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Hungary Defends Handling of Migrant Crisis Amid Chaos at Train Station Hungary Defends Handling of Migrant Crisis Amid Chaos at Train Station
(about 1 hour later)
BUDAPEST — Desperate migrants poured into the Keleti train station in Budapest on Thursday morning but were rebuffed from boarding trains to Germany as Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, insisted that the migrant crisis was a “German problem” and argued that Europe had a moral duty to tell migrants not to come here. BUDAPEST — Desperate migrants poured into the Keleti train station in Budapest on Thursday morning but were prevented from traveling to Germany as Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, insisted that the migrant crisis was a “German problem” and argued that Europe had a moral duty to tell migrants not to come here.
The comments from Mr. Orban, combined with scenes of chaos at Keleti, which has emerged as a potent symbol of Europe’s struggle to come to terms with the migration crisis, underlined Europe’s lack of preparedness to cope with an influx of refugees from Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere.
In recent days, more than 2,000 migrants have been waiting outside the 19th-century station, stranded after perilous journeys that many had hoped would end in Germany, the favored destination. The next move for the migrants remaining in Budapest was unclear, however, because Hungary’s railroad operator said that no direct trains were heading to Western Europe from Keleti, the city’s main rail station.
When one intercity train with about 500 migrants was stopped in Bicske, about a half-hour to the west of Budapest, all Hungarians were told they could get off, but non-Hungarians remained locked inside the train without drinking water as riot police fended off migrants hanging out of windows and chanting that they wanted to go to Austria and Germany.
“Nobody gets off! Nobody gets off!” a voice replied from a loudspeaker.
Some migrants managed to get off the train and lie on the tracks before being removed.
The opening of the station prompted a mad rush, and fights broke out in some train cars as migrants pushed and clawed their way inside.
“Where is this train going?” asked a Syrian man. “This isn’t going to Germany, is it?”
“No, this is a local, man,” someone answered as he walked past the train. “It’s going to the camps,” he added, referring to reports that the migrants would be sent to detention centers where requests for asylum are processed, a procedure that can take months.
Others began to speak of a trick played by the police. Soon, an underground concourse that has been transformed into a makeshift sanctuary and encampment was once again swelling with refugees, some of whom had apparently been unable to get onto trains.
Officers “left and let people come into the station, but now they’re back,” said Mohammad al-Bekaai, a 23-year-old Syrian who had traveled to Hungary from Jordan. “They’re going to pen these people inside and take them to the camp.”
A controller said that international trains to Bratislava, Slovakia; Berlin; Munich and Vienna from Budapest had been canceled after midnight.
Some of the migrants, appearing tired and defeated, were aware that trains might be headed to the camps and were resigned to their fate. Ali al-Taai, a Syrian from Deir al-Zor: “Even if they take us to the camp, it’s better than staying in the station. I’ve been there for six days without food and water. I’ve had enough.”
Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, where he was meeting with European Union leaders, Mr. Orban defended his government’s handling of the migration crisis and criticized European proposals that require member states to accept migrants based on their populations and relative wealth.Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, where he was meeting with European Union leaders, Mr. Orban defended his government’s handling of the migration crisis and criticized European proposals that require member states to accept migrants based on their populations and relative wealth.
Without stringent border controls, he said, such a proposal was an “invitation” to migrants come to Europe, adding that they were using countries like Hungary as a stop on the way to Germany, whose prosperity has makes it a favored destination.Without stringent border controls, he said, such a proposal was an “invitation” to migrants come to Europe, adding that they were using countries like Hungary as a stop on the way to Germany, whose prosperity has makes it a favored destination.
“Nobody would like to stay in Hungary,” he said. “All of them would like to go to Germany.” If the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, insists that “nobody can leave Hungary without registration,” he said, then “we will register them.”“Nobody would like to stay in Hungary,” he said. “All of them would like to go to Germany.” If the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, insists that “nobody can leave Hungary without registration,” he said, then “we will register them.”
Asked whether Hungary’s approach was inhumane because it was hampering the ability of people fleeing conflict to move on, and because it was building a fence along his country’s border with Serbia, Mr. Orban insisted that his policies were the most rational under difficult circumstances.Asked whether Hungary’s approach was inhumane because it was hampering the ability of people fleeing conflict to move on, and because it was building a fence along his country’s border with Serbia, Mr. Orban insisted that his policies were the most rational under difficult circumstances.
Creating the impression that migrants should “just come because we are ready to accept everybody — that would be a moral failure because this is not the case,” Mr. Orban said. “So the moral, human thing is to make clear: Please don’t come.”Creating the impression that migrants should “just come because we are ready to accept everybody — that would be a moral failure because this is not the case,” Mr. Orban said. “So the moral, human thing is to make clear: Please don’t come.”
The scenes of chaos at the Keleti station, which has become a hub for migrants seeking to travel to Germany and has emerged as a potent symbol of Europe’s struggle to come to terms with the migration crisis, belied Mr. Orban’s contention that the situation was under control. But back at Keleti station, Mr. Orban’s words fell on dead ears as desperate migrants looked for ways to leave the country.
In recent days, more than 2,000 migrants have been waiting outside the 19th-century station, stranded after perilous journeys that many had hoped would end in Germany, the favored destination.
The next move for the migrants was unclear, however, because Hungary’s railroad operator said that no direct trains were heading to Western Europe from Keleti, the city’s main rail station.
A young woman who was trying to return home to Germany told the German broadcaster N24 that she had been told by the Hungarian authorities that she would have to travel to the Czech border, cross it and take another train from there.
The underground concourse that had served as a sanctuary and encampment rapidly began clearing out as migrants heard that trains were back in service. Even though some migrants said that they were skeptical of Hungary’s intentions, as many as half of those in the area gathered their belongings and left.
Fights broke out in some train cars as migrants pushed and clawed their way inside. “Where is this train going?” asked one Syrian man. “This isn’t going to Germany, is it?”
“No, this is a local, man,” someone answered as he walked past the train. “It’s going to the camps,” he added, referring to reports that the migrants would be sent to detention centers where requests for asylum are processed, a procedure that can take months.
Others began to speak of a trick played by the police.
Officers “left and let people come into the station, but now they’re back,” said Mohammad al-Bekaai, a 23-year-old Syrian who had traveled to Hungary from Jordan. “They’re going to pen these people inside and take them to the camp.”
A controller said that international trains to Bratislava, Slovakia; Berlin; Munich and Vienna from Budapest had been canceled after midnight. An announcement at the station also said that all international trains had been canceled.
Some of the migrants, appearing tired and defeated, were aware that trains might be headed to the camps and were resigned to their fate. “I don’t care,” one man said, reflecting a belief that the camps would be better than being crammed into the dirty, noisy and crowded concourse.
The Hungarian authorities had been keeping migrants out of the station, saying that they were obeying European rules, which require migrants to be registered in the country where they first arrive. It was unclear whether the opening of the gates to migrants signaled a change of policy.The Hungarian authorities had been keeping migrants out of the station, saying that they were obeying European rules, which require migrants to be registered in the country where they first arrive. It was unclear whether the opening of the gates to migrants signaled a change of policy.
Hungary, under the center-right government of Mr. Orban, has found itself a recalcitrant protagonist in the escalating migration crisis.Hungary, under the center-right government of Mr. Orban, has found itself a recalcitrant protagonist in the escalating migration crisis.
Countries like Germany want European Union members to accept a quota of migrants, based on each country’s relative wealth and population. However, Mr. Orban, along with Britain and other countries, has been vociferously opposed to the proposal. He argues that migration to Hungary threatens to undermine the country’s quality of life.Countries like Germany want European Union members to accept a quota of migrants, based on each country’s relative wealth and population. However, Mr. Orban, along with Britain and other countries, has been vociferously opposed to the proposal. He argues that migration to Hungary threatens to undermine the country’s quality of life.
The degree of alarmism in Hungary over immigration has been laid bare by the country’s building of a fence on the border with Serbia, which has been criticized by others in the European Union for sending the wrong message to the world.The degree of alarmism in Hungary over immigration has been laid bare by the country’s building of a fence on the border with Serbia, which has been criticized by others in the European Union for sending the wrong message to the world.
The roughly 110-mile fence, which is being built by 9,000 soldiers, is expected to be completed in the coming weeks and has been likened by some critics to the Iron Curtain.The roughly 110-mile fence, which is being built by 9,000 soldiers, is expected to be completed in the coming weeks and has been likened by some critics to the Iron Curtain.
On Wednesday, the image of a dead Syrian boy who washed up on a beach in Turkey spread across the Internet, and advocates for migrants are hoping that the boy’s death will bring about a change in public opinion that will force European leaders to act.On Wednesday, the image of a dead Syrian boy who washed up on a beach in Turkey spread across the Internet, and advocates for migrants are hoping that the boy’s death will bring about a change in public opinion that will force European leaders to act.
In recent days, demonstrators took to the streets of Budapest in a show of solidarity with the migrants, who have also protested near the main station, chanting, “Germany! Germany! Germany!” Some held placards asking Hungary to let them travel freely.In recent days, demonstrators took to the streets of Budapest in a show of solidarity with the migrants, who have also protested near the main station, chanting, “Germany! Germany! Germany!” Some held placards asking Hungary to let them travel freely.