Hungarian writers defy officials

Hungarian writers have been warned by the Communist authorities to mend their ways but have retaliated defiantly by attacking the country's cultural policy. The government is worried that writers are becoming too involved in politics. Party propaganda chief Janos Berecz told the 450 writers attending a five-yearly congress of the Hungarian Writers' Union over the weekend, ``You will not be allowed another five-year period like the one that has just ended,'' writers at the meeting reported.

The writers, many of whom are party members, responded with an almost united attack on Hungary's cultural policy.