1988. szeptember (209-245. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
iJfeiiS'áááa ®iMm£ Editor: György Krassó » 24/D Littie Russell Street » London. WC1A 2HN » Tel. 01-430 2126 (from abroad 441-430 2126) 228/1988 (E) uth September, 1988 The Hungárián Writer Károly Vicei’s Politlcal Trial is Heard in Novisad by the Court of Appeal Tomorrow, on September 15th, at 9 am the Vojvodina Provinciái Supreme Court will hear Karoly Vicéi*s, the 4-4 year old Hungárián writer, appeal in Novisad. Vicéi was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment on February 19th in Subotica, he was charged with inciting nationality hatred because of alleged nationalist reraarks which he inadé in priváté conversations. The májőrity of the witnesses withdrew their police confessions in court. Vicéi was sentenced to two years imprisonment twelve years ago when he was charged with "spreading hostile propaganda" after he had tried to organise an experimental Hungárián theatre in Zenta. The recent case against him was initiated after he had instituted proceedings against the Ministry of the Interior of Vojvodina Province fór repeatedly refusing his request fór a passport. Both the district attorney’s office and the defense appealed against the sentence. The district attomey’s office citing the previous conviction of the accused asked fór a more serious sentence while the defense demanded his aquittal. The examining magistrate in the Subotica High Court was Petar Beric who sentenced him twelve years ago. The Supreme Court’s council President in the hearing tomorrow is Mihály Virág who was a member of the court at the appeal hearing of Vicéi’s previous case. István Koncz from Kanizsa and the famous Belgrade lawyer Aleksandar Lojpur, who replaces Srdh Popovic who is engaged, máké up the defense. It is probable that Novisad Rádió and press reporters will alsó be present. A number of Western, Yugoslav and Hungárián protests have been held recently against Vicei’s sentence. The periodical Forrás ("Source") based in Kecskemét (Hungary), in the May issue of which writings by Yugoslav-Hungárián writers including Vicei’s were published, invited him to a literary evening on May 9th bút Vicei’s passport appli- cation was once again refused. Karoly Vicéi said over the phone to the Hungárián October Information Centre that in the ever changing Yugoslav situation the outcome of his appeal depends to a large extent on the momentary power relations of those power groups which conduct internál political struggles. The fact that there are lots of articles in the press about the repeal of verbal incitement which was introduced as a criminal act by the Soviet Union 4.0 years ago gave him confidence. Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
