OSCE media freedom representative condemns attacks on Hungarian Public Television building
VIENNA, 19 September 2006 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, said today he condemns last night's violent attacks on the building of the Hungarian public television in Budapest.
"The independence of public service broadcasters should be secured not only from pressure by political parties and governments," said Haraszti. "Editorial work should also be free from all forms of anti-democratic pressure and especially from intimidation and violence. All parties and civil groups in a democracy should be committed to maintaining independence and peaceful conditions for broadcasting."
According to reports, on Monday night demonstrators outside Parliament went to the TV headquarters, throwing cobblestones and bottles at police and setting cars alight. The crowd stormed the Hungarian public TV, looted and destroyed equipment, and briefly forced the TV off the air. Employees were evacuated and could resume work only in the morning, after police restored order. Hungarian officials said up to 150 persons, including more than 100 police officers, have been injured.