July 8th, 2009

Police defend action against weekend demonstrators

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The action taken by police against demonstrators on Erzsébet tér on Saturday were lawful and professional, the National Police said in a statement issued Tuesday.

The statement said that police did not begin to disperse the banned demonstration until it lost its peaceful nature, adding that they observed the proportionate requirements.

Teargas was only used to avert attacks on the police by law-breakers, police said.

In all, 216 people were detained, including chairman Gábor Vona of the far right Jobbik party. Criminal proceedings were launched against four on suspicion of violent behaviour and against 205 others for hooliganism, misdemeanours, resisting police action and violating regulations on identity cards. The detainees were released on Saturday night.

As of noon Monday five complaints had been filed with the Independent Law Enforcement Complaints Committee, which will begin investigating them in the coming days, said chairman Jenő Kaltenbach.

Justice and Law Enforcement Minister Tibor Draskovics said elsewhere that anyone who resists the court ruling outlawing the Magyar Gárda is trying to undermine the foundations of a state governed by the rule of law. Wearing the Magyar Gárda uniform could be a sign of hooliganism or violation of law and police must act in such cases, he said.

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One Comment

  1. bobscountrybunker says:
    July 8, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    Draskovics really is turining into a self-important little hysterical hothead.
    “anyone who resists the court ruling outlawing the Magyar Gárda (MG) is trying to undermine the foundations of a state governed by the rule of law.”
    Erm… no they’re not. They’re breaking the law. That’s it.
    You wouldn’t say a gang of over-weight middle-aged car theives who wore the same clothes were “undermining the foundations of a state” would you? And you’d be laughed at for doing so.
    Gábor Vona is not Guy Fawkes. And until you find him under Parliament with a barrel of gunpowder and a lighted match: he won’t be.
    Vona and the (MG) represent a – rather stinky – electorally (15%) politically legitimate nationalist movement. Who are only seeking to undermine Mr Draskovics and his (17%) party. Frankly, they shouldn’t bother.
    The Justice Minister is doing a good enough job of undermining himself all on his own.