1988. január (1-16. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

UlÍPOlsSl^iaŰl ffli

2.4/D Little Rotsell Street, LONDON, WlC.L ■ Tel. Ot-^so H 20 ■ G. fCrctssó 12/1988 (E) 23rd January, 1988

Misleading Press Coverage About László Rusal

Népú.i ság ("Peoples Paper") the daily paper of the Hungárián Socialist Workers Party Heves County Committee covered László Rusai, the Hatvan inhabitant’s case in the January 20th issue. The article - which vas broadcast on January 22nd on the Budapest Kossuth Rádió programme "Evening Magaziné" is as follous:

The Heves County Police Headquarters initiated an investigation against László Rusai a 32 year old inhabitant of Hatvan, uho from the summer of 1987 placed hostile vritings and other matériái in different parts of the tovn on several occasions. The Heves County Attomey General’s Office ordered a study of the man’s mentái state. During this procedure mentái illness was diagnosed by forensic experts. Thus the criminal investigation uas dropped fór exemptive reasons. László Rusai is presently receiving medical attention in the psychiatric uard of Gyöngyös City Hospital.

László Rusai’s Budapest friends asked the Hungárián October Information Centre to make public the fact that the official article above suppresses important facts and indeed lies outright.- The article does nőt mention that Rusai - one of the editors of the independent periodical Égtájak között ("Betveen Points of the Compass") - uas taken intő custody on November 9th 1987, then held on remand and has nőt been releaseá since.- The article suppresses the fact that Rusai - after speaking in an elective nominating meeting - was arrested in 1985 by the Eger police and was seriously physically beaten by detectives. He only became mentally distressed after this event and received medical treatment by choice.- The article suppresses the fact that Rusai - after signing the intemational commemoration issued on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the revolution - was taken in October 1986 fór compulsory treatment to Gyöngyös Hospital and uas held there fór weeks.- The article does nőt say that in 1987 in the psychiatric uard of Pesthidegkút Hospital psychosis uas nőt apparent, his comprehension was found to be unimpaired and his thought processes after both perfunctory and more profound analyses were nőt observed to be confused according to the diagnosis signed by Dr Dénes Gold- schmidt the chief physician. He uas recently taken to Miskolc Hospital by the Eger police fór an examination and there he was alsó pronounced to be of sound mind. It was only after this that he was taken to the Budapest National Prison’s psychiatric observation uard where the agencies of the interior finally succeeded in getting hold of an adequate diagnosis which suited them. This expert opinion was nőt shown' to Rusai, his mother or his friends.- The article does nőt specify the type of agency or sort of decision which ordered Rusai’s present compulsory treatment and does nőt say why he is nőt alloued to be treated by doctors of his own choosing. The Pesthidegkút Hospital diagnosis States that "We will take responsibility fór any further periodic psychiatric supervision and if his condition deteriorates he is welcome back to our uard".- The article unlawfully states that Rusai placed hostile uritings and other materials around Hatvan, in other uords he committed a crime. Until the criminal act is proved such a statement is tantamount to slander, The investigation