The Fight Against the Radar Station Continues -

38,000 Citizens of Pécs Vote to Reject the Radar

The Government Declares the Referendum Invalid

At the referendum more than 38,000 citizens of Pécs voted against the radar.  This is 94% of those who voted.  This is a greater number than voted for membership in NATO and the EU, or for the last 2 mayors of Pécs (including the current mayor, who got only 28,000 votes).  HOWEVER, there was a 50% ( about 64,000 votes) requirement for validity, which is a rule which was changed for the EU and NATO referenda, but which we could not get changed in this case.  Therefore, the referendum results are not considered legally valid by the national or local government.  The mayor and the 5 political parties in the local government agreed before the referendum that they would support and comply with the wishes of the majority even if the votes were not enough to make the referendum valid.  BUT the mayor, after the referendum, traveled immediately to Budapest to meet with the government, previous to talking with us, even though we made many requests to meet with him and offered to help him in standing up for the people of Pécs.  SInce then the government and the Ministry of Defense have stated that they wish to begin building the radar as soon as possible and the mayor has given in to them, while pretending to have supported our cause (which he did not).  To this day he has not clearly stated his own opinion on the radar station. 

We are now formulating legal challanges to the building regulations and are planning demonstrations in the near future.  On Monday, there will be an emergency meeting of the city government, at which we will appear in as large numbers as possible.  We hope to force the more responsible and responsive members of the city government to change the building codes according to the wishes of the 38,000 citizens of Pécs.  We have been receiving great support from the community, most of whom are upset and angered by the response of the local and national government to such an obvious rejection of the radar station.  The national press are reporting the issue, more now that the vote is over unfortunately.  We will continue our fight in spite of this setback and we have stated already that we will not rule out civil disobedience, as was demonstrated on the Zengő mountain in February, 2004.

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