1988. október (246-270. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
®fm/L Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (frotn abroad 441-430 2126) 24.6/1988 (E) lst October, 1988 Presidential Gouncil Decree to Exonerate Those Who Were Imprisoned After the Revolution Yesterday the Hungárián Republic’s Presidential Council issued a pardon exonerating those who took part in the 1956 revolution and who were subsequently imprisoned. This pardon - which was announced well in advance in order to abate domestic demands and as propaganda abroad - must merely be seen as the first symbolic gesture in re- paration fór crimes against the nation by the counter-revolutionary Kadar régimé. Today Hungárián society demands much more. The decree is merely symbolic because Hungary is nőt a constitutional state. As a re- sult the authorities only utilised the disadvantages linked to previous conviction when it suited them; fór example many of those who according to the law should nőt be permitted to travel because of previous convictions received passports. On the other hand the editor of the Hungárián October Information Centre was exonerated in 1973 despite a previous conviction bút his wife was sacked from her job because she did nőt state in her C.V. that her husband was sentenced to ten years imprisonment in 1957. The pardon is nőt satisfactory because it contains a number of disqualifieations and thus only concems 300 people; it does nőt include those who continued their condemned activities after May lst 1957 and those who were sentenced fór treason, spying and other charges,these will be examined individually by the Ministry of Justice. These charges were easily made after the revolution. Those who came intő contact with or gave any information about the Hungárián events to Western journalists or politicians were charged and sentenced fór spying. If he had nőt been executed, Imre Nagy, who was accused of treason by the court, would nőt have been exonerated either. The pardon does nőt altér other serious disadvantages currently suffered such as the social security law which decrees that those sentenced to more than five years fór anti-state activities have their pensions calculated from the Services to the state they render after they are released nőt from previous work records, somé lose out on contributions made over several decades. Hungárián society’s demands were drafted by the Historical Jurisdiction Committee which was formed in June. The Committee nőt only demands exoneration bút rehabil- itation: totál morál, legal and political rehabilitation fór those who took part in the revolution and who were subsequently imprisoned, executed or slandered and simultaneously the exposure of and possible reparation fór crimes committed, unlaw- fulness and lies, clearing the'names of the dead and the publishing of a true history of the revolution. J Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged. í
