"The wave of conscriptions being carried out in Northern Bácska is highly unusual even in light of our present miserable circumstances," said Dr. Csaba Sepsey, President of the Szabadka (Subotica) Chapter of the DCHV and Member of the Federal Parliament, at a press conference yesterday. "It has no equal in any other part of the country. The methods employed exceed the authority which government officials can allow themselves under the rule of law - to such an extent that we can label the actions as forced conscriptions.

The press conference revealed further details: "The responsible authorities break the rules governing the draft, namely that proper draft orders must be issued and that draftees must be given the opportunity to decide their own fate, in full knowledge of the consequences of their decision. It is intolerable for the police to drag people away, without legal grounds and in a humiliating fashion, at times using unnecessary force for demonstrative purposes. It is widely known, of course, that the DCHV adamantly opposes the use of military force to resolve the historical conflict between the nationalities of the former Yugoslavia. The Hungarian community absolutely refuses to take part in this conflict."

The DCHV has also notified the Interior Ministry of this matter in writing, and its deputies will raise the question in Parliament. In Szabadka, DCHV intends to turn to the Municipal Complaints Bureau, which, though not responsible for such matters, can forward the complaint to the proper authorities. In the letter addressed to the Ministry, the Szabadka Chapter of the DCHV notes that approximately one hundred such cases have been brought to its attention. It details six examples of forced conscription employing objectionable techniques.

On January 30, 1993, police officers appeared at the home of Béla Bicskei in the village of Oromhegyes and took him away, without presenting any warrant authorizing entry into his home.

On the same day, Rudolf Utasi from the same village was forcefully taken from the local restaurant. At the army barracks in Kanizsa, a drunken officer brandishing a gun forced him to consent to military service.

Attila Magos from Orom was dragged from his car on the road leading out of Kanizsa, and taken to the barracks at Kanizsa, leaving his wife to drive the car without a drivers licence. Magos also had received no prior draft notice.

On February 2, 1993, Zdravko Stojković from Szabadka, lying in bed with pneumonia, was taken without summons from his sickbed to the barracks. When it became evident that he was ill, he was held in the sleeping quarters assigned to his army unit.

Ferenc Vörös, also from Szabadka, was taken under false pretenses by the police who entered his home without a warrant, claiming that he had to come in to clear up a minor infraction in connection with his car, which he had sold at an earlier time. Instead, the police took him to the army barracks, leaving behind his wife and 13 day old baby.

Illés Lackó, choreographer of the "Népkör" Hungarian Folk Ensemble in Szabadka, was stopped by the police on February 5,1993 while he was leaving his home dressed in folk costume. The police said that they had to take him in to pay the fine for a parking violation received earlier. At the police station he protested that 50 children were waiting for him to accompany them to an international folkdance festival at Kaposvár. When his pleas were ignored, he demanded to see the local Interior Ministry officer. His request was readily answered in the affirmative, but instead of the local Interior Ministry office, the police car took him to the army barracks. Following six hours of psychological and physical abuse, at the intervention of the "Népkör" Ensemble and local authorities, he was released, but his passport was confiscated and criminal charges were filed against him.

There are numerous examples of physical violence. It is also customary that during the drafting process, the young people arc questioned about the political affiliation, employment and other details concerning each of their family members.

"All these practices are an integral part of ethnic cleansing," announces the DCHV, which will seek co provide legal assistance to those who were physically abused or have other complaints as a consequence of the forced conscriptions.