Hungarians silently protest bill 'muzzling' NGOs, media

BUDAPEST: Thousands marched in silence, many with their mouths taped shut, in central Budapest Sunday to protest a planned law that would allow the government to sanction "foreign-funded" NGOs and media.Critics consider the bill "on transparency in public life" as the latest attempt by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban to muzzle dissenting voices since returning to power in 2010.The legislation would empower the government to blacklist organisations that "threaten the sovereignty of Hungary by using foreign funding to influence public life".The government argues these measures are necessary to defend against "foreign interference"."I believe it is important to have an independent press, and not to judge a publication based on where it gets its money from," one of the protesters, 49-year-old Zsolt Solyom, a retired soldier, told AFP."What I see is that the government wants to silence any media outlet that does not speak or write according to its liking," he added.An AFP photographer estimated that a few thousand people marched through Liberty Bridge in central Budapest in complete silence.

"Donation today, evidence of crime tomorrow?" read one of the banners.The crowd later erupted in boos and chants denouncing the ruling party as an organiser read the names of all 115 lawmakers co-sponsoring the bill.According to the draft law blacklisted organisation, would need permission to receive foreign funding.They would also be barred from receiving donations through Hungary's annual one-percent income tax contribution scheme, an important source of revenue for non-profits.The proposed legislation has been condemned by the opposition, which has accused the government of copying Russia's authoritarian evolution.Last week, lead representatives of over 80 media outlets from 22 countries -- including Britain's The Guardian and France's Liberation -- urged their governments and the European Union to do everything in their power to prevent its enactment.The European Commission has called on Hungary to withdraw the draft, vowing to take the "necessary action" if it is adopted.Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the legislation in mid-June.It is expected to pass, as Orban's tightly disciplined governing coalition has a supermajority in parliament.