Zengő – Reasons for Fear

In spring, when the local people and the environmental activists hindered the Ministry of Defence from building the locator in the preserve area for the second time, the government admitted that the decision had not been properly pondered, and they made the further steps dependent on the results of the Expert Committee’s work.
The Committee finished their work two weeks ago. In accordance with Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany’s request, they completed the report made in the middle of October with the examination of lower-lying sites. The trustworthiness and the importance of their examinations is indicated by the fact that, uniquely in Hungary so far, they have compared differing aspects like radar technological effectiveness and ecological effects, and they have given the same stress to these aspects. The Committee’s work has brought its result: Academician István Láng, Chairman of the Committee stated that in his opinion Mórágy could be an acceptable site for the NATO, as well. Considering all the three respects (ecological, military and social impacts) it was Mórágy that proved to be the best choice. Concerning radar technology, it is nearly as good as the Zengő-site in effectiveness which is the worst choice from the other two aspects. Of course, this result is not so clear and convincing for the first look. When calculating the costs, the Committee and the Ministry took it for sure that the NATO would not support a site other than the Zengő. The true base for this opinion is that, according to our information, the Hungarian party has not inquired our military ally about the financial support of the alternative sites until this day. This is how it is possible to frighten the public with an amount that is seemingly enormous but in fact only equals to the costs of two or three kilometres of a highway.
We, however, do not think that the NATO, which is an organization declaring environmental principles, as well, would demand something impossible from its smallest member country and would want a rate of efficiency we are unable to fulfil.
It is obvious that the people being deeply concerned about Zengő are right when waiting for the government’s act. Silence, however, is total and deep and worrying. All we could hear was the words of the „expert of the Ministry of Defence” in the news: it has been proved that Zengő is the best. All we could read was a short piece of news in the daily Magyar Nemzet: the Ministry of Defence is about to put the question to „social debate”. We do not understand what social debate is going to be about since it has already passed off, and there is nothing to polemize about something that has been declared illicit, illegal and unconstitutional by Ombudsman Barnabás Lenkovics and László Sólyom, former President of the Constitution Court. Moreover, Péter Medgyessy has signed the Bern Agreement which prohibits the re-plantation of the Banat peony or the derangement of its living-place. Zengő is now also protected by the Natura 2000 union network.
The fact that the soldiers still keep Zengő the ideal site is more than worrying. The previous ten months have not been enough for them to understand: they just cannot decide upon such an expensive investment bringing about such serious consequences, upon our protected natural areas with full powers and within their barracks. There are also aspects other than theirs: beside military respects social, ecological and legal considerations must be taken into account, as well. I must say here that during this process the Ministry of Defence has not given any sign of openness or the ability of consideration. And I even say more: we can be sure that they have encumbered the Committee’s work, too, if no other way, then by their statements which have raised the question of whether they have promoted or obstructed the search for alternative sites. The „We have told you: it will be the Zengő, and that’s the end” mood has dominated this case from the very beginning, and by today it has become sure that the local activists are being softened by network means. This has been reported about by the Civils for Zengő Movement at their press conference. Suspiciously strict tax authority inspections, police controls, dismissals, lists made about the activists at their work places, a car following them in the night and standing in front of the gate during the discussions… (See more about these in the Annex.)
We could wait for the developments more calmly if, contrary to the spring and summer months, it would not be allowed to cut trees on the Zengő now.
What should we make of the government’s suspicious muteness? There is nothing strange about their being still unsure: should they risk making a step that will obviously result in an enormous scandal or should they make a popular step? But why do not say then that detailed analyses are needed which will last for a few months? Or do they believe that by keeping silence it is easier to sell that the Committee’s surveys made them decide to stick to Zengő, and the machines are about to start work? And then will everything finished on that icy February day start again?
All in all, it seems rather perilous to start the investment with queriable and partly invalid permissions disregarding the considerate warning of prominent legal persons and sweeping away the enormous public protest and the wide-range union never experienced since the Bős-Nagymaros case which has given very strong proof of the fact: the protection of ecological values, and of the Zengő in this very case, is demanded by astonishingly many people. This thought has brought together people who have not agreed in any other cases during the previous years.
According to the latest news we have received, the Ministry of Defence is about to try to re-start the investment at the end of January or the beginning of February. The civil organizations have initiated a final campaign spurt: beside others, Hungary’s most popular bands will give a free concert in Pécs, the university town near to the Zengő, and we have also started intensive lobbying. We appeal to the European Council because by deranging the living-place of the Banat peony the Hungarian government violates the Bern Agreement. (We seem to find more and more allies in the circles of the Hungarian political and intellectual elite – it is a question, though, whether we will be enough.)
We ask everyone to help us with the means at their disposal: it is shocking to experience the despair of the local people. Those living around the Zengő have so strong affective links to the mountain, to the natural value of their home land which is rather unique in Middle-Europe.
And still: all this is story not merely about their future.

Márton Vay, Protect the Future
 vaymarton@vedegylet.hu


Annex

Three of the agents of the Civils for Zengő Movement have suffered regular tax authority inspections in the previous six months. One of them has been fined for HUF 500 000 because his employee arrived at the shop at 5.45 to open at six. He should have been paid the night shift fee for these fifteen minutes.
One of the activists left the movement because he had serious problems at his work place because of this fight.
One of the activists, a prominent sociologist, has been asked by a colonel to undertake expert work in a tender for an irrationally high remuneration. (A remark from the indy: I don’t know why they thought they could buy her. She’s not that type.)
At the University of Pécs, where many of the leaders of the movement have connections, there is an (ex-?) defence officer working who has turned out to have been writing beautiful lists about who and how took part in the protection of the Zengő.
A secondary school director has also been upbraided because he was recognised on a photo, being thrust by two defence men.
In the previous months several of the activists have experienced decline in the orders of the bigger companies being in governmental or local authority property or friendship.
One of the activists was thrashed while he was spreading sheets against the Strabag cement plant in Bükkösd (we have already known that), but someone tried to hit him by car (let us hope, this was not a state action), and he was summoned to appear by the police and was shown photos made at half past three a.m. as proofs to make him tell who had charged him with spreading the sheets. The police even knew who had sat in whose car when they had been going to Bükkösd and how many of them went there and back.
They have also been visited by people from Mórágy and asked to protest there, as well, and these people possessed personal background information a common person from Mórágy could hardly get alone.
The trees sentenced to be cut were marked on the mountain again. (Who knows why, these marks rub away sooner than the usual on that place…)
The school of Hosszúhetény has gained, thanks to the Ministry of Defence, it is said, HUF 200 million for renovation, and they also want a swimming-pool built in Pécsvárad very much – probably this path will be followed further. (Or will the school have to repay the 200 million if the locator is not built?)
The only pro-locator member of the local authority in Hosszúhetény has gained wins: although he does not speak a word in English, he flourishes the small type clause of the Bern Agreement protecting the Banat peony (who might have given it to him?), and writes to Gyurcsány, saying that there really are people with differing attitudes concerning the locator.
A white car followed the local organizers several times, even at 3 a.m. When those sitting in the white car were unable to read the registration number of the organizers’ car, there was a flash. The very same car sometimes stands in front of the house during their meetings.
At Danube-Drava National Park there were two persons who gave us effective help: one of them was replaced to Székesfehérvár, the other was sacked off.