Holiday events to go ahead despite fears of violence

Five months after the holiday to commemorate Hungary's 1956 anti-Soviet uprising turned sour when street violence erupted, the country is preparing for another day that marks the beginning of a failed revolution.

On March 15, 1848, young people in Budapest led by poet Sándor Petőfi rose against their Habsburg rulers and demanded freedom for Hungary. The revolution led to an 18-month war which eventually ended with Austria reasserting its power with help from Russian forces. As protests against Hungary's current, Socialist-led government have been ongoing since September, and police used force against protesters in Budapest on October 23, the March 15 holiday is widely expected to produce more violence.

More than 1,200 public events have been announced to police around the country for Thursday, twice the number in previous years. Of these, more than 800 are being organized by the state or local governments. In Budapest alone, 122 state, cultural and political events are scheduled.

Police have granted permits to all announced events, said Endre Komáromi, head of the National Police public order department. He added that a recent change in regulations gives police the right to impose a fine on anyone who does not move on if ordered to do so three times. Komáromi also said that police are expecting a peaceful day, but are prepared to protect public order if necessary. Unlike in October, police officers securing events will not wear masks.

A so-called second degree security zone will be established to maintain order near state-organized events, Government Guards Commander Ferenc Szabó said. "Strict checks" will be carried out at Kossuth tér, the National Museum, Március 15. tér and the Palace of Arts, and "various preventive measures" will be taken.

Drivers have been warned to expect road closures at several locations in Budapest on Wednesday and Thursday. (Details can be read on the police website.) Virtually no traffic will be allowed to enter downtown, and police will tow illegally-parked cars to neighboring streets. Those who cannot find their vehicles should call 107.

Meanwhile, a group of 100 to 150 foreign observers will arrive in Budapest to monitor police activity on March 15, said Krisztina Morvai, co-chair of the Civilian Lawyers Committee, formed to investigate cases of police brutality on October 23. Observers will arrive from Switzerland, the United States, Germany and Austria. The idea to have foreign volunteers observe the events came from the head of Switzerland's Christian Democratic Party, who will also be in Budapest on Thursday, Morvai added.

Major Protests

On Wednesday, March 14, at 18:00, far-right groups will stage a protest on Teve utca, at the headquarters of the National Police, which was fired at by unidentified gunmen one month ago. Their aim is to "turn international attention to the events in Hungary." Among the speakers will by László Toroczkai, who urged protesters to go to the national television headquarters in September, which resulted in the building being stormed.

At 19:45 on Wednesday evening, Fidelitas (the youth organization of opposition party Fidesz) will stage a protest on Pilvax köz, an important scene of the events of March 15, 1848. From there, protesters will proceed to the former Landerer and Heckenast printing house, where the "12 Points," the demands set down by the 1848 revolutionaries, were printed. The website of the organization writes that the message of March 15 "has never been more relevant."

A radical group called the Revolutionary National Committee (Forradalmi Nemzeti Bizottmány) will stage a protest at the Tabán (Buda side of Erzsébet Bridge) on Thursday at noon.

On Thursday at 14:00, far-right party MIÉP will hold a rally on Hősök tere. Among the speakers will be David Irving, who was recently released after being arrested in Austria for denying that the Holocaust had taken place.

Another far-right party, Jobbik, will hold its rally on Vörösmarty tér, starting at the same time as the MIÉP event. Among the speakers will be Fidesz MP Mária Wittner, who was sentenced to death in 1956. The party writes in their invitaion: "We think [Prime Minister] Ferenc Gyurcsány's invitation to a politics-free national holiday is cowardly. March 15th is the celebration of Hungarian freedom. We won't listen to lies!"

At 16:00, main opposition party Fidesz will hold its rally at the Pest side of Erzsébet híd, an important scene of March 15 events, but also the site where proesters built barricades on October 23, 2006. The rally is expected to draw tens of thousands.

At 18:00, the Hungarian National Committee 2006 (Magyar Nemzeti Bizottság 2006) will stage a protest at the National Museum. After 19:00, the group is expected to walk around the city, but their planned route is not known.

Another "moving protest" is being organized by the "gój motorcyclists" (gój motorosok), who will leave from Buda's Congress Center at 17:00, proceed to the National Museum, and arrive at Hősök tere at 20:00.

In addition, protesters are likely to appear near the headquartes of the current governing parties - the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) and the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) - and events organized by these parties. The primary such events will take place on Március 15. tér, where Mayor Gábor Demszky will give a speech Thursday morning, and near the Palace of Arts, where Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány will speak in the evening.

Public Events

The series of state-organized events will start with the flag-raising ceremony on Kossuth Lajos tér in the morning. Following that, flowers and candles will be placed at the nearby Batthyány Eternal Flame to commemorate Count Lajos Batthyány, the prime minister of revolutionary Hungary, who was executed in 1849.

Elsewhere, a day-long series of programs will start at the park outside the National Museum at 11:00.

The Lánchíd (Chain Bridge) will be decorated, and 12 "stations" will be installed along the bridge, based on the "12 Points."

An exhibition will be organized in the Hungarian Academy of Sciences parking lot on Roosevelt tér featuring artworks dedicated to the spirit of March 15, 1848.

The state-organized events will end with a concert at the Palace of Arts at 20:00, following a speech by Prime Minister Gyurcsány.

An event organized by the City of Budapest will start at Március 15. tér at 10:00. Following a speech by Mayor Demszky, a "period" fair, hussar presentations, folk games and folk dancers will entertain audiences until 18:00.

A series of related programs will also take place at the Millenáris cultural center between 10:00 and 17:00, including concerts, games and handicraft workshops for children.

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