1989. január (1-18. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
t «HUMeARM«(§)oCTOB6R» -J 1 ©mi | Editor: György Krassó • 24/D Little Rusíell Street * London, WC1A 2HN » Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 17/1989 (E) 18th January, 1989 Griminal Proceedings in Budapest Against Two Románián Refugees Criminal proceedings have started in Budapest against two Románián refugees. 39 year old Antal Vásárhelyi and 30 year old Mircea Báján are accused of assaulting an official person. Their trial began on Monday January lí>th at 9 am in the Pest Central District court in Markó Street. Vásárhelyi is a graphic artist;he came to Hungary ten years ago from Transylvania and has lived in Budapest with a residence permit since then. He is one of the leaders of the Young Artists Club. Báján was bőm in Szeben and is a geologist$ last spring he asked fór asylum in Hungary. Vásárhelyi and Báján did nőt know each other previously bút their common struggle brought them together. Vásárhelyi is a member of the Refugee Committee and as he speáks Románián he tries to help Románián, as well as Hungárián refugees. Báján is the leader of the Románia Libera group which operates in Budapest, he took over from Virgil Parvu. who was asked to leave the country by the Hungárián internál authorities. The group consists of 300 refugees, it meets regularly in the open air as it has no space of its own. Vásárhelyi tries to help them with advice, money and flats. At the beginning of the summer members became suspicious about a number of people i surrounding them. These so-called Románián tourists did nőt go sight-seeing or shopping bút listened to their conversations and began to follow their leaders. The group is afraid of Securitate agents so photographs were táken of suspects and complaints made to the immigration authorities (KEOKH). Bút they got no help at all from the police. The refugees started to defend themselves; Vásárhelyi carried a tear gas spray. In the middle of September a mán started to follow Báján and Vásárhelyi. On Septem- | bér 20th Vásárhelyi was on his way home with Báján and Parvu,his shaaow appeared on Kálvin Sauare. Vásárhelyi left his friends and the mán immediately stuck behind him, he could nőt be shaken off. Vásárhelyi had had enough he threw the agent to the ground, sprayed tear gas at him and called the police. The prone mán said that he was a Hungárián policemen, Vásárhelyi did nőt believe he thought he was one of the Securitate; why should Hungarians follow him? However the mán produced a police identity card and Vásárhelyi released him immediately. Squad cars rushed to the scene, they handcuffed Vásárhelyi and Báján who had alsó appeared and took them away. The secret police have stated that Vásárhelyi sprayed tear gas on the mán after he had identified himself and that Báján and Parvu had helped pin him to the ground, although even their own witnesses will nőt bear this out. vásárhelyi is the principle defendant, Báján is his accomplice. If the court finas them guilty they could be imprisoned fór 3» 5 or even 8 years depending on how it is classified. They can alsó deport them to Románia a measure which is increasing at a frightening rate. The trial continues next Wednesöay at 11 am. The court will probably investigate the exact moment when Vásárhelyi released his spray. They will nőt examine whether the interior authorities shadowings and eavesdropping is legal or nőt or the connection \ between the Securitate and the Hungárián police. | jfn /[ J y j Subscribcrs can usc or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detai! a? long as the source is acknowledged. ————------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------— ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------—--------------------------------------------------------------------------
