1988. június (138-158. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

^ « h®n gaman (g) eeTmm&.p

SÍIK .

Editor: György Krxssó * 24/D Little Russell Street ‘ London, WC1A2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126)

150/1988 (E) 17th June, 1988

Brutal Police Actions Against Those Commemorating the Victims

of The Revolution

Although Hungárián Television mentioned only five arrests the number of those taken intő custody during yesterday’s police terror was much greater and even more were seriously beaten up by police.

In the aftemoon about 250-300 gathered at the Sanctuary Lamp bút the surrounding .

streets were blockaded by police thus excluding about 300 others who wanted to jóin thera. In spite of this at 4.,30 an old vömén, the philosopher GáspárMiklós Tamás, the spokespeople fór the-Ioimg Democrats Alliance - Viktor Orbán and Gábor Fodor - and &

many others set off tovards the Lamp with wreathes and flowers. One mán who Iáid a banner on the ground inseribed "Batthyany-Imre'Nagy Sanctuary Lamp" was immediately removed as was Gáspár Miklós Tamás who did nőt even manage to make his speech. Viktor Orbán was arrested vhile trying to savé Gáspár Tamás from police clutches. Gábor Demszky tried to approach from-Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street bút he was tripped up and beaten witn truncheons and tear gas sprayed in his eyes. Demszky's wife Róza Hódosán was grabbed by the neck and slammed against a cár. They were all taken to the police station on the square and handeuffed, Róza Hódosán was beaten once more. Fifteen people were arrested at the Lamp including Ferenc Kőszeg, Antal Vásárhelyi, postai worker called Gossányi and others. They were all transferred to tfre police headquarters in Szalai Street and released at 10 pm except Demszky and Hódosán, they were taken to the Ministry of the Interior’s state security sub diVision building on Tolnai Lajos . >:

Street and were freed at midnight.

The crowd which had increased to 500-600 marched towards the Television building chanting "Free Television" where the editor of the samizdat periodical Beszélő János Kis made a short speech emphasising that the restoration after 1956 did nőt bring consolidation bút prepared the way fór a more serious erisis than ever before.

The crowd which now numbered more than 1000 set off towards Vörösmarty Square accom- panied by police. Here Imre Mécs made a speech and many arrests were made once again.

Many protesters were húrt including the sociologist Ottilia Solt, a pregnant woman and somé teenagers. An American Citizen, József Ertavi, and one of the

secretarjes at the United States Embassy in Budapest were alsó beaten up.

The service of mouming in the Franciscan church was prohibited by police so those gathered prayed together and sang hymns and the national anthem. From 8 pm until 2 am György Konrád, Zsolt Csalog, István Eorsi, Peter Racz, Mihály Komiss and György Petri read out their commemorative works in a literaj^y critic’s, János Kenedi’s, priváté fiat. ;:;

ÜJ

In the evening the Young Democrats Alliance’s spokespeople sent the following telegramme to Karoly Grósz and István Horváth:

"Dear Prime Minister, Dear Minister of the Interior,

This aftemoon the police brutally attacked peaceful demonstrators. They húrt vömén and teenagers and arrested many of them including one of our spokespeople Viktor ^

Orbán. We protest against the violence and demand the immediate release of those arrested". É

g

i

|

ÁO I

Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detai! as long as the source is acknowleőced.