1988. március (32-68. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

is «.KUS&4RM* (§) 0CTOBER» J

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Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126)

54/1988 (E) I6th March, 1988

Evening Torch-lit March on March 15th in Budapest

In Budapest it is an old tradition that on the evening of March 15th the young people organise a torch-lit procession to the places which commemorate the events of March 15th 1848 in the Castle. In recent years the Hungárián Young Communist League has organised it many times. This year - as this did nőt happen - the Univ- ersity of Economics Social Science Club aavertised the march well in advance bút the authorities forbade it. In spite of this many groups of young people decided

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to meet in the evening on Petőfi Square.

At 7 pm about 5000 gathered by the Petőfi statue - the same piacé where they had set off at noon - to lay commemorative wreaths once again, then they started on the customary route towards Chain Bridge. The police surveilled the banners inscribed vith "Press Freedom" and heard the slogans shouted by the protesters demanding aemocracy bút after a short discussion they were allowed to cross the bridge: vhere armed police had attacked and beaten marchers two years ago. On this occasion the march arrived at the Castle by vay of Hunyadi János Street without incident.

Here Antal Bogád a postai vorker held a rememberance on Dísz Square and^ihály

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Táncsicst one-time prisonfby the statue of Saint Stephen a<i4

talked about the chief demands of the 1848 revolution, demands which have nőt changed since. The marchers went over the other side of Castle Hill intő Krisztina town then across Moszkva Square to the Bem statue. Here Tibor Pakh demanded the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungárián soil as he had earlier in the day.

Many people believed that there were a number of plain-clothes detectives and j

militiamen amongst the crowd. The proposal to demonstrate outsidé parliament

and then in front of the Románián Embassy was seen as an act of provocation by

Antal Bogád who spoke on behalf of the Democratic Opposition, and he persuaded

the crowd to break up. A group of about 100-150 set off towards Chain Bridge via

the Danube Embankment bút there .they found themselves confronted with police storm troopers equipped with shields. The police let noone cross the bridge

and only the protesters calm prevented an incident from occurring.

Nőne of the well-known participants in the Democratic Opposition took part in t,

the evening demonstration.

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