OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 58, Part II, 24 March 1997

HUNGARIAN FARMERS TO SLOW TRAFFIC. Thousands of farmers protesting tax
increases plan to slow traffic throughout the country on 26 March to
draw international attention to what they call the "untenable position
of farmers," Hungarian media reported on 23 March. The farmers' union,
Metesz, has called on the public to wear a ribbon with Hungary's
national colors to show support for the farmers. It is also encouraging
people to join the protest by driving their cars slowly to the nearest
border crossing or to the capital. The union recently attacked the
government's agricultural program as "a ruthlessly exploitative economic
policy pursued by the anti-national liberal-Bolshevik government." It
has also called for the dismissal of the cabinet spokesman, the minister
of agriculture, and "half the cabinet staff." For the past month,
Hungarian farmers have been protesting income and social security tax
increases for private farmers. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave