1988. április (71-108. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
Lte(5)ísSl” a^Q ®m£ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street » London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 107/1988 (E) 30th April, 1988 Dr. Mihály Biharig Lecture and the Ba.icsy-Zsilinszky Society’s Declaration Dr. Mihály Bihari gave a lecture on Friday April 29th entitled "Reform and Demo- cracy" which was followed with great interest. It sharply criticised Stalinist Party organisation and exercise of power and pressed fór a totál democratic transformation of the political institute system. In the debate which followed many people demanded a restriction of the Party’s power, freedom of press and association and a change in the official assessment of the 1956 revolution. The lecturer was asked on what charge had he been expelled from the Party three weeks earlier. He explained that the Central Committee decision revealed the power of ultra-conservative forces within the Party bút that it did nőt acheive the desired effect as it had increased the fight between factions. He named János Kádár as the chief representative of dogmatic ideas within the Party. the ruling power group will nőt step down it can only be removed through great social collaboration. There is increasing support fór the Young Democrats Alliance, the Hungárián Democratic Fórum, independent unión ambitions and environ- mentalist circles bút there are still a great number of those who wish to dis- tance themselves from all public action. After Bihari’s lecture the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Society, which supports the govern- ment in a constructive way by helping Transylvanian refugees and in environmental questions, made a declaration. In it they point out that many government and Party leaders emphasise and agree with the co-operation of society and wish to conduct a dialogue with independent forums in the hope of consensus. "Bút - to quote the declaration - dialogue has nőt been acheived within the Peoples Patriotic Front or in separate societies and groupings. In fact communist intellectuals who are disciples of social consent were expelled from the Party. This decision involves the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Society as it effects three of our speakers - Mihály Bihari, Zoltán Bíró and Zoltán Király - fór this reason we protest along with intellectuals both inside and outside the Party against these measures which were probably executed by the conservative wing of the Party. We see it as a provocative action which can only harm the much talked of development. . . The signs indicate that the Party leadership and the government refute any mutual understanding with those social forces which reveal a disposition towards it. It appears - history has given countless examples - that it was nőt only the Bourbons who learat nothing from history bút alsó contemporary Hungárián rulers". n C Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
