1988. október (246-270. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
f— --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 «RU(I ©ÁRIÁN (§) 0CTOBEB» J 1 "4^yi SSlÜffll Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 252/1988 (E) 6th October, 1988 October 6th Commemoration "Let us cominemorate the thirteen generals who were executed in Arad, Lajos Batthyány our first martyred Prime Minister and the martyrs tó Hungárián freedom and deraocracy; and those whom we are nőt allowed to commemorate1" - so begins an announcement which has been distributed fór weeks in Budapest. The announcement, dated August 31st, vas signed by the YDA*s workers group and announced a commemorative assembly on October 6th at 5 pm at the Sanctuary Lamp, a number of independent democratic organisations and groupings alsó joined them. A few days ago they were warned nőt to hold this assembly bút they sav no reason to cancel it. By 4- pm a great police force had arrived at the Batthyany-Imre Nagy Sanctuary Lamp, they came in police vehicles, on motor bikes and on foot, vater cannons were alsó set up in two places. In the end however the police did nőt prevent the commemoration of the 1848-9 and 1956 revolution and freedom fight and by 5 pm about 600 people had assembled around the Lamp. Banners indicated the names of the different groups in- volved, the Hungárián Democratic Fórum, the YDA, the Free Románia group, whose name was inscribed on the Románián national flag, and the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Friendship Society and the "Workers fór Democracy" group on whose banners was written "To Hungárián Freedom Martyrs" and "To Freedom Martyrs". The Republican Circle raised a portrait of Batthyány and Imre Nagy, the Network fór Free Initiatives carried a banner saying "1848-1918-1956". The YDA*s workers group had a quote from a poem written on their banner "Hungary do nőt forget your dead, they live on as accusersJ", which alsó appeared in their announcement. Géza Buda said a few words on behalf of the YDA workers group, then everybody sang the Hymn, Ottília Solt recalled the mood of the Párisién celebration held on July 14th commemorating the storming of the Bastille, she compared the 1848 and 1956 rev- olutions and the roles of Lajos Batthyány and Imre Nagy. She alsó expressed the hope that the sacrifice of the martyrs fór freedom was nőt in vain and that a democratic situation could be established in Hungary even if it is a slow process. The represen- tative of the Románia Libera group said that the presence of the group is an expres- sion of its feelings towards the Hungárián nation. The spokesperson fór the Free Románia group said that "We protest fór the peaceful co-existence of nationalities, so that the 48 Transylvanian tragedy will nőt repeat itself, a tragedy which stemmed from disregarding minority rights. Our nations are linked through friendship, it is the govemments who are responsible fór the conflicts. We bow our heads with pro- found respect to those who sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom". After a number of songs and poeras the celebration was concluded with a rendition of the National Anthem. Zoltán Rockenbauer, a member of the YDA’s temporary leadership, said that their petition would be submitted to Parliament’s President István Stadinger, it asks Parliament to declare October 6th, the day on which the Arad martyrs were executed, the Day of Martyrs and to erect a monument so that the nation can pay its respects to them. The groups involved decided to post a guard of honour in front of the Sanctuary Lamp throughout the night which would change every few hours, 5~ Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
