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Police evict Hungarian human statues from Parliament peace camp
Evening Standard31 Jul 2008
Police swooped on the Parliament Square peace camp today and kicked out two Hungarian street performers.
The pair had been performing as "human statues" in the area and set up their tents in what they thought was a public camp site. But police ordered them to leave after a complaint from a member of the public.
Two peace protesters who did not have permission to be there were also instructed to take down their tents.
A row of tents and placards belonging to anti-war campaigners, including Brian Haw, who has been there since June 2001, remain. Witness Steve Back, 54, of Kingston, said: "They were Hungarian street performers looking for cheap accommodation. They thought it was a public camp site and moved in right next to Brian Haw. But about 10 police officers turned up and told them to pack up and leave."
One protester said: "They leave their tents all day and go off and perform. They are not campaigners."
Officers said the immigration status of the pair had been checked and they had the right to be in the UK. Also told to leave were protester Ian Hobbs, 42, and his 39-year-old girlfriend Vera Daneeva. Mr Hobbs said: "I have been here for six months but they say I've got to go. I wasn't doing any harm."
