1988. március (32-68. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
| «,HUNeARiAtt(^yoeTOB*íW j LfetSiíSíSl5©ISIM Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 52/1988 (E) 15th March, 1988 Ten Thousand People Démonstrate in Budapest On March 15th "The calm and forceful political vili of the nation creates institutes of free- dom which cannot be prevented by military and police measures" - said Gáspár Miklós Tamás in his speech held this aftemoon by the Kossuth statue in front of Parlia- ment. These words are nőt without substance. In recent days the state has tried everything to prevent the avaited mass political protest demanding democratic changes. lesterday evening during the eignth house search in a veek the police con- fiscated five big canvas banners demanding democracy and freedom from Tibor Philipp, despite this protesters carried signs demanding political renewal through the city. Today at dawn seven participants in the Democratic Opposition Movement uere arrested in their flats - György Gadó, Gábor Demszky, Miklós Haraszti, Tamás Molnár, Jenő Nagy, Róbert Pálinkás and Ottília Solt -, and Sándor Rácz, president of the Greater Budapest Central Workers Council in 1956, bút the police could nőt stop speeches from being made. Just before noon many thousands gathered on Petó'fi Square; those who had taken part in the official celebration in the National Museum garden alsó came. At 12 precisely the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Friendship Society placed a wreath at the base of the statue, then another wreath was Iáid beside it with the inscription: "Fór a Free and Indep- endent Hungary - The Hungárián Democratic Opposition." After this János Kis, a leading figure in the Opposition and editor of the samizdat periodical Beszélő ("The Talker"), made a speech. 14.0 years have passed since the 1848 Hungárián revolution and freedom fight - he said - bút the demands made then have still nőt been realized. We want rights, press freedom and democratic changes. Finally János Kis demanded the immediate release of those arrested and cheered Long Live an Independent and Free Hungary and the Opposition. Afterwards the more than ten thousand strong crowd lined up. In front they held a tricolour (the national flag) and marched tovards parliament to Kossuth Lajos Square. Participants in the Democratic Opposition Movement marched at the front - Antal Bogád, Lajos Jakab, Tibor Philipp and József Talata - and banners demanding democracy, press freedom and freedom of association appeared. Miklós Tamás Gáspár made a speech by the Kossuth statue. He emphasised that three revolutions - 1848, 1918 and 1956 - had already tried to achieve the same objectives: freedom, law and order, national independence and responsible govemment, and so "gain a piacé in the commun- ity of civilized nations". He stressed that these aims are still far from being realized today. The pruning awajr of the most deformed excesses of the dictatorship is nőt enough. Today the Hungárián nation vants as much as it did 140 years ago. The time - he said - of self-nominating governments is over. A new constitution and free elections ere necessary fór the formation of a modem Hungárián democracy, those leaders who have lost the nation*s confidence must resign. "Stand Talll Darei Demandl Let us stop the crisisí Let us defend Transylvanian Hungariansi Long Live the Oppositioni Long Live Hungárián Freedom! - Gáspár Miklós Tamás’sspeech ended in great applause. After this the march proceeded to the Sanctuary Lamp. Here Gábor Demszky*s speech, who was arrested early in the morning, was read out by his wifeyRÓza Hódosán. We do nőt only remember the pást - began the speech - as even now there is no free press Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
