1988. február (17-31. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
1 í^o^^k ®$li 24/D Líttle Ruísell Street, LÓN D 0 NI, WC.L -TeLPl-W &< 26 • G. Krassé 24/1988 (E) 13th February, 1988 íi; Witnesses Retract Their Statements During Vicéi*s Trial On February ll-12th the Subotica High Court held a trial to hear the case of Károly Vicéi a 44 year old Senta writer who is accused of "destroying the peace- ful co-existence of the peoples and national minorities living in Yugoslavia". All the indicting witnesses retracted their statements, given to the police, in court and the trial which was originally to last two days was postponed until February 19th. Karoly Vicéi*s case has been followed with great interest even by Serb language and Belgrade dailies. One of the reasons fór this interest is that a debate has been going on fór months in Yugoslavia about modifying the constitution, more precisely about the restriction of autonomy of two Serbian provinces - Kosovo and Voivodina. Extrémé views have been exchanged in the heat of the debate. Fór example the Növi Sad paper Magyar Szó ("Hungárián Word") reported on January 30th the words of Milivoje Stankovió a retired generál, who is the president of the influential Serbian Reserve Officers Union, he said that neighbouring countries "have settled their own nations within the bordér zones, we however in Serbia populated . the bordér zones with national minorities". According to the General this creates favourable conditions fór foreign military intelligence act- ivities, and thus - so he says - "big problems can arise". Magyar Szó wrote that Stankovió*s speech breeds distrust towards the national minorities and is a pol- itical publicity campaign, noting bitterly that there is only one solution: "to resettle the national minorities elsewhere away from the bordér zones and thus apart from the land where they have lived fór centuries." Karoly Vicei*s trial lasted fór six hours on both days. The Voivodina Writers Union had asked earlier if the accused - if only because of his illness - be per- mitted to defend himself after his release bút the court did nőt act upon this request and Vicéi was brought before the court in handeuffs. The six witnesses who have been heard by the prosecuting magistrate retracted their statements which they had given to the police - even István Fodor who has been sentenced fór theft, and is on parole. Erzsébet Gyetvai told the court that she was intimid- ated by the police and that her statement was dictated to her. Hajnalka Menyhárt •: who is 24 explained that the reason fór her indicting police statement was her fear. When the judge asked her if she was afraid now the witness answered "I am alsó afraid now. Bút my conscience is clear". The four witnesses fór the defence stated that they had never heard statements from Vicéi which could be classified as national minority incitement. At the trial were reporters from the Magyar Szó. Növi Sad rádió and Dnevnik - a Voivodina Serb daily - and Dávid Lachat a Swiss lawyer representing Amnesty International. In their impartial accounts both the Magyar Szó and the Növi Sad rádió reporters stressed that the witnesses had retracted their statements. However Mihály Nagy the acting prosecutor declared with self-confidence that he would prove the bili of indictment statements althpugh only one - originally registered indictment witnpss is due to appeari who despite a summons did nőt appear in court. The court did nőt give an exáct explanation fór the postponement.
