Hungary warns migrants to keep off and gives army higher power
On Monday, Hungary authorized its army to help handle the migrants coming into its territory, granting rights to use non-lethal force against the asylum seekers.
In a new law, the army is allowed to make use of rubber bullets, pyrotechnical devices, tear gas, or net guns, if necessary to handle the wave of arriving migrants. The legislation passed with a two-thirds majority, allowing the army to help ease the tension in the borders.
According to Reuters, Hungary is experiencing the largest migration surge in Europe after World War II, garnering a record of more than 220,000 refugees running into its territory and away from war and violence in their own country.
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Prime Minister Viktor Orban said parliament police could not hold back the migrants and were unable to secure Hungary's borders, including borders of the European Union's passport-free Schengen areas, thus the need for the military's deployment.
Aside from the military's new powers, the police have also been given the authority to enter private homes in search of refugees who have entered the country illegally, prior to the passing of the new law.
Orban said the efforts being laid out on the 175-kilometer-long section were somehow doing well than was initially expected. "We can defend the Serbian stretch of the border," he said.
When Hungary closed its borders with Serbia and deployed its forces, clashes between the patrols and refugees occurred, with thousands entering Croatia. Zagreb later led the migrants back to Hungary again.
Meanwhile, ABC News reports that the Hungarian government has placed ads in the Lebanese press warning migrants that it will lay out "the strongest possible action" on anyone who attempts to cross the borders illegally.
The prime minister said at the moment Hungary is led to act on its own until the EU finds common grounds on how they could together handle the crisis. The 52-year-old also said Europe's decision to open its doors to the migrants and give out an indirect open invitation has caused the catastrophe. "Europe is rich but weak, this is the worst combination. Europe needs to be stronger to defend its borders," he said.
