1988. augusztus (184-207. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
Lfctsie ®IÍMÍ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 189/1988 (E) 12th August, 1988 Danube Diverted intő New Channel at Visegrádi. Outcry and Protests. On Thursday morning, August llth, an Austrian machine opened the auxiliary dyke at Visegrád which divides the 1200 raetre long shipping canal, built in recent months, from the Danube bed. Thus the process of drying out the old river bed to allow the laying of concrete foundations fór the dam began. At the same time Hungárián environ- mentalists, representatives of the World Wildlife Fund and of the Austrian Ecology Society condemned the plán to construct the environmentally destructive dam at a press conference in Vienna. The diversion of the Danube intő a new channel, which was only reported with laconic brevity by the Hungárián mass média, surprised Hungárián en- vironmentalists and representatives of other independent democratic movements. They believe that the govemment has broken its June promise according to which further construction depends on decisions taken in the Autumn session of Parliament. They drew up a declaration of protest within a few hours which was signed by 21 organisations and groups. The obvious aim of the Danube diversion and the laying of the foundations is to present the Autumn session of Parliament with a fait accompli and to complete investraent, without changes, despite the views of the Political Committee, the Hungárián Academy of Sciences and the government’s economic policy advisors. The declaration states that although the temporary opening up of the dyke is another scandalous waste of national energy sources it is nőt an irreparable step and therefore it demands that further construction is postponed and that the dyke is fiiled in again until Parliament comes to a decision. The signatories of the declaration alsó demand that Parliament shares responsibility with society and that it proposes a referendum on this issue. Society must immediately be informed of altemative opinion suppressed thus far and of the statements made by the Hungárián Academy of Sciences in 1983 and 1985 and by the President of the National Environment Protection Office, and an open debate must be organised. Finally the declaration reports that on Septernber 12th, at the opening of the Autumn session of Parliament, a peaceful demonstration has been organised at 5 pm marching from Vörösmarty Square to the Parliament building. There will alsó be actions in other towns which are affected by the dam. The August llth declaration calls upon all democratic people and social organisations in Hungary and throughout the world to jóin them in expressing their solidarity. The declaration was signed by representatives of the following organisations and allian- ces: the member groups of the Nagymaros Committee - Esztergom Cultural Alliance, the International Ecological Society of Esperantists, Danube Foundation, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Friendship Society’s Environmentalists Group, Danube Circle, the "Shining Breezen Friendship Circle of the Ecological Workers Community, Hungárián Writers Alliance "István Örley" Friendship Circle, the Referendum Group, Szentendre "Petőfi" Cultural and Tradition Defending Alliance -, the Rakpart Club, Foundation fór the Poor, the Network of Free Initiatives, the Independent Legal Aid Service, the Pécel Ráday Club, Hungárián Democratic Fórum, Club Council, the Young Democrats Alliance and its working and legal groups, the Salom Independent Hungárián Jewish Peace Group and the East-West Dialogue Network Circle. Hungárián environmentalists alsó reported that before the Septernber 12th protest they will launch the Danube Anthology at a press conference on Septernber lst; on Septernber 2nd and 3rd independent speeialists will take part in an i& Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
