1988. július (161-183. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
©iéS£ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 164/1988 (E) The Supreme Court Tries the llth July’ 1988 Young Democrats Alliance (YDA) lábéi Sült Today - July llth - the Supreme Court tried the libel suit initiated by the YDA against the Hungárián News Agency (MTI) and the newspaper Magyar Hirlap (Hungárián News). An appeal was made to the Supreme Court during the trial because the High Court nad dismissed the plaintiffs case on May 19th. The trial started with an impartial exposition of the case recoras - including a very detailed appeal. The plaintiffs had táken the case to court because the MTI had ref- erred to them as an illegal organisation in its April 8th publication and the Magyar Hirlap had - according to the plaintiffs - misrepresented the YDA’s founding declaration and had made false statements, and a request fór press corrections had been refused. The court of the first instance had justified its dismissal of the case as the MTI had issued its publication on police orders - thus it could nőt be held responsible - and Magyar Hirlap had published opinions rather than facts. Those preser.t were amused when the YDA’s lawyer - Dr Sara Éliás - quoted the Magyar Hirlap’s sixth paragraph which began with the words : "As regards the facts ...." Then she said that if the court avoids using its judicial discretion of the questions at hand and pays no attention to the legal regulations concerned so people will come to the conclusion that the law can be evaded - which finally leads to anarchy. Dr László Kövér handed documents to the court which proved that the state administrative proceedings against him were irregular, he said that he could nőt accept the fact that no legal offense had been committed against him. Dr Gábor Fodor pointed out the factual mistakes and contradictory decrees made by the court of the first instance: e.g. the YDA is nőt recognised as a legal body yet it still has to pay legal costs. Dr Fodor who graduated frora law school a year ago said that the events in the court of the first instance were a surprising experience and contradicted everything he had leamt at law school. The defendants’- the MTI and Magyar Hirlap - representátivés did nőt plead to the merits of the case bút asked that the appeal be dismissed. The Supreme Court will announce its decisión on Friday. i p I V* p I S | ff Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as Iong as the source is acknowledged. _______i___-_____í____1:____ftÉÚ. . - ___________!____Lk
