Védegylet - Mount Zengő is saved

12 October 2005 - As Védegylet already pointed out in its press release, the solidarity shown in the Zengő case, had been exemplary. The movement, Civilek a Zengőért (Civilians for Mount Zengő) was later joined by a number of distinguished civil organisations such as Védegylet, Greenpeace Hungary, etc.

Mount Zengő is saved

The plans for building a radar station on the top of Mount Zengő (a protected area in Southern Hungary) have been abandoned. We are now looking for alternative solutions, declared the Ministry of Defense for the first time in a meeting behind closed doors.

Védegylet Press Release

Védegylet welcomes the decision of the Ministry of Defense according to which no radar station will be built on the top of Mount Zengő.

Védegylet regards this decision to be of great importance for Hungarys democracy, political culture and futures generations. Although it has taken considerable time, the Ministry of Defense finally seems to realize that military efficiency and national security (issues that incidentally, had never been discussed in public) cannot be more important than constitutional or ecological principles. The organization also acknowledges that their actions could never have been so successful without a considerable public support. The exemplary solidarity among people with different political views also played a very significant role in this achievement.

Védegylet sincerely hopes that Zengő has definitely been removed from the list of possible locations for a new radar station in the Southern part of the Carpathian Basin. However, the organization wishes to stress that they will maintain its position and will continue to organize civil actions until all protected areas have been removed from the list of possible locations for a radar station. In any other case, only the names change but the problems remain the same.

Védegylet

Ministry of Defense versus Defenders of the Country

As Védegylet already pointed out in its press release from October 12, the solidarity shown in the Zengő case, had been exemplary. Local activists organized civil actions as early as in the 90s and they remained the driving force of all initiatives until the very end. Their movement, Civilek a Zengőért (Civilians for Mount Zengő), led by Tamás Herbert, was later joined by a number of distinguished civil organisations such as Védegylet, Greenpeace Hungary, Zöld Fiatalok (Young Greens), Magyar Természetvédők Szövetsége (Association for Nature Protection), Pécsi Zöld Kör (Green Circle of the Southern Hungarian city Pécs), Rügyecskék (Blossoms), Humanisták (Humanists), Humusz (Hummus) as well as various other associations, and hundreds of enthusiastic civilians.

During the times of protests, the defenders of Mount Zengő successfully refuted all arguments that questioned the validity of their actions, and their good relations with the inhabitants of the surrounding villages could not be undermined by propaganda. Many activists actually came from the these villages. Financial arguments such as other alternatives are too expensive were not powerful enough to turn public opinion against the activists. No violent protests took place, among the defenders of Zengő were legal experts such as current President of the Republic, László Sólyom who pointed out consitutional problems in the building plans, and Barnabás Lenkovics, Pariamentary Commissioner for Civil Rights who openly expressed his support and sympathy with the demonstrants.

As strategic justification for the radar station was based on classified information to which only the Army and the Ministry of Defense had access, the supporters of Zengő refused to be dragged into useless debates about military issues. Although they opposed to the entire concept of a radar, actual protests were raised only against the use of protected areas for this purpose. Nobody can say that demonstrants did not take security issues very seriously: defending Zengő was their way to defend the country.

When the Ministry of Defense removed protected roses from the mount, tried to replant them elsewhere and by doing so, caused a loss of several million forints arguing that it did not understand why environmentalists are making such a fuss over some flowers, the defenders of Zengő did not react. They knew that taking this statement seriously would lead to debates far below the level and importance of the real cause. Also, they aimed to conserve their independence and systematically refused affiliations with any political party.

The defenders of Zengő were involved in various activities: they held meetings with NATO representants, they met former President of the Republic Ferenc Mádl, built barricades on the mount, organized meetings, published newspaper articles and books on the topic, negotiated with the Minister of Defense and protested by defending the trees with their own bodies. Their petitions addressed to the Minister of Defense was signed by more than one hundred intellectuals spanning the full political spectrum.

Due to the expertise, cleverness, and enthusiasm of the participants a movement was brought to life. Its impact can only be compared to the highly influencial Movement for the Danube an association that protested against water pollution and the construction of a water plant on the Danube river, near Budapest in the 80s. Journalistst called it a Green Renaissance and praised activists for giving an example of participation to public life beyond self-interest and political convictions. The protests for Zengő gave a positive example for all kinds of subsequent civil actions from blocking plans to construct a motorway to closing down a factory. The success of the Zengő case has given hope and is still helping people believe that civil actions are not taken in vain. In moments of despair, there is always someone to ask: "Have you already forgotten the Zengő?"

(Viktor Vida - vedegylet.hu)