1988. február (17-31. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
@MÍ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London. WC1A 2HN » Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 31/1988 (E) 29th February, 1988 Károly Vicéi is Released In accordance with the Voivodina Province High Court decision reached today at noon (February 29th) Karoly Vicéi the z+4- year old writer fro® Senta was un- expectedljr released in Subotica. Vicéi was arrested on November 5th and sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment by the Subotica High Court on February 19th on a charge of inciting national hatred. Vicéi’s release does nőt mean that he is exempt or that the proceedings against him have been dropped. Two months ago the Voivodina Writers Union asked that Vicéi be released írom remand custody bút the Subotica High Court rejected this request from the defense. Now the Vojvodina Province Court have decided, accepting the appeal submitted in this case, that Vicéi can be released until the second degree trial. The criminal proceedings against Vicéi provoked great intemational interest. One of the reasons fór this is that until now Hungarians have suffered less dis- crimination in Yugoslavia than in neighbouring Románia and reports of criminal proceedings against Hungarians fór political reasons are virtually unheard of. Another reason is that in recent years in Yugoslavia - chiefly in Kosovo Province - nationality conflicts have arisen and the debate; which has lasted fór months, concerning plans to modify the constitution reveals the intention of the country* s political leadership to restrict the autonomy of two provinces - Kosovo and Vojvodina - which belong to Serbia. The trial against Vicéi is further proof of such intentions. Protests were made against Vicéi*s case by two hundred Swiss citizens, by the Hungárián National Minority Legal Defence Committee in Czechoslovakia and the Hungárián Democratic Opposition, the trial was alsó observed by Amnesty International who were represented by a Swiss lawyer Dávid Lachat at Vicéi*s trial. The Hungárián official press alsó reported on the criminal case bút without comment. When Karoly Vicéi re turnéd home to Senta he spoke on the phone to the editor of rürgarian October Information Centre in London and said that he was treated properly in pfcison and was placed in solitary confinement at his own request. He was able to listen to the rádió fór two months bút before the trial it was taken away. Only his lawyers appealed against the previous judicial decision nőt to release him; he did nőt appeal personally as he had no hope in its success. He believes his fate depends - the sentence at the second degree trial - on the outcome of the struggle of greater forces than himself alone. u Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
