Budapest group stages arms demo

<195>A large demonstration against military preparations was organised last November in Budapest by the Hungarian WRI section, Alba Kor (Alba Circle), together with 31 other organisations.

Since Alba Kor was set up five years ago, it has organised several demonstrations on behalf of conscientious objectors in Turkey and Poland, the Innu people of Canada, and deserters in the former Yugoslavia, as well as against the Chechen war and both French and Chinese nuclear testing. Last November's demonstration was a "first" for two reasons: it was the first demonstration against arms in Hungary since 1989 (the year of change), and it was the first time so many groups had participated in such a demonstration.

These groups are incensed that at a time of 30% inflation, decreasing living standards and a collapsing welfare system, the Hungarian government has suddenly decided to spend billions of dollars on new fighter jets, guided missiles and other highly sophisticated and highly expensive weapons systems.

The immediate focus of the demonstration was the holding in Budapest of the second Eastern and Central European Weapon and Arms Exhibition, where leading arms producers from all over the world try to attract business from the former socialist countries now wanting to join NATO.

The demonstration was held outside the exhibition's main entrance, and included speakers from Alba Kor, the Quakers, the Bokor Catholic movement, the Humanist movement, the Church and Peace network and the Anti-Violence Forum. Environmental, nonviolent, green, women's and human rights groups were also present. After the short speeches the participants threw toy weapons and promotional materials from the exhibition into a big dustbin labelled "dangerous waste".

The action was reported in all the national papers, the most popular daily television news-magazine and several radio shows. Alba Kor were very pleased with the media coverage and the excellent way in which the 31 participating organisations had cooperated. Nevertheless they noted that the main Hungarian church organisations remained completely silent on the issue and even the Hungarian Peace Association declined to participate in the event.

"Hopefully through the media we are succeeding in making people realise the incredibly large amounts Hungary is spending on weapons", said a spokesperson for Alba Kor.

Translated by Perneczky Laszlo (pepe)

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The Regional Environmental Center for Eastern and Central Europe, Miklos ter 1., H-1035, Budapest, Hungary. (tel +36-1-2503401 fax +36-1-250 3403 email pepe@fs2.bp.rec.hu pepe@rec.zpok.hu).