Hungarians rally against government's anti-terror plans
Budapest (AFP) - Hundreds of people rallied in Budapest on
Sunday against government plans to bring in anti-terror measures including
restrictions on the Internet and curfews. "The plan would put an end to democracy once and for
all," protest organiser Lajos Bokros told the crowd in front of the
Hungarian parliament, estimated by an AFP reporter at around 800 strong.
According to a draft leaked to the media last week, the
government wants to amend the constitution by creating a new category of
emergency -- "terror threat situation" -- that if declared would
enable it to issue decrees, suspend certain laws, and modify others.
Among some 30 proposed changes are controls on the Internet,
deployment of the army domestically, closing of borders, and the imposition of
curfews in areas affected by a terrorist threat.
Critics including several opposition parties and rights
groups say a vaguely defined "terror threat" could allow the government
to clamp down on civil liberties.
"It's happened in our history before, and we're afraid
it will happen again, that at any given time the government can allow itself to
restrict our rights," said Gyorgy Magyar, a lawyer who spoke at the rally.
The proposals will be debated in parliament next month,
according to Gergely Gulyas, a lawmaker with Prime Minister Viktor Orban's
ruling rightwing Fidesz party.
In a newspaper interview last week Gulyas said talks with
opposition parties are ongoing and dismissed accusations that Fidesz wants to
seize "full powers".
"The government's duty is to protect citizens from
terrorism," he said.
Since coming to power in 2010 Orban's government has often
been accused of dismantling democratic checks and balances.
After losing a parliamentary super majority last February
however it needs the support of at least some opposition lawmakers to pass
constitutional amendments.
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