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Years Offreedom

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Years Offreedom YEARS OFFREEDOM He founded The Public Against Violence1 in Veľký Krtíš “A few days after the Prague manifestation, “People were afraid not only then, but also a group of about 300 people went through long afterwards. Especially older people and Veľký Krtíš with an appeal to do something. in the villages. Fear persisted until the fi rst But it was not organized at all and it fell silent free elections. They were afraid of sanction. again. Demonstrations began about 27 Novem- Paradoxically, later, when freedom has come, ber, then I got involved. I am not that one who they were also afraid to organize. They were needs to be the centre of attention, but enthu- disgusted and tired of the years when the Com- siastic young boys spoke from the stands. They munist power tried to organize them. There was had no experiences, so I tried to organize them a certain aversion from entering to the political a bit. It was after a General strike, when we met parties or movements. People knew a lot about with local representatives of the Communist each other. Many grasping people, also with Party and the Regional committee (abbrevia- ‘StB’2 background, tried to cross the fl oor, and tion: ONV).” so the distrust ruled between people. I tried to (1951) Bohuslav Beňo tell them, that people have to make the change The General strike was successful, but even by themselves and make decision what and who He participated in student’s demonstra- tions against the occupation of Czecho- though Bohuslav saw the problematic back- they really want. They must do so in particular slovakia. In 1968. He maintained contacts ground and mentality of the people distorted in the fi rst free elections. There was a change with the dissent during normalization. In by the years of communism. they didn’t expect, they didn’t know what will 1989 he joined the revolutionary move- happen next. Suddenly they were to make their ment. He ran in the fi rst free elections for own decisions.” VPN (Public Against Violence). 1 Public Against Violence (Slovak: Verejnosť proti násiliu, VPN) was a political movement established in Bratislava, Slovakia in November 1989. For a complete story of Bohuslav Beňo, It was the Slovak counterpart of the Czech Civic Forum (Czech: Občanské fórum, OF). Public Against Violence was founded during the Velvet Revolution, which overthrew the Communist Party rule in Czechoslovakia. please visit: www.memoryofnations.eu 2 Between 1948 and 1989 the State Security (Slovak: Štátna bezpečnosť, ŠtB) represented a repressive tool to suppress basic human rights and freedom in order to maintain the power of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. As a political police force of the Communist Party it participated in the persecutions, arrests and interrogations of alleged or real opponents of the totalitarian regime. With the approval of the party offi cials it also organised kidnappings of citizens from abroad and assassinations. YEARS OFFREEDOM We brought humanitarian aid from Prešov In December 1989, before Christmas he and his Saturday or Sunday. He took the forints and co-workers organized aid for Romania. leis from safe and gave it to us. People who I have never met before came and offered help “One friend walked through the Prešov with as a drivers or camera operators, we had two a megaphone and informed people about the camera operators. There is also two hours long organization of the collection. It started to get documentary movie about our venture. Second bigger and bigger. The result was that nobody Day of Christmas we went to Romania. I still did such a in Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia have tears in my eyes when I think of it. Automobile Transport Company (ČSAD) gave us six trucks and tank of diesel oil. People were We went through Hungary and at the border we buying up groceries and filled the trucks. Bish- met Knights of Malta from Germany. They were op who was a member of association of Catho- there on four vans. It was the first aid provided lic Clergy ‘Pacem in Terris’1 brought us a few to Romania from abroad. They did not want to bottles of altar wine. I got one and a half truck let us go because there was a shooting in Roma- of potatoes from ‘JRD’2. We also received van nia. We had to get permission to enter. Then we of medical supplies and medicaments worth finally unloaded the trucks.” 200 thousand crowns from hospital. Director Anton Bartunek (1945) of the State Bank of Czechoslovakia came on Pharmacist, historian of pharmacy and medicine, writer, one of the activists of the Velvet Revolution in Prešov. For a complete story of Anton Bartunek, please visit: www.memoryofnations.eu 1 Association of Catholic Clergy Pacem in Terris (Czech: Sdružení katolických duchovních Pacem in terris, Slovak: Združenie katolíckych ducho- vných Pacem in terris), abbreviated SKD PiT or simply PiT, was a regime-sponsored organisation of Catholic clergy in Communist Czechoslovakia between 1971 and 1989. 2 Uniform agricultural cooperative, abbreviated JRD (Slovak: Jednotné poľnohospodárske družstvo). YEARS OFFREEDOM Civic courage and civic views began to develop During the outbreak of the Velvet revolution Civic courage gained and people expressed Josef has house approval in Kalinčiakovo their own views and attitudes. It was a large (town district of Levice). He heard about the movement at that time. Many people came violent crackdown against students in Prague because they were curious and for the fi rst time of 17 November 1989 from an offi cial broadcast had the opportunity to express themselves or of Czechoslovak television. Reportedly nothing to participate in joint work. happened and only “anti-socialist” elements Josef Hladík (1951) and confused students are organized in the The later nationalist passions that broke out in squares. Only Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Slovakia were perceived by Joseph as a native Originally from Břeclav, he moved to (RFE/RL) reported mass spontaneous demon- of Moravia in a very personal way. He left the Levice in 1972, where he get married. He strations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Coordination centre of VPN in Levice in 1992 provided a building of infrastructure for Josef was convinced of his involvement in the and after the break-up of Czechoslovakia he re- complex of ‚Mochovce‘, the nuclear power emerging protest movement and participated turned with his family to Moravia. The moods plant. Later he was head of the Department in several demonstrations on the square in were explicitly anti-Czech and anti-Hungarian of Personnel and Social Development at the plant. After 1990 he worked as a direc- Levice. The fi rst demonstrations, despite the in those times. But he has never conceived tor of the district administration of tourism moods of belonging, were poorly sounded, hatred for Slovakia and trusts the young gen- in Mochovce. He was one of the actors of insuffi ciently organized and few citizens at- eration. the Velvet Revolution in Levice. After the tended. Czechoslovakia break-up he went with his “If the young generation retains their basic family back to Moravia. After the meetings, the participants met in the awareness and pride in their homeland and ba- Youth Club. The fi rst meetings of VPN (Public sic political knowledge, they will have a chance For a complete story of Josef Hladík, Against Violence) supporters started here. to move our countries further.” please visit: www.memoryofnations.eu YEARS OFFREEDOM We had a feeling that there are more of us. Those who want change. In 1986, at the plenary meeting of visual artists, He worked with a VPN coordination centre, but they elected Mr. Cipár as the chairman of the he never wanted to go into politics. Association. As the fi rst non-party member ever, even though they had previously rejected “As a member of the VPN Coordination six candidates - party members. There were Committee, I had to decide who would be the many people with similar opinions in the com- Minister of Culture. It was incomprehensible to mittee. They opened space for independence me, almost comical. I felt incompetent. Political and freedom of creation. They were therefore tendencies that draw in those who want to be prepared for the events of 17 November. close to the source are becoming part of the political body. This is what you feel and see in “On Sunday morning we talked by phone and people who tend to the political body, willing to then we met at my place. Eleven people, nine gain benefi ts and positions.” fi ne artists, one writer and a fi lmmaker. We convened an assembly of the Artists’ Forum. The next day we established the ‘Public Against Miroslav Cipár (1935) Violence’ in the small theatre hall.” Illustrator, graphic artist, fi ne artist, peda- gogue, trademark creator, one of the activ- ists of the Velvet Revolution in Bratislava. For a complete story of Miroslav Cipár, please visit: www.memoryofnations.eu YEARS OFFREEDOM Be part of social change, at least once in a life. Then you will believe that you can infl uence things. “We went to Bratislava for the fi rst demonstra- coordinated MNI activities in all cities. She tions in Hviezdoslavovo námestie (Hviezdoslav remembers very well how people who did not Square). I remember I was amazed that there participate in revolutionary events regularly was a revolution in the streets and squares in came to Mozart’s house. They were convinced Bratislava, while nothing was happening in of their abilities and openly expressed their Dunajská Streda.” interest in the various vacancies. They were Ilona Németh (1963) interested even in ministerial positions. They She contacted her friends from Dunajská Stre- got those positions in many cases.
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