Fraternity-Testvériség, 2006 (84. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

2006-07-01 / 3. szám

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Tutsek court sentenced him for 17 years. His fellow freedom fighters Angyal István, Szirmai Ottó, and Szél Sanyi were sentenced to death. (Tutsek Gusztáv was known as one of the most bloodthirsty judges of the post revolution reprisal area. We wonder where Tutsek Gusztáv is today.)

At his sentencing Angyal Pista demanded that he be executed. “1 can’t live without birdsong and without flowers. I demand to be hanged.” he said. He was executed on December 1, 1958. His last words, before being hanged were: "Hungary always fought for the freedom of all mankind. It was an honor to be the son of such a nation."

And for Szigetvári István it was eleven more years of prison, pain and suffering. Once when with a sinus infection he had to see the prison doctor, a Captain Sos, he told him “You deserve it, you should rot where you are.” (And where is Captain Sos today?)

On March 21,1969 he was released. But his suffering did not end. He was harassed by the police. He was ostracized. On one occasion in a small town at a party meeting, the party secretary asked: “How long will we suffer this fascist among us?”

But he was a good worker. He got a job as an electrician, in a cooperative quarry. Here he was appreciated. In 1976 he was named an “outstanding worker”. But in 1977 a new party secretary said with disgust: “Don’t we have decent people here? How can someone with his past be an outstanding worker?”

In the 1980s the police still kept on harassing him. “...a rendőrség még mindig rajtam tartotta figyelő szemét, mert ki-kijártak a sóderbányába, hogy nem izgatok-e, például áremelés után nem hőzöngök-e, nem lázítok-e.”

In 1987 he left the cooperative and with his wife started a small animal husbandry; stuffing geese. He had two married daughters and a 13 year old son.

In 1991 He was interviewed by László Eorsi of the 1956 institute: “If 1 wanted to play the hero, I would say that 1 am not sorry that I fought in the Revolution.” He said. “But it is a fact that I messed up my life, because since I was seventeen I was always at a disadvantage.” “And now,” he asks “who are recognized? NOT the simple people who fought on the streets!”

“We should not only talk about the spirit of 56 (but the government, the citizens) should do something to help us.” “There is no compensation for twelve years of suffering, but we should, at least, get paid a decent wage for our work while in prison”

“If there would be another revolution I would fight again. BUT I would not stay here.”

He Died In 2001.

And so, Today I am Honoring Szigetvári István, Angyal István and the thousands of their fellow Freedom Fighters on the Streets of Budapest!

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Designed by Adam Szíjártó and Judit Szilasi

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Fraternity - Testvériség