Justice for Hungary!
Protest against the malicious, and insulting media
campaign against Hungary, and Hungarians everywhere

 

The purpose of this document is to raise our voices against the ongoing false accusations, lies, and insults against Hungary, and Hungarians, and to urge the ending of the hateful campaign questioning the commitment of Hungary, and Hungarians to democracy.

 

After over sixty years of Communist, and Post communist rule the overwhelming majority of Hungarians voted for democratic changes, and for a government policy which puts the primary emphasis on the interest of its citizens. It is astounding that only nine months after the election of an expressly non-Communist Government in Hungary, a series of articles in Canada’s MacLean’s Magazine goes out of its way to portray Hungarians as inherently anti democratic, and questions the commitment of Hungarians to democracy, thus degrading, and insulting the Hungarian nation, and Hungarians everywhere. 

An article in June 17, 2009 issue of MacLean’s warns of the alleged danger of the rise of fascism in Hungary. Meanwhile, Hungary is a member of NATO Alliance, and a member of the European Union. Another article titled: “The Return of Hitler,” also in MacLean’s Magazine  (April 21 2010). This article is a revolting, and baseless attempt to associate the newly elected Hungarian Government with fascism, and equate its leader with Hitler. With a full-blown portrait of Hitler on the front page, this attempt is a shameless example of deliberate hatemongering, and insult against Hungarians. 

The latest article in MacLean’s, titled: “The Return of the Iron Fist?” (January 30, 2011) is the most contemptible examples of shabby journalism, and a wilful attempt to insult the Hungarians by questioning and denying their commitment to democracy. The sole aim of “The Return of the Iron Fist” is to create confusion and raise fury about the properly conceived, lawfully introduced, and democratically approved, new Hungarian Media Law. (Act CLXXX On Media Services and Mass Media) 

The falsehoods, deceptions, and the obscurities of the above MacLean’s article are just too numerous to be dealt with here. At this place, we wish only to highlight the most blatant lies, and unsubstantiated accusations of the The MacLean’s article cites Article 13 of the Hungarian Media Law, and draws the very predictable negative conclusions based on provided quote The text cited as being part of Article 13 does not exist in that article. As it turns out, the author combines three separate snippets from the law to construct the supposed text of Paragraph 13. The same article also cites the following text as direct quote: “all the media providers shall provide authentic, rapid and accurate comprehensive, factual, up-to date, objective and balanced coverage of local, national, and European issues.”  The above “quote” does not exist either in Hungarian Media Law. A similar quote exists stating that not “all media”, but  “public media”, that is media outlets established, and run at Government’s expense “shall provide authentic, rapid and accurate comprehensive, factual, up-to date, objective and balanced coverage of local, national, and European issues. How else should a publicly founded media outlet broadcast?

There is not one single allegation it the MacLean’s article that is not slanted, out of the contest, or a blatant lie. The whole enterprise of the “Question of the Hungarian Language Law” is artificially created, and in reality it has no basis whatsoever, because: 

1. The new Hungarian Media Law has been drafted, introduced, and accepted by the Hungarian Parliament in a due, and democratic process by the overwhelming majority of the dully-elected representatives of the Hungarian people.

2. The rules about the media of the member countries of EU fall in the exclusive jurisdiction of the member countries. In other words, the Media Laws of member countries within the European Union are a sovereign (independent, and internal) matter, and this pertains to Hungary as well. Despite this, the Hungarian Government has voluntary agreed to change any provisions of the Law, if the proper authorities of the European Union can find any regulations in it, which do not already exist in any of the legislations of the member countries of the European Union. As a matter of fact, the Hungarian Media Law does not differ from the general thrust of the regulations of the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission). The difference is in form only.

3. There is a set timetable, agreed with the proper authorities of the European Union concerning the implementation, and the compatibility of the Hungarian Media Law with the similar laws of other countries.
The process of evaluating the Media Law by the European Union is on target. The proper authorities of the European Union have already examined the Hungarian Media Law, and they did not find that it contains anything that is not present in the media regulations of any of the member countries of the European Union. The European Media authority sent a letter to the Hungarian Government listing its minor, and mainly technical objections regarding this issue. As mentioned before, the Hungarian government is ready, and willing to make the recommended changes suggested by the European Union.

4. The above letter of the European Union was readily available prior to the date of issue of the MacLean’s article, but its existence is not mentioned, or referred to in the MacLean’s article.

5. All the questions, and accusations raised by the current article have been already thoroughly discussed previously by at least y two programs in the BBC. In one of these programs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Mr. János Mártonyi has addressed, and clarified all the concerns raised about the current Hungarian Language Law very clearly, and convincingly. Mr Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary did the same in Strasburg recently. It is most peculiar that the MacLean’s does not refer to the above sources. Instead, the MacLean’s article lists as its sources an obscure Internet blog run by a paid lobbyist.

Based on the above, it is clear that the current article in MacLean’s does not even aim to provide valid information, or reasoned opinion to its readers about Hungary, and the Hungarians: its sole purpose is to insult, to degrade, and to incite hatred against the Hungarians for not voting the way they were expected to by the big business, and to a segment of privileged few in Hungary who has run the country to the ground by serving the interests of outside ideologies, and now it can not accept the outcome of the democratic elections.

As Canadian-Hungarians, we resent these lies perpetrated by the western MacLean’s Canada’s leading news magazine is misrepresenting our nation and criticizing us as fascists for or daring to vote, and elect a government committed to the revival, and the unity of Hungarian nation.  

We resent the false accusation about not being committed to democracy, and not conforming to European standards. Hungarian statehood is more than a thousand year old, and is inherently tied to Europe by the mere fact of its inception––accepting Christianity, and receiving a crown in accordance with the customs of the time, asserting the rights and responsibilities of statehood in Europe. 

The Hungarians do not wish to hear only praise, but the truth. When the commitment of Hungary, and Hungarians to democracy is questioned, and when our whole culture, and heritage is offended, we, as any other nation, or community must raise our voices against it. Enough already.
Justice for Hungary. Justice for all!  

 

Follow up:
A Total Failure to Discredit Hungary
Alternate Link