1988. március (32-68. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

or responsible ministries and instead of a pariiamentary democracy we are faced with an all-powerful paxty state. Bút the state has become uncertain in the vaké of the momentous change in public feeling. Demszky’s speech pointed out that Soviet- type dictatorship has plunged the whole of Eastern-Gentral Europe intő crisis. Geaupescu and Jaruzelski have already burnt their boats, Honecker and Jakes can only rely on a violent apparátus. The Hungárián government have merely planted a bomb bút nőt one that vili result in an explosion bút in radical change, fór vhich the restriction of the Party’s povrer and free elections are necessary. The speech ended vith a cheer fór press freedom and freedom of assembly and fór friendship vith nations living by the Danube.

The crovd marched on and its numbers steadily increased. When the front of the march vas on Margit Bridge by the Margit Island entrance the last line of protesters vere beside the Víg Theatre. The commemorations continued on Bem Square vhere the autho- rities attempted to upset the celebration by svitching on loudspeakers. In front of the Bem statue a mán of the older generation vho had been imprisoned fór a long time Tibor Pakh spoke to those gathered - he demanded the vithdraval of Soviet troops from Hungárián territory and reminded them that even in 184-9 Russia had off- ered "friendly aid" to the Hapsburgs and that the Soviet Union vas Hitler’s first ally then the 12 points entitied "What do ve vant?" in the nevest edition of the samizdat periodical Demokrata ("Democrat") vere read out. A protest march of such proportions has nőt been seen on Batthyány Square fór decades, it ended at the Kölcsey statue vhere somé of the young people decided to lay another vreath on Petőfi’s statue at 7 in the evening.

In spite of the brave and cutting political speeches the police did nőt intervene in the protest. No breach of peace occurred anyvhere. It vas once more proved that the often bloody March 15th incidents of recent decades vere nőt caused by protesters. Tuesday proved that the Democratic Opposition did nőt plán to incite and disturb as the official propaganda mantains and that in Jínngairian youth, about vhom the older generation often speak disparagingly and sceptically, there lives a lőve of freedom identical to that of their predecessors in 184-8 and 1956.

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