This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/world/europe/hungary-detains-migrants-in-border-crackdown.html

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Hungary Detains Migrants in Border Crackdown Hungary Detains Migrants in Border Crackdown
(about 1 hour later)
HORGOS, Serbia — Hungary declared a state of crisis along its border with Serbia early on Tuesday, detaining at least 155 migrants and threatening to prosecute and imprison others trying to enter the country illegally from Serbia, while at least 22 migrants, including four children, drowned when their 65-foot wooden boat capsized in the Aegean Sea while they were trying to reach the Greek island of Kos. HORGOS, Serbia — Hungary stiffened its resistance on Tuesday to an influx of migrants from Serbia, while more people drowned trying to reach Europe by boat and diplomats kept struggling to address the Continent’s refugee crisis.
A day after officials from European Union member countries failed to find a substantial collective approach to the crisis, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria called on fellow leaders to gather next week in Brussels for an urgent summit meeting on the situation. The Hungarian authorities declared a state of crisis along the border with Serbia, detaining at least 155 migrants and threatening to prosecute and imprison others who try to enter illegally. Serbia reacted with alarm; its foreign minister, Ivica Dacic, called the turning back of migrants to Serbia “unacceptable,” Reuters reported.
Responding to criticism of Germany’s initial embrace of migrants, which some officials have said helped create an unmanageable situation, she said that finger-pointing was not helpful. “If we now start to have to excuse ourselves for the fact that we show a friendly face in an emergency, then that is not my country,” she said. In the Aegean Sea, at least 22 migrants drowned, including four children, when their 65-foot wooden boat capsized as they were trying to reach the Greek island of Kos.
As of midnight, migrants who tried to breach the 109-mile fence made out of razor wire being constructed along Hungary’s border with Serbia faced the threat of arrest and criminal charges. Officials also threatened to imprison anyone damaging the barrier. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria called on fellow leaders of the European Union to gather next week in Brussels for an urgent summit meeting on the migrant situation. Officials of the union’s member nations tried and failed on Monday to find a substantial collective approach to the crisis.
Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for Mr. Orban, said Hungary was setting up a “transit zone” along the border with Serbia. Inside that zone, he said, only those crossing from Serbia who have already applied for asylum would be allowed to enter. Everyone else would be turned away and not legally considered as having entered Hungary. The zone appeared to be a means to circumvent rules limiting how many people Hungary could deport each day to Serbia. Hungarian officials even said they were laying the groundwork for an additional fence, along the country’s eastern border with Romania. Some officials have said that Germany’s initial embrace of the migrants helped make the situation unmanageable. Ms. Merkel responded on Tuesday by saying that finger-pointing was not helpful. “If we now start to have to excuse ourselves for the fact that we show a friendly face in an emergency, then that is not my country,” she said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Hungary said it had received 48 asylum applications in the transit zone, and had rejected 13 of them, with the remainder under review. Under new laws that took effect in Hungary at midnight, migrants who try to breach the 109-mile fence made out of razor wire being constructed along Hungary’s border with Serbia face arrest and criminal charges. Officials also threatened to imprison anyone who damages the barrier.
Hungary’s move prompted an alarmed response from Serbia. Its foreign minister, Ivica Dacic, called Hungary’s turning back of migrants to Serbia “unacceptable,” Reuters reported. Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said Hungary was setting up a “transit zone” along the border with Serbia, where arriving migrants would be stopped before officially entering Hungary. Only those who have already applied for asylum would be allowed through; the others would be turned back to Serbia. The zone appeared to be a way to get around rules limiting the number of people Hungary could deport to Serbia each day.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Hungary said 48 migrants in the transit zone had applied for asylum, with 13 rejected and the rest under review — a tiny fraction of the number of migrants at the border.
Hungarian officials said they were preparing to erect a fence along the country’s eastern border with Romania that would be similar to the one on the Serbian border.
Speaking from the border village of Horgos, Serbia’s labor minister, Aleksandar Vulin, told the Serbian broadcaster B92 that the situation could “spiral out of control.” He called for Hungary to open the border and for refugees to be allowed to seek asylum in Hungary. He said that migrants were arriving from all directions and that 1,000 were stranded “in no man’s land.”Speaking from the border village of Horgos, Serbia’s labor minister, Aleksandar Vulin, told the Serbian broadcaster B92 that the situation could “spiral out of control.” He called for Hungary to open the border and for refugees to be allowed to seek asylum in Hungary. He said that migrants were arriving from all directions and that 1,000 were stranded “in no man’s land.”
Mr. Vulin said Serbia would provide food, water and transportation to temporary shelters, but added that the crisis could not be solved without Hungary’s cooperation. Mr. Vulin said Serbia would provide food, water and transportation to temporary shelters, but he added that the crisis could not be solved without Hungary’s cooperation.
On Tuesday, migrants who were stuck at the border threatened a hunger strike. “Open, open, open!” about 200 migrants chanted. “Germany! Germany!” Migrants stuck at the border threatened on Tuesday to conduct a hunger strike. About 200 migrants chanted “Open, open, open!” and “Germany! Germany!”
Salib Yussef, a 27-year-old from Aleppo, Syria, arrived in Horgos at 3 a.m. on Tuesday with two wives and two sons, shortly after the border was sealed.Salib Yussef, a 27-year-old from Aleppo, Syria, arrived in Horgos at 3 a.m. on Tuesday with two wives and two sons, shortly after the border was sealed.
“I knew they would close it but I thought maybe they’d do an exception,” he said, looking downtrodden. “We were just three hours late! I’ll be waiting as long as it takes. I have no other options. Maybe they’ll reopen it tomorrow?”“I knew they would close it but I thought maybe they’d do an exception,” he said, looking downtrodden. “We were just three hours late! I’ll be waiting as long as it takes. I have no other options. Maybe they’ll reopen it tomorrow?”
He added: “Why is Hungary doing this anyway? We don’t want to stay there. I want to go to the Netherlands, maybe Germany. Now I’m stuck here.”He added: “Why is Hungary doing this anyway? We don’t want to stay there. I want to go to the Netherlands, maybe Germany. Now I’m stuck here.”
Hungary said that it would post officers every 35 meters, or about 115 feet, along the entire border, and that they would arrest anyone trying to cross illegally. Scores of judges have been deployed to expedite legal proceedings against migrants charged with breaking the law.Hungary said that it would post officers every 35 meters, or about 115 feet, along the entire border, and that they would arrest anyone trying to cross illegally. Scores of judges have been deployed to expedite legal proceedings against migrants charged with breaking the law.
In what appeared to be an effort to shepherd migrants out of the country, the Hungarian authorities continued overnight to charter trains, carrying about 1,000 migrants at a time, from the border with Serbia to the border with Austria. Migrants were then allowed to cross into Austria, local news media reported.In what appeared to be an effort to shepherd migrants out of the country, the Hungarian authorities continued overnight to charter trains, carrying about 1,000 migrants at a time, from the border with Serbia to the border with Austria. Migrants were then allowed to cross into Austria, local news media reported.
The Hungarian restrictions were beginning to have an effect on other countries.The Hungarian restrictions were beginning to have an effect on other countries.
The Austrian authorities said they were preparing for the likelihood that migrants would seek to bypass Hungary and enter Austria via Croatia and then Slovenia. The Austrian Army was set to deploy 2,200 soldiers to patrol the borders, primarily in the eastern state of Burgenland, which borders Hungary and shares short borders with Slovenia and Slovakia.The Austrian authorities said they were preparing for the likelihood that migrants would seek to bypass Hungary and enter Austria via Croatia and then Slovenia. The Austrian Army was set to deploy 2,200 soldiers to patrol the borders, primarily in the eastern state of Burgenland, which borders Hungary and shares short borders with Slovenia and Slovakia.
At a new information center for migrants in Belgrade, Serbia, few visitors accepted the closing of the borders. “I will continue on the same route,” said Bashar Makansi, 47, a salesman from Aleppo, Syria, who vowed to press on. “My wife and chilren are there in Germany. What else can I do?” At a new information center for migrants in Belgrade, Serbia, few visitors accepted the closing of the borders. “I will continue on the same route,” said Bashar Makansi, 47, a salesman from Aleppo, Syria, who vowed to press on. “My wife and children are there in Germany. What else can I do?”
The moves by Hungary, which has found itself to be an unwilling center of Europe’s migration crisis, are the latest blow to two decades of borderless travel in parts of the European Union, which now has 28 members. On Monday, Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands followed Germany’s example over the weekend and introduced checks at their borders, effectively suspending Europe’s border-free Schengen area.The moves by Hungary, which has found itself to be an unwilling center of Europe’s migration crisis, are the latest blow to two decades of borderless travel in parts of the European Union, which now has 28 members. On Monday, Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands followed Germany’s example over the weekend and introduced checks at their borders, effectively suspending Europe’s border-free Schengen area.
On Monday in Brussels, the European Union failed to agree on a modest plan that would have required countries to distribute 120,000 more migrants across the bloc. Countries from Eastern and Central Europe, including Hungary, opposed rules dictating migration policy, which they argue undermine their national sovereignty.On Monday in Brussels, the European Union failed to agree on a modest plan that would have required countries to distribute 120,000 more migrants across the bloc. Countries from Eastern and Central Europe, including Hungary, opposed rules dictating migration policy, which they argue undermine their national sovereignty.
The issue has created an East-West divide, with former Communist countries reluctant to accept a model that many there see as imposing multiculturalism on a region that considers itself ill equipped to accept and integrate large numbers of migrants.The issue has created an East-West divide, with former Communist countries reluctant to accept a model that many there see as imposing multiculturalism on a region that considers itself ill equipped to accept and integrate large numbers of migrants.
Mr. Kovacs, the Hungarian spokesman, said that the European Union needed to work to stop migrants from illegally entering the bloc in Greece, which has often been the entry point for people fleeing countries like Afghanistan, Eritrea and Syria. Hungary is eager for illegal migrants to be fended off before they can begin a trail via the western Balkans that eventually passes through Hungary and on to Austria, Germany or other destinations.Mr. Kovacs, the Hungarian spokesman, said that the European Union needed to work to stop migrants from illegally entering the bloc in Greece, which has often been the entry point for people fleeing countries like Afghanistan, Eritrea and Syria. Hungary is eager for illegal migrants to be fended off before they can begin a trail via the western Balkans that eventually passes through Hungary and on to Austria, Germany or other destinations.
The Hungarian position is that, because the migrants have come through nations that the European Commission has asked to be designated as “safe countries,” such as Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey, they are not actually refugees fleeing imminent danger, but rather economic migrants who have no legal right to enter the country.The Hungarian position is that, because the migrants have come through nations that the European Commission has asked to be designated as “safe countries,” such as Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey, they are not actually refugees fleeing imminent danger, but rather economic migrants who have no legal right to enter the country.
Irena Vojackova-Sollorano, the United Nations representative in Serbia, told the Serbian news agency Tanjug that the situation along the border was changing hour to hour. She reiterated the international body’s position that people who crossed into Hungary should be granted all the relevant protections and not simply turned back to Serbia.Irena Vojackova-Sollorano, the United Nations representative in Serbia, told the Serbian news agency Tanjug that the situation along the border was changing hour to hour. She reiterated the international body’s position that people who crossed into Hungary should be granted all the relevant protections and not simply turned back to Serbia.
“More than 70 percent of the population escaping Syria are refugees,” she said, “running away from a situation that is, for them, a matter of life and death — and it is up to us to do all that we can to help them.”“More than 70 percent of the population escaping Syria are refugees,” she said, “running away from a situation that is, for them, a matter of life and death — and it is up to us to do all that we can to help them.”
Slovenia and Croatia said they were preparing for the possibility of a surge of migrants streaming through their territories to circumvent Hungary en route to Austria.Slovenia and Croatia said they were preparing for the possibility of a surge of migrants streaming through their territories to circumvent Hungary en route to Austria.
In Slovenia, which is a member of both the European Union and the passport-free Schengen area, the authorities said they had noted a slight upturn in cases involving migrants and human trafficking, which they said could increase with the Hungarian restrictions.In Slovenia, which is a member of both the European Union and the passport-free Schengen area, the authorities said they had noted a slight upturn in cases involving migrants and human trafficking, which they said could increase with the Hungarian restrictions.
“In the case of a sudden arrival of large numbers of refugees, Slovenia could give shelter to several thousands and our capacities are being increased daily,” Bostjan Sefic, a state secretary at the Interior Ministry, told Agence France-Presse. He asked local communities to be patient and to provide help to those in need should the numbers exceed the government’s ability to handle them.“In the case of a sudden arrival of large numbers of refugees, Slovenia could give shelter to several thousands and our capacities are being increased daily,” Bostjan Sefic, a state secretary at the Interior Ministry, told Agence France-Presse. He asked local communities to be patient and to provide help to those in need should the numbers exceed the government’s ability to handle them.
In Croatia, Zlatko Sokolar, a senior border police official, told the local news media that 6,000 police officers would be deployed to control the borders, but that as of Monday afternoon, there were few migrants arriving.In Croatia, Zlatko Sokolar, a senior border police official, told the local news media that 6,000 police officers would be deployed to control the borders, but that as of Monday afternoon, there were few migrants arriving.
A few hours after Hungary put its new controls into effect, the European Commission, the administrative arm of the European Union, said it wanted more details from Budapest.A few hours after Hungary put its new controls into effect, the European Commission, the administrative arm of the European Union, said it wanted more details from Budapest.
“We have asked the Hungarians for clarification regarding the legislation and how it will be implemented,” said Natasha Bertaud, a spokeswoman for the commission.“We have asked the Hungarians for clarification regarding the legislation and how it will be implemented,” said Natasha Bertaud, a spokeswoman for the commission.