The Hungarian Student, 1961

HUNGARIAN OPINIONS ON STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD FROM THE RESOLUTIONS OF FREE HUNGARIAN STUDENTS

The annual Congress of the Union of Hungarian Students display an intense interest in the grave problems of the international student world in addition to the all-time problems of Hungarian students. This interest is expressed in the resolutions which were passed by previous congresses, in Liechtenstein in 1957, Paris 1957, Rome 1958, Donau-Eschingen 1959, Brussels 1960, we present the following excerpts from these resolutions.

RESOLUTION ON SOUTH AFRICA

The 4th Congress of the UFHS considering the deplorable events prevalent in the Union of South Africa,

1. STATES that the policies of the Government of the Union of South Africa seriously infringe, in a most tragic way, upon the basic human rights and elementary human dignity of its citizens,

2. EXPRESSES its utmost sympathy for, and solidarity with the coloured South African students, who suffer under this governmental oppression.

3. SUPPORTS national and international measures—such as the economic boycott movement in Great Britain— which seek to take a concrete stand

against the events in South Africa.

4. EXPRESSES its recognition of the work of NUSAS which despite continuous persecution and against the gravest odds has fought consistently

for the rights of its coloured fellow students,

5. APPEALS to national and international student organizations throughout the world to lend a helping hand in the form of positive action, to NUSAS in this task and to those students who are unable to continue their studies in the Union of South Africa, and requests the UFHS International Secretariat to take part in all international movements aimed at solving the South African question.

RESOLUTION ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The 5th Congress notes with regret that in certain areas and schools of the United States of America the shameful practice of anti-constitutional racial discrimination still prevails.

There is a united effort, by coloured and white students, to abolish this.

Universities is the “KISZ”, or the Federation of Communist Youth. This organization admits members only on a partisan basis, and is obliged to carry out official government policy. Its “Student Commission” also pretends to represent the Hungarian students outside the country, as in the last ZSP Congress in Warsaw,

9) that the “National Commission of Hungarian Student Organizations” which pretends also to represent Hungarian students in the international field, was established on the initiative of KISZ, is formed greatly on the basis of local KISZ organizations, and has not shown any independence from the partisan policy imposed upon Hungarian students and youth,

This Conference, therefore, reaffirming its anti-totalitarian and anti-imperialistic principles,

CONDEMNS the continued suppression of democracy and academic freedom in Hungary, the absolute refusal of any real autonomy of the university by the State and the foreign interference in the development of the Hungarian cultural inheritance,

CONDEMNS the imperialistic action of the Government of the Soviet Union, which set up the actual government in Hungary and continues to support it,

STRONGLY PROTESTS against the continued pressure of the Hungarian

Government against professors and students defending academic liberties and human and national rights,

SUPPORTS the Hungarian student demands as they were expressed in October-November 1956, for the establishment of their freedom and effective social justice in Hungary,

APPEALS to the Hungarian Government to release all students and professors still imprisoned for political reasons.

This Conference also EXPRESSES its solidarity with Hungarian students fighting against the suppression of their rights,

EXPRESSES its opinion that the National Commission of Hungarian Student Organisations does not represent either the Hungarian students as a whole or the feelings and wishes of the majority of the Hungarian students, RECOMMENDS that the work of RIC concerning the situation of higher education in Hungary should be continued, the failure to obtain entry visas should not constitute an obstacle, MANDATES the Secretariat to give technical help to the UFHS, so that this organisation can supply information on the Hungarian situation to the student world,

MANDATES the Secretariat to give wide to this resolution and expresses its gratitude for the RIC’s objective work.

Their lawful and justified struggle is given both approval and moral support from the overwhelming majority of the American people. The Congress appeals to the American and Hungarian students studying in the United States to do their utmost to achieve the final elimination of all types of racial, religious and any other discriminative practice. The Hungarian students have lived in a political regime which established, as official practice, a system of discrimination. It is their view, therefore, that such practices represent a mockery of freedom and a contempt for human dignity. The Hungarian students are prepared to fight against racial and any other type of discrimination.

( Resolution of the Association of Hungarian Students in North America.)

RESOLUTION ON CUBA

The 3rd Congress of the UFHS (in Rome), with reference to previous resolutions passed at the earlier Congress in Paris and during this present Congress, requests the leaders of the UFHS to address a note, in the name of the Congress, to the COSEC, in connection with the situation of Cuban students emphasizing that:

— The Hungarian Student community in exile deprived of the independence of its country by Soviet imperialism expresses its sincere concern and sympathy for youth fighting for democracy and freedom in their country anywhere in the world,

— these feelings are equally valid in the case of Cuba,

— The Congress is gravely concerned over the fate of Cuban Youth and students, a fate that is inflicted upon

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