1987. december (144-152. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
J ‘feMMNftAMAN (^) ®ffll 2.4/0 Little Ru&sell Street, LONDON, W.C.i -Ttl.04-4&0 z< 26 • G. Rrcissó 1^4/1987 (e) December 3rd, 1987. Committee Formed in Budapest to Defend László Rusai A committee has been formed in Budapest to defend László Rusai who was arrested in Hatvan on November 9th and on November 24th was taken to the psychiatric ward in the Budapest National Prison. The following statement was issued by its members: STATEMENT 32 year old László Rusai who lives in Hatvan - who is now an ind- ependent farmer bút was an educator - has been harassed continually by the local police since the spring of 1985 although he has com- mitted no crime. He has only expressed his critical political opin- ions in the pufelic forums of a small town and published Égtájak kozott (Between Points of the Compass) a periodical which was pre- viously official and is now a samizdat publication. His first arb- itrary árrést was followed by compulsory psychiatric treatment in the psychiatric ward at Gyöngyös hospital where he received electric shock treatment many times. In 1986 he wasagain forced to have psychiatric treatment at the same hospital, this was obviously done fór threatening reasons. This was stopped by an international protest, This year László Rusai was troubled by many house searches and was arrested again on November 9th on the pretext that someone had written offensive words in chalk on the local Soviet Memóriái Monument. On November 24th he was taken to the Budapest National Prison - the Gyíijtáfogház - to the psychiatric ward ostensibly so his mentái state could be observed. The Hatvan police seem to want to ruin László Rusai completely and no steps are taken against this by those instit- utes who are supposed to uphold the law. Thus we are establishing a committee to defend László Rusai. The committee demand the immediate release of Rusai. The action which provoked police suspicion is nőt serious enough to warrant taking someone intő custody. If psychiatric treatment is necessary it should be carried out in a civilian hospital according to the law. Rusai went voluntarily to the psychiatric ward when he felt his emotional stability was collapsing under the pressure of the beatings and shocks. He was successfully treated there and they said they would provide after care as well. To protect Rusai’s health we must insist that different doctors are nőt forced on him other than the ones he has chosen personally. December 3rd, 1987. Vilmos Bereczki Vilmos Fitos György Konrád Gabriella Lengyel représénting SZETA (Foundation fór the Poor) Tibor Philipp Ottilia Solt representing SZETA-I
