1987. április (33-52. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
®MÍ 24/D Littl« Rutkdl Street, LOM DON, WC.i • T*/. 0Y-4SO H 26 • G. KrosaA 48/1987 M 27th April, 1987 The Speech of Zsolt Keszthelyi by the Privilege of the Last Word at His Trial Honourahle Military Court] The administration of justice is based upon impartiality, this, I think, no one can pút in doubt. Therefore I ask you whether it is impartiality, such as it is, if members of an organization sentence me, which organization might well be considered my antagonist, because I refused to be a member of it. The objection to military service* namely»violates interests of the army as a public bodyftherefore I think that the practice which in fact makes one’s antagonist one's judge must be reconsidered. There is certainly no question of personal hostility, bút of the fact that violation of the organizational interest may influence the court consisting of the members of the same organization. Therefore I hold the view that claims fór a civil court to proceed cases of objection to military service are rightful and even necessary to prevent the influence of particular interests in the process of weighing up freedom rights against state or corporate interest. The military court present has the jurisdiction to review this biased legal practice; it only has to accede to my motion requesting the Gouncil of Gonstitutional Law to proceed the case. / ... / In my opinion there is only one chance fór peace: if the countries of strategic importance make altemative civil service legally permissible fór their citizens. This is the only way to eliminate hostility, the danger of agression, it is an indispensable contribution to achieving that societie3 should peacefully coexist without relying on armies. The existence of altemative civil service in itself is certainly no guarantee fór peace, bút without it all efforts are in vain. If someone would ask me, what do I trust in, I would answer that I pút my trust in the realization of the altemative civil service in Hungary. Budapest, 27th April, 1987 Zsolt Keszthelyi (Abridged version)
