1988. június (138-158. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
j «Ku«eARuw(^)ocTOBSJ!» j ©mi Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russeil Street * London. WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 139/1988 (E) 2nd June, 1988 The Ministry of the Interior Continues to Restrict the Right to Travel in Hungary At the beginning of the year the regulations fór travelling abroad were modified in Hungary and since then those who were issued a "vorld passport" and who have enough hard currency can travel whenever they want. Last autumn and then again this year the state and Party leaders after bringing a név law intő operation repeatedly declared that the right to travel was now legally ensured and that it had become a civil right. The Western press seemed satisfied by this new sign of liberalisation in internál policy. However from its outset the new law has had its critics. Evén while it was being drafted many people made the point that such an important legal measure should, contrary to previous practice, be debated in Parliament. This was discussed by the parliamentary legal committee and on television bút the competent authorities declared that this was impossible as there was nőt enough time. However lack of time was nőt at issue bút the survival of a convenient government decree. The law was Aecreed after the winter session of Parliament by the Presidential Council, The wording of the law reveals that the right to travel has nőt become an individual right and that passports still remain a means of political discrimination: the interior authorities can withdraw passports from whomsoever they choose. On March 2nd Prime Minister Károly Grósz did in fact say that a few paragraphs of the decree should be clarified bút this is yet to happen. In the interest of a legitimate passport law and of fulfilling humán rights require- ments an independent committee was set up on February 22nd called 1903:VIth Committee. In their first circular they explained that the VIth Act of 1903 regulated the passport law in a simple vay that fulfilled today’s legal norms even though it was decreed 85 years ago. The Act says that "On applying Hungárián citizens will be issued passports fór abroad by the authorities." In its second circular the committee examines the new law and state that the interior authorities despotically restrict the right to travel and that their measures "serve as a means of political reprisal and in- tiraidation". Fór this reason there are two stipulations in the law which state that a passport is nőt issued, or only in exceptional cases on one occasion, to those who "previously violated the laws of the Hungárián People*s Republic when abroad" or to those with previous convictions. The circular mentions that in a declaration by the leader of the Budapest Police Headquarters’ Administration Department in the January 25th issue of the daily Mágyán Hírlap (Hungárián News) it was revealed that it is the police who decide what behaviour is seen to violate the laws of the Hungárián Republic. Naturally it is nőt possible to appeal to the courts against this decision and the period of the vithdrawal of a passport is nőt set by any decree either. The second reason fór withdrawal - previous conviction - chiefly effects those sentenced in 1956: as in the cases of Sándor Racz - president of the Greater Budapest Central Workers Council in 1956 - and of Imre Mécs and Jenő Fonay who were sentenced to death and then to life imprisonment after the revolution. Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
