Electricity to be conducted into the border fence – UPDATE

Röszke, 2017. április 28. Rendõrségi helikopter repül el egy gépkocsizó járõr felett a szerb-magyar határon álló biztonsági határzárnál Röszke térségében 2017. április 28-án. Elkészült a kétsoros kerítésrendszer második kerítése a magyar-szerb határ teljes, 155 kilométeres hosszán. MTI Fotó: Kelemen Zoltán Gergely

Index.hu reports that a sign has been put up at the fence at the Hungarian-Serbian border, stating that it is conducted with electricity.

The sign that has been put up on the Hungarian side of the fence only warns that it is an electric fence, it does not include the voltage or the damage it could cause in the case someone touches it.

It is probably not the whole fence that has been electrified, but rather the wires fastened on it, running parallel to the ground. The twelve wires are visible on both fences, they are attached to the inner side of the fence, so it is supposed that they only shock on the outer side if someone tries to get through.

The warning signs are put up in Hungarian, Serbian and Arabic.

Index.hu reports that one of the crew members got an electric shock during the installation and got hospitalised. The news site asked the Hungarian Ministry of Interior about the incident and about the voltage in the fences and whether both sides are perilous. The MI (Ministry of Interior) responded saying that the questions are yet out of place, they will be answered with a government decree soon, and that the MI is not responsible for the accident, it is the contractor that should be contacted.

It seems that the MI is not willing to answer to Hungarian papers, as when asked by a foreign news outlet, they responded with the following: there is no electricity conducted into the fences, however, there is a 10 kilometres long intelligent warning system on the border, which requires electricity, and which, at the moment, is voltage-free. As to why there is a warning sign put up, there is no explanation. There is also the question of when it will be conducted, and whether the 10 kilometres will be extended to 155 kilometres, the full length of the fence.

The building of the fence on the southern border started in 2015, it was expanded gradually. The latest addition is a second fence, parallel to the already existing 155 kilometres long one. So far, there were no talks of an electricity-conducted fence, only of a “smart fence”, which has a night vision system and heat-movement sensitive cameras installed.

Index.hu informs of a press review (with unknown sources), which states that, according to the plans, the voltage will not be 230 volts, but just enough to make someone reconsider breaking through the border. This review also warns that other sources claimed that it is only because of the surveillance system that the fence will be conducted with electricity.

The Hungarian government reasons that expanding the fence is needed because of the migrant crisis, however in Serbia, there are only 7-8 migrants waiting to cross the border, and there are no newcomers from Turkey.

Ce: bm

UPDATE

Authorities deny reports suggesting Hungary border fence on high voltage

Budapest, May 12 (MTI) – The interior ministry has dismissed press reports suggesting that Hungary’s southern border fence have been electrified.

In a statement, the ministry denied the reports, published by portal index.hu and other outlets, and said that Hungary’s fences were not on high voltage. The statement added, however, that a 10-kilometre long “security signal system using electric impulses” has been deployed parallel with the fence. According to the document, the signal apparatus will be completed along the entire Hungary-Serbia border.

The signal system is not dangerous for human life, the ministry said in its statement.

Photo: MTI

Source: index.hu

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