1987. Különkiadvány, 1987.03.12. / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

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2. Direct effects of the activities of the cppositicn-eneny groups were suocessfully limited by political and authoritative means ; the cpposition- enemy groups were unable to expand their bases. At the same tirne, the eaqperienoes of the pást years alsó indicate that the activities of the so- called "hard core" of the cpposition oould hardly be influenoed by political means and that it is irpossible to "handle" or restrict oertain types of cpposition activity by political means—primarily the producticn and

distributicn of illegal publications as well as the expansicn of western ocntacts by the cpposition groups. Nevertheless, more energetic restrictive actians by the authorities in the interest of suppressing the activities of the oppositicn-eneny have nőt yet been taJcen—because of political ocnsideraticns. On the one hand, the extent and societal danger of oertain concrete cpposition activities did nőt neoessitate more vigorous acticns by the authorities and on the other, the utilizaticn of oertain measures vas limited, and the timing of oertain measures was influenoed by the irrtematicnal situaticn as well as the assunptian that oertain Capitalistic circles could react to more energetic restrictive measures in a way that would unfavorably affect our eooncmic situaticn.

On the whole, the measures taken by the authorities toward limiting the activities of the cpposition were sufficient to unoover and di.«mipt the cpposition activities, bút ncrt effective enough to cbstruct the increasingly greater production of illegal literature. Hcwever, on occasicn we have

suooeeded in striking a blcw to the samizdat-producing and distributing network? bút soaner or later they were able to replaoe the ocnfiscated technoiogy, and although they are foroed intő ever deepening ocnspiracies they are in the last analysis able to alsó re-establish the distributive network.

In the suppression of the activities of the cppositicn-eneny groups the requirement of legality was nőt asserted oonsistently enough. Despite the fact that numerous writings in the illegal publications exhausted the crimes of incitement and public harm and that the illegal joumals published several documents classified as strictly ocnfidential and strictly secret, in the pást few years the samizdat publishers and distributors have cnly been charged with breaking press laws, or rather, had proceedings brought ogainst them cn the basis of dilettantishness. In generál, the proceedings result in mcnetary fines, and in one or two instanoes, in warnings fran the prosecutor. These sentences were nőt sufficient öeterrents. Ihe practioe develcped in the area of keeping within the law prcmoted the blurring of the bordér between legal and illegal activities.

The limits of "toleránsé" oonceming the activities of the cppositicn have alsó been broadened in other respects. In the pást years, several among the individuals belenging to the cppositicn-enemy groups have been granted exit visas—based on political ocnsideraticns in each instanoe—to travel to western Eurcpe or the United States. The factor playing a role in the granting of exit visas was that their frequent absenoe oould oontribute to a certain degree of disorder within opposition-enemy activities. Hcwever, the permissian to travel made it necessary in several instanoes to disregard the existing passport regulations sinoe aooorüing to the law citizens eire allowed to use visiting passports cnly cnce a year.

This broader interpretaticn of the "limits of toleranoe" and our practioes in the area of keeping within the laws has disturbed the party membership and oertain circles of govemment leaders. A segment of the party’s public cpinian ocncluded fran the dissemination of the illegal publications that in essence we "tolerated" the samizdat. A part of the intellectual circles closely associated with the party thinks that we did nőt take a strenger and more