Hungarian Observer, 1986-1987 (1. évfolyam, 4. szám)

1987-04-01 / 4. szám

A word about 'war criminals' (continued from page 1) ways be heard. This principle is even observed by our Police Force which never lays a charge without interviewing the accused. Mr Menzies, however, made no attempt to interview the persons against whom allegations had been made and it appears that he was not even asked by the Government to do so. Nor did he seek assistance from the ethnic communities in question as to the war-time condi­tions and background against which the alleged 'crimes' have to be weighed. Yet he felt able to con­clude that there was 'substance' in the accusations. We find this very disturbing. Inordinate delay It is also a fundamental principle of our common law that no legal proceedings, civil or criminal, shall be brought after inordinate delay and any charges so brought will be dismissed by the courts. Only recently, the Supreme Court of New South Wales quashed indictments against two Australian businessmen accused of serious crimes on the ground that the prosecution had failed to lay the charges for some twelve years. Yet in this case, it is intended to prosecute Australian citizens after a delay of forty-two years! After such an extreme delay, not only tend prosecution witnesses' to become completely one-eyed but witnesses for the defence may have died and vital evidence may have become lost.To put people on trial under such circumstances when they already face the very real difficulty of obtain­ing evidence from the other side of the globe whilst the prosecution has all the resources of the Com­monwealth and world Jewry at its disposal, is so unfair that it cannot be countenanced. Selective 'justice' The question also arises why the Govern­ment has picked on East Europeans alone and why it is not proposed to investigate and prosecute simi­lar 'war criminals' among the German commu­nity in Australia whose members came to this country from the very centre and hotbed of Nazism and had much greater opportunity for committing such crimes? Is it because West Germany is now an economic world power and could render Aus­tralia, and the State of Israel, bankrupt with a stroke of the pen? Is this the reason why there is also no move to prosecute Japanese war criminals who committed very serious crimes against Australi­an prisoners of war and civilian internees? Or is it the real reason that East Euro­peans are an easy prey because they are political refugees and have no government to protect them? Is this why our Government is so brazen about this matter? Page 2. - Hungarian Observer The long arm of the KGB There is, however, an even more sinistei explanation and, we suggest, the correct one. Ir this connection, we cannot help noticing that the flames of the whole Nazi-hysteria against East Eu ropean refugees have now spread throughout the western world and are carefully fed by 'evidence supplied by the Soviet authorities. In the present world situation, given the weak-kneed attitudes of many western leaders, including our own, and the conspiracy of silence assiduously practised by the western media, East European refugees are the only ones who are still capable of drawing attention to the brutal terror of Communist regimes. It is therefore in the well­­conceived interests of the Soviet Union and its co­horts to silence or discredit them so that they might pursue their nefarious activities undisturbed. All the circumstances of the present cam­paign and the manner in which it is being waged, suggest that the Soviet leaders have now decided to do so, utilising the thirst for revenge of certain Jewish organisations and serving notice on East European refugees at the same time that they are in a position to get anyone through forged documents supplied by the KGB. It is regrettable that certain Jewish acti­vists have allowed themselves to be turned into tools of the KGB in this manner but on their part, this is perhaps understandable. The Hawke Labor Government cannot claim such an excuse. For whose benefit? It is also legitimate to ask, who is going to benefit by the whole exercise? Certainly not the Australian community which is going to be split wide apart - for, may we remind Mr Hawke, we, Eastern Europeans, are also Australian citizens. We also seriously doubt whether this affair will benefit the Jewish community in any way. As regards our own community, the re suits will be disastrous. In the first half of this cen tury, relations between Hungarians and Jew were stormy and there were serious mistakes am even transgressions on both sides. Over the las\ forty years, however, we in the Hungarian com munity have resolved our differences to the poin where Hungarian Jews are no longer considered a separate ethnic group but as Hungarians of Jewisl descent and form an integral part of our commu nity in Australia. The prosecution of a singk Hungarian on trumped-up charges, however, wil undo the whole process and cause untold damage tc our relations with Jews. All in all, the whole proposal is unworthy of Australia and should be thrown out at once. Anthony Endrey QC

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