1988. május (109-137. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 135/1988 (E) 28th May, 1988 Hass Protest in Budapest Demands That the Construction of ~the Bős-Nagymaros Hydro-Electric Plánt Is Stopped The number of those who took part in the mass demonstration in Budapest against the construction of the Bos-Kagymaros dam yesterday was estimated by the Hungárián Television evening nevs at 2000, by Austrian Television at 3000 and by those present at 4-000. It was the biggest demonstration until now, organised after many weeks careful planning and publicity by the independent environmentalist movements - tne Bajcsy- Zsilinszky Endre Friendship Society’s operative ecology group, the Blues, other altemative circles and clubs and primarily by the Danube Circle. Just after 4 pro the leaders of the environmentaJLst movements gathered by the Lion’s Fountain in Vörösmarty Square soon to be ioined by hundreds of others. János Vargha a biologist made a speech on behalf of the Danube Circle. He said "Those who are burdened with the economic, social and nőt least the environmental crisis await a genuine solution. VJe have had enough of the war of extermination against the environ- ment and want to replace an economy of forceful technological monstrosities with one of humáné gentle means. Today in Hungary bút perhaps in the whole of F.urope the plán to construct a hyaro-electric plánt on the Danube is one of the most concentrated assaults on the natural world." Vargha said that their 24 hours is now up, that it is now the time nőt to ask bút to demand. To demand that the construction is stopped, the dissolution of the contract with Austrian firms and the freedom fór every Citizen who wants to speak out on this issue, press, rádió and television publicity and the freedom to debate. After much applause those present got intő line and soon their numbers increased. Flags and banners appeared with protesting slogans and iliustrated with felied trees and fish bones. The Slovak environmentalists brought their own banners, the Austrian Greens chanted slogans, sang songs, danced and raised banners. The march pro-cessed to the Austrian Embassy in Benczúr Street. Police on motorbikes accompanied the march and stopped traffic. A great number of pamphlets entitled "In Defence of the Danube" and an announcement by the Transylvanian Independent Defence Committee asking people to take part in a protest on June 27th against the destruction of Románián viliágés were distributed to the crowd. In front of the Austrian Embassy the protesters heard the text of a protest sent to Austria, sang the Hungárián hymn and - fór which there is no precedent - applauced the police fór their exemplary behaviour in safeguarding the route, then the organisers askea the crowd to disperse. \ A four-member delegation to the Embassy - including Vargha - delivered a petition. The diplomats immediately telephoned the Ambassador and Alois Mock Austrian Vice- Chancellor and Foreign Minister, the leader of the Austrian People’s Party, who - just being in Budapest - sent message to the environmentalists saying that a genuine answer to their demands will arrive shortly. I i: /tT Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in dctail as long as the source is acknowledgec.
