATION BETWEEN ROMA AND
how-toVZCZCXRO9450 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHUP #0819 3201716 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 161716Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4653 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000819
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS SOCI HU
SUBJECT: HEATED CONFRONTATION BETWEEN ROMA AND
EXTREME-RIGHT GROUPS
REF: A. BUDAPEST 612 AND PREVIOUS
B. BUDAPEST 790
UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000819
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS SOCI HU
SUBJECT: HEATED CONFRONTATION BETWEEN ROMA AND
EXTREME-RIGHT GROUPS
REF: A. BUDAPEST 612 AND PREVIOUS
B. BUDAPEST 790
1. (U) Responding to a November 14 rally of the extreme-right
Jobbik party and the banned Magyar Garda in the north-eastern
Hungarian town of Sajobabony, local Roma attempted to break
up the event, threatening the local Jobbik party chief.
After a group of Roma assaulted one of the organizers, Jobbik
and Magyar Garda members proceeded to the Roma section in
town resulting in several clashes and damage to vehicles. A
massive police response on Sunday November 15, with
checkpoints leading into town, eased the situation, but
tension remains.
2. (U) In response, Jobbik President Gabor Vona and the Uj
Magyar Garda (New Hungarian Guard - NMG) Commander Robert
Kiss plan to visit the town on November 17 to assess the
situation. Additionally, Jobbik's European Parliament
Representative Csanad Szegedi, joined the chorus, stating
that "the NMG is ready to restore law and order in Hungary."
3. (SBU) EMBASSY contact Peter Juhasz, from the Hungarian
Civil Liberties Union, told EmbOff November 16 that he was in
Sajobabony from 11 PM Sunday night until 3 AM November 16,
commenting that "the situation is tense, but was relatively
quiet last evening." He said that the Roma population was up
the entire night, burning fires to keep warm, keeping watch,
and afraid to go back to their homes. Juhasz said that Roma
groups were to meet with the mayor Monday morning, November
16, and a town hall meeting is scheduled for later in the
afternoon.
4. (SBU) Comment. This incident will further strengthen
Jobbik's political message concerning "gypsy crime" and the
inability of Hungarian law enforcement officials to protect
the population. Jobbik consistently rails against all the
parliamentary parties for their inability to maintain law and
order, in particular in smaller towns and villages, while
conveniently disregarding a legally binding court decision
that banned the Magyar Garda (ref A). With national
elections less than six months away, we anticipate that
Jobbik will continue to use incidents like this past weekend
in an attempt to increase its support, in particular, in
areas with a large Roma population (ref B). End comment.
LEVINE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS SOCI HU
SUBJECT: HEATED CONFRONTATION BETWEEN ROMA AND
EXTREME-RIGHT GROUPS
REF: A. BUDAPEST 612 AND PREVIOUS
B. BUDAPEST 790
1. (U) Responding to a November 14 rally of the extreme-right
Jobbik party and the banned Magyar Garda in the north-eastern
Hungarian town of Sajobabony, local Roma attempted to break
up the event, threatening the local Jobbik party chief.
After a group of Roma assaulted one of the organizers, Jobbik
and Magyar Garda members proceeded to the Roma section in
town resulting in several clashes and damage to vehicles. A
massive police response on Sunday November 15, with
checkpoints leading into town, eased the situation, but
tension remains.
2. (U) In response, Jobbik President Gabor Vona and the Uj
Magyar Garda (New Hungarian Guard - NMG) Commander Robert
Kiss plan to visit the town on November 17 to assess the
situation. Additionally, Jobbik's European Parliament
Representative Csanad Szegedi, joined the chorus, stating
that "the NMG is ready to restore law and order in Hungary."
3. (SBU) EMBASSY contact Peter Juhasz, from the Hungarian
Civil Liberties Union, told EmbOff November 16 that he was in
Sajobabony from 11 PM Sunday night until 3 AM November 16,
commenting that "the situation is tense, but was relatively
quiet last evening." He said that the Roma population was up
the entire night, burning fires to keep warm, keeping watch,
and afraid to go back to their homes. Juhasz said that Roma
groups were to meet with the mayor Monday morning, November
16, and a town hall meeting is scheduled for later in the
afternoon.
4. (SBU) Comment. This incident will further strengthen
Jobbik's political message concerning "gypsy crime" and the
inability of Hungarian law enforcement officials to protect
the population. Jobbik consistently rails against all the
parliamentary parties for their inability to maintain law and
order, in particular in smaller towns and villages, while
conveniently disregarding a legally binding court decision
that banned the Magyar Garda (ref A). With national
elections less than six months away, we anticipate that
Jobbik will continue to use incidents like this past weekend
in an attempt to increase its support, in particular, in
areas with a large Roma population (ref B). End comment.
LEVINE