Hungary: Black Day in October

Running street battles with police tarnish the Hungarian anniversary of the 1956 revolution

For those worried about clashes between troublemakers and the police, the bad weather came a little too late. Although October 22nd isn't the actual anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution, some events were nonetheless planned as October 23rd is packed with scheduled events. Thus, the president gave a small speech at the university where it all began 51 years ago, with attendance open to the public. The prime minister, meanwhile, gave a short speech at an event later in the evening at the State Opera, the surrounding area of which was hermetically sealed off from the public.

It was this latter event that was the focal point for the subsequent violence. A few hours previous, a group calling itself the Hungarian Defense Movement held a rally at Freedom Square near the parliament and by the State Television building which was attacked by rioters last year. The police were on hand and well prepared in case of trouble: two of the three newly purchased water cannon stood by along with a paddy wagon and over a hundred riot police in full gear. In addition to this the area around the rally was fenced off. According to some estimates, about 1,000 to 1,500 people gathered at the rally.

Sadly, all this police preparation did little to stop what many feared would happen. After some speeches and music, the rally ended with one of the organisers announcing that he was going to march to the Opera as the police didn't inform him in writing that he couldn't. He called on others to follow him and within a few minutes the square was empty. The police also disappeared, with everyone heading toward the Opera, a mere kilometer or two away.

The group of troublemakers had at first split into two main camps of only a few hundred each, and approached the Opera from opposite ends. As a crowd approached a line of police on one end, cars were set alight and pushed in the middle of the street as makeshift barricades. The police fired tear gas into the crowd, which seasoned reporters and demonstrators alike noted was very strong. Indeed, the smell of the gas extended all the way to the Opera, affecting people around there as well.

What made this year's clashes different is a small group came armed with Molotov cocktails. These were used against the police with little effect. Meanwhile, some demonstrators had actually succeeded in taking over a water cannon vehicle for a very brief period.

After an hour or two the showers that were predicted over the weekend finally came. Soon after this, the crowds gradually dispersed and the police once again regained control of the streets.

In all, the running battles with the police lasted some two and a half hours. About a half dozen or so people were arrested and about the same number were hurt. Among those injured were demonstrators and police as well as several photographers and journalists. A photographer from Reuters was hit by a flying bottle from the crowd; others were roughed up by some of the demonstrators.

The only serious injury was that of a demonstrator who was shot in the leg by police. It's not clear how he was shot or with what, but he had lost a lot of blood by the time he reached the hospital.

Although both state and online media covered the disturbances in detail, some with "play-by-play" running commentary, the clashes were in no way near in scope to last year's. In fact, it wasn't bigger than what sometimes breaks out at football matches in other parts of the world. Indeed, many people were in the streets curiously watching what was going on as demonstrators and police ran by them.

Although the police weren't as wild as they were in 2006, there were a few incidents where innocent bystanders were roughed up. In one incident, the police refused to help an injured person, telling another who was trying to help to "call an ambulance yourself."

While this small clash was definitely far from what was experienced last year, it has nevertheless caused much damage in terms of public relations. One reason for the relatively few injuries and the quick way in which the crowds were dispersed is because the police were out in overwhelming numbers. Along these lines, the authorities can proudly pat themselves on the back and celebrate a job well done. Moreover, those behind the propaganda campaign warning of trouble can self-righteously say "we told you so."

However, the authorities can't be too smug. For instance, if the warnings they had given were about this very group they had just clashed with, why were they allowed to march over to the Opera and try to break through the police lines? Why wasn't a strategy used to islolate them and disperse them enacted right away?

For many Hungarians, the tragedy of the night of October 22nd was not only that a small group of troublemakers had tarnished the Hungarian anniversary of the 1956 revolution, but that politicians from both the government and opposition will most probably now use the events for their own warped purposes.

Finally, it must be remembered that it?s not yet over. The next day is the main day of celebrations, when thousands are expected to be out in the streets, weather permitting. The events of the night before will no doubt raise tension levels that already high as it is. Above all, what concerns most is that running battles with the police will become a fixed part of Hungary's October celebrations. One wonders whether Hungary can celebrate the revolution of 1956 in peace ever again.