1988. március (32-68. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
is « Hj ti W FARIAM Q Jjfe(3)£S^"ia^a SSKM Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street » London, WC1A 2HN ‘ Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 40/1988 (E) 6thi March, 1988 Restictive Measures Agalnst Clubs and Independent Movements There are signs that the Hungárián Party leadership sees socio-political clubs and other independent movements as dangerous adversaries. In recent weeks a number of steps have been taken against them: The rent of halls has gone up, one of the Rakpart Club debates was nőt permitted to take piacé, the National Trade Union Council have issued threats, a "counter-union" has been formed to combat the activities of independent environmentalists and the editors of the Law College magaziné Századvég ("End of the Century") have received a vaming. Now in the Hungárián Democratic Fórum*s meeting today, March 6th, light was shed on regulations which vili endanger the future of the Fórum. The first two speakers in the conference were Imre Furman from Miskolc and Huba Kozma who is from Kiskunmajsa. They said that in their towns local branches of the Fórum were being formed, bút these official organisations had run intő staunch opposition and administrative regulations. Finally they were forced, in both towns, to hold their meetings in priváté flats. Mihály Bihari, a political scientist, and MP Zoltán Király were of the opinion that the Party leadership should revise its statement prohibiting Party members from being involved in the Fórum, because otherwise the Hungárián Democratic Fórum could become a platform fór opposition. Later in the debate László Romhányi spoke, he is the manager of the Jurta Theatre. He said that Prirae Minister Károly Grósz had promised in January that the Theatre could continue to function bút the theatre was still harassed. Political pressure had been pút on the Theatre in order that the Fórum could n<?t hold its meetings there. When the Theatre*s leadership end collective did nőt submit to these threats the bank refused to make payments out of the Jurta*s account. On March 5th bailiffs were sent in who demanded debts which were supposedly owed from the period when it was being built. It seems that they want to shut the Theatre on any pretext. Romhányi alsó said that the govemment is misusing donations which were sent to fund the construction of the National Theatre, which has been stopped, by people in Hungary and abroad. If these patrons decided to transfer their donations to support the Jurta Theatre then they would be helping the work of a genuine theatri- cal community and the Hungárián Democratic Fórum could continue operating there as well. M Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in dctail a? long as the source is acknowledged.
