TOL Hungary

Are you a journalist? Then come with us…

November 26th, 2007 by robertnemeth

…says the policeman. Well, this is not usual in Hungary. Some would, however, add: yet. Journalists were taken into custody after two recent protests in Budapest. Police says: they were disturbing their work. They say: they were reporting the event.

The first protest did not have permission. According to the Hungarian law, these protests have to be dispersed by the police (even though this may contradict a verdict from Strasbourg). Nevertheless, around 50 protesters gathered, and they all were peaceful, basically just standing close to the Parliament. The police ordered them to leave the place, some refused, their identity was checked and then they were taken to the police-station and had to spend a few hours there. Not only protesters: two journalists as well, one from the second-biggest Hungarian news-site, and one from the online version of a liberal weekly.

The case of the first journalist is more interesting, since the policemen knew that he was a journalist. He was talking on the phone when they approached him; actually, he was reporting to his colleagues what had happened. However, the policemen said: you did not leave the place, you have to come with us. He was handcuffed and taken. After a few hours he was released, but he may be charged.

A few days later, at the end of a day-strike there was a protest in front of the Parliament. After it had been finished, a few dozens, who joined a bit earlier, started to fight a bit with the police. During the dispersion, a cameraman fell, dropped his camera, and the police took him as well. He was released soon.

These incidents caused a debate. Some say, the approach of the police remained the same as it had been before the transition: they think that what they say and think should happen, even though the law is different. Some recalled the previous scandals as well. But the most important questions are: do the policemen have the right to arrest journalists who are not participating in the protests, but doing their job? Can thus the press freedom and the right of the citizens to be informed be restricted?

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