1989. március (számozatlan) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
í « H íí W FARIAM (§) Q I @m£ Editor: György Krassó » 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (from abroad 441-430 2126) 15th March, 1989 March 15ths A revolution fór freedom and humán rights. An armed struggle to defend the nation. Power to the people. International solidarity, This is a special encounter, a rare moment. The nation celebrates while the dictators tremble. They promise everyting, a wolf in sheep's clothing. The people generously forgive their century-long despotism, bút they engender strife, incite treachery, seek foreign help and pút the country up fór sale. The intoxicating days of heroic struggle are followed by bloody revenge. Thus it was in 184-8 and in 1956. The prisons fill up. No one is allowed to speák about the revolution or freedom fight bút the people do nőt forget "One day the world will celebrate". The survivors raeet and commemorate in secret. The moment will come when the edifice founded on hypocrisy and deceit will crumble. 15th March 1860: The people of Pest swarmed onto the streets, there were commemorations allover the country. The police attack one victim Géza Forinák dies, Mihály Táncsics is arrested. 15th March 1862 and 1864: Further demonstrations, arrests and sentences to the dungeon. The authorities cannot resist the Hungárián nation fór long. 1867. Compromise. It is possible to celebrate openly bút it is no longer a celebration of tjae people bút of the compromisers. The revolution is acknowledged, the official speeches are given by those who opposed to all revolutions. The revelry has lasted a generation then the storm breaks. The rulers are new bút the official speeches are old. 1923: the one hundredth anniversary of Sándor Petőfi's birth bút "only blind habit and deaf authorities lay wreaths". 15th March 1942: Communist and left-wing intellectuals protest against the war by the Petőfi statue. The organisers are arrested by Horthy's police. March 1945. Almost a century has passed since the 1848-49 revolution and freedom fight. The communists promise democratic rule, independence and welfare. Many believe them. The war has nőt yet ended out people already celebrate all over the country. Imre Nagy Minister of Agriculture announces land reform. The provisional national govemment upholds the law which has been in force since 1927: 15th March is a national holiday. 3ut the Communist Farty soon reveals its true colours. In piacé of democracy, terror, in piacé of independence, servants of the Russians, in piacé of welfare, poverty. That is their true programme. March still provokes excitement bút the celebration is swathed in fear. 12th March 1946: Draconian laws are passed against political offenaers. March 1947? Peoples Court tries the so-called conspirators in the Hungárián Gommunity. Béla Kovács is imprisoned in the Soviet Union, György Donáth is executea. March 1948: The 100 anniversary of the Kossuth prize, Parliament holds a special session, the communists delivers soap—box speeches and the Social Democratic Party is merged intő the Communist Party. On March 13th the government prohibits three churches from celebrating. March 1949: New voting laws, intro- duction of the Patriotic Front voting sistem. March 1950: English and American diplomata are expelled from the country. March 1951: The Hungárián Workers Party's second congress announces "iron communist discipline" and increases the expenditure of the five-year plán. The introduction of fát and soap rations. The Council of Ministers announces that March lpth is a work day bút the City Council decrees Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged. *
