1989. január (1-18. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
í-i «HU«®<4RW(t OCTOBSR» J ©mi Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (from abroad 441-430 2126) 10/1989 11th January, 1989 Founding Meeting of the Independent Lawyers Fórum On Saturday January l^th at 10 ara the Independent lawyers Fórum will hold its founding meeting at no. 1-3 Egyetem Square. The Fórum which was formed by 13$ lawyers on November 5th held its first conference in the Jurta Theatre on November 27th which dealt with the right to vote and the rights of assembly and association. The Fórum’ s lawyers wrote a critique of the bili which is to go before Parliament and submitted it. On Saturday the Fórum wishes to become a national social organisation with a founding document, rules of operation and a membership. The draft of the founding document, which will be debated and adopted at the conference, repeats and expands on what was said in the Fórum’s November 5th announcement. It states that in previous periods of Hungárián history lawyers played a significant role in public life so that the nation would be maintained and develop. Fór forty years society has nőt been able to inter- vene in the formation of its own fate and apart from the short 55-56 period the authorities have suppressed all independent initiatives. Enforced social peace has nőt fulfilled hopes or secured development bút precipitated the country intő a serious crisis. The authorities used the constitution fór propaganda purposes and there were inadequate legal regulations which changed constantly and contradicted one another. Esteem fór the law became minimál in the eyes of society. The announcement states that it is only possible to emerge from a historical dead-end by establishing democracy. Reform rhetoric only serves to mask anti-reformist ambitions. Active co-operation and control by the whole of society is necessary to establish a democratic constitutional state. The Independent Lawyers Froum wishes to contribute to this process. The founding document draft emphasises that honest mutual consent can only be realised in a democratic constitutional state which has social, politlcal, economic and legeli arrangements in which humán rights are ensured by legal guarantees; in which political parties have an equal chance to operate and elections reveal the will of the máj őrity; in which branches of power are separated from each other; in which foreign policy looks to the interests of Hungarians living both within and outside the country’s borders; in which there is a markét economy without monopolies; in which a high standard of social and health care is a Citizen’s right; in which there is a great degree of responsibility towards the environment; in which the law does nőt over reach its sphere of authority; in which clear Hungárián speech reteiins its original piacé; in which the principle of personal responsibility fór mistaken decisions is enforced; and in which national and foreign documents can be researched, publicised and drafted so that the nation can leam about twentieth century history including the 1956 revolution free from secrets and falsehoods. The revolution being a "basis fór a legitimate national identity which strengthens the struggle against present tribulations". The founding declaration’s draft which will be submitted at Saturday*s meeting finally states that "It is our conviction that a democratic Hungary can only be created by the active co-operation of the whole of society. The Fórum wishes to enable lawyers to be the formulists and representátivés of genuine social demands rather than merely executors of initiatives from above". ry> ~r Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
