Hungary tightens rules for civilian guard associations

The Hungarian Parliament has tightened the rules for the creation and operation of various civilian guard and “protection” associations. Lawmakers have done so in response to the unending racially motivated conflicts perpetrated by uniformed radical right-wing groups on members of the Roma minority which come to a head in recent months. Guards will now only be able to operate in the municipalities where they are officially registered, Deutsche-Presse Agentur reports.

In addition to restricting operations to their home municipality, the guards will only be permitted to collaborate with local authorities, police or state bodies on the basis of written agreements that conclusively document the specific purpose of the collaboration. Members of the guards must be adults and may not have criminal records. Failure to uphold these principles can be punished by imprisonment or a fine of up to 150 000 Hungarian forints.

Two months ago the Hungarian Parliament added the new felony of “uniformed crime” to the penal code. According to the amendment, members of civilian guards may be punished by up to two years in prison for intimidating or terrorizing ethnic or religious minorities.

Local civilian guards were formed in Hungary at the start of the 1990s. They were supposed to help track down persons who committed minor offenses or disturbed public order so police forces could concentrate on solving more serious cases. Membership in the guards is unpaid and voluntary, but they receive support from the state in the form of patrol vehicles and other materiel.

The most famous and largest such group is the Hungarian Guard, founded in 2007 by the ultra-right party Jobbik (Movement for a Better Hungary). Its main aim was said to be the self-defense of Hungarians against attacks and other crimes allegedly committed by members of minorities, the Roma in particular. The Hungarian Guard also set itself the aim of protecting Hungarians in neighboring states such as Romania, Serbia or Slovakia, where large Hungarian minorities live. In December 2008 the court decided to dissolve the Hungarian Guard, but its members re-formed and are continuing under the modified name of the Hungarian National Guard.