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Gypsy Minority Causes Major Court Shake-Up

PECS, Hungary -- Gyula Goman had no intention of getting into the fight of his life when he went into the pub.


But when the owner refused to serve him, allegedly saying "no gypsy is allowed to eat, drink or enjoy himself in my pub" Goman went to court and won what is seen as a landmark decision for Hungary's downtrodden gypsy minority.


In January, a court in this southern Hungarian town fined the owner, Jozsef Berta, 5,000 forints for slander in a complaint brought by Goman, who went to the pub for coffee and a soft drink after dropping off his wife at a nearby hairdresser's in September 1995.


In a separate civil case, which is on appeal, the court this July ordered Berta to pay Goman 150,000 forints ($750) and take out newspaper advertisements apologizing, Goman's lawyer added.


"I did it because the people in the pub hurt us, and Berta caused me a personal injury," said Goman, a 31-year-old former boxer who works as a cook at a Pecs hospital.


"I did it for myself and not for gypsies generally because the gypsy community did not help us in any way. But if I were the president now of a gypsy organization I would know how to help other gypsies."


Goman's lawyer, civil rights activist Imre Furmann, said it was the first time that a gypsy had fought a discrimination case to its conclusion -- two years after the incident -- in the Hungarian courts.


He drew parallels with the black civil rights movement in the United States and said it could mark a watershed for Hungary.


Roma rights have become a major concern for the European Union as Hungary and other East European countries with gypsy minorities begin negotiations to join. The implications have been put under the spotlight by the recent exodus of gypsies from the Czech Republic to Canada after a television program showed how much better life was for gypsies there.


Berta did not respond to a request for an interview, but gypsies, who are Hungary's largest minority and number between 600,000 and one million, say discrimination is a way of life for them in this country of 10.4 million people.


In interviews, gypsies, also called Roma, say other Hungarians mistrust them and routinely snub them, that they are the first to be let go from jobs and are frequently subject to police abuse and brutality.


Tens of thousands of gypsies died in concentration camps during World War II as the Nazis tried to exterminate races they deemed inferior.


Studies in Hungary show that more than 60 percent of Hungary's gypsies are unemployed, the life expectancy of gypsy men is 10 years less than the national average, they make up a disproportionate part of the prison population and their educational level is substantially below the national norm.


In July the government adopted what it calls a medium-term strategy to tackle problems gypsies have with housing, education, health, employment and other matters.


But no special funds have been allocated and the program will not bring a quick cure, said Gabriella Varju, department head of the office for national and ethnic minorities.

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