1988. augusztus (184-207. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
^ ««crN64R!A(i OCTO«ER» 1 Iliíi-íHrí^r^i ®m£ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street ‘ London. WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 198/1988 (E) 24-th August, 1988 Police Harass. Demonstrators in Front of the Románián Embassy in Budapest The two week long peaceful protest which began on Monday in Thököly Street near the Románián Embassy continues against the plán to destroy villages. On Tuesday Hungai- ians protested with Románián refugees who linked their action to a symbolic 24 hour hunger strike. One of them, Parvu Virgil, an engineer, stated that they had been assured of sympathy and solidarity by those interested and passers-by and that their action was co-ordinated with the Hungárián protest. The Hungárián demonstrators submitted a petition to the Románián Embassy and issued an announcement to the nations of the world asking them to do what they could to stop the destruction of Románián villages. Yesterdáy the groups "Conscience *88" and "Románia Libera" drew up a common declaration which has been signed by more than one thousand already. The official Románián reaction is summed up in its demands to the U.N. in which they ask the world organisation to condemn every so-called "nationalist" and "racist" protest. The Hungárián Democratic Fórum sent a message to the "Románia Libera" group, it is as follows: Our Friendsi By its action the Free Románia group has strengthened our conviction that there are Románián democrats. This impression was reinforced by the August 23rd announcement. Fór this reason we willingly jóin the announcement*s demands with the honest intention of strengthening the slowly developing solidarity between our nations. Budapest August 23rd 1988. On behalf of the Hungárián Democratic Fórum’s organisers Gyula Kodolányi writer, Zoltán Bíró literary histórián, Sándor Csoóri writer, Rudolf Joó researcn scientist, Dénes Csengey writer, Lajos Für histórián, Sándor Lezsák writer, Csaba Gy. Kiss literary histórián. The number of demonstrators is constantly changing. Many of the banners and posters were confiscated by piain clothes police including those saying "Peacefularrangement!", "Let’s Protest Against the Destruction of Románián Villages" and an announcement by the "Conscience *88" group which was ripped off a lampost by a military policeman who threatened them with tear gas. Románián refugees who belong to the "Románia Libera" group were threatened with deportation if they took part in the action bút many re- mained on the scene despite this. In the evening another banner was taken down by the police saying "Protest fór Románián Villages"; 20 year old Imre Kocsis who was there was taken with his brother and a 16 year old student to the XIV district police station where Imre Kocsis was badly beaten and abused, the three youths were pút in a cell and only released at 3 am. At midnight other protesters were taken to the station. Péter Hermán, a taxi driver, had his cár searched and police found leaflets announcing a meeting on August 27th in a viliágé called Szarvasgede' in which M.P.s, the President of the Council and the Distript Magistrate wish to debate the unsolved problems of the viliágé in the presence of Party and Peoples Patriotic Front leaders. Péter Hermán was alsó accused of piacing a banner on his roof rack saying "Go Slow, We Are Protesting". Hermán and his passengers, Antal Bogád and his young són, László Ferenczy and Anikó Monostori, were taken to the police station and were only released between 3-4- am after a long interrogation. Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
