Candle demonstration in Bratislava
Encyclopedia
The Candle Demonstration on 25 March 1988 in Bratislava
, the capital of Slovakia
, was the first mass demonstration since 1969 against the communist
regime in Czechoslovakia
.
The Demonstration was organized by Roman Catholic dissent
groups asking for religious freedom in Czechoslovakia
. The peaceful Candle Demonstration of five á thousand believers was suppressed by the police.
The Demonstration was planned by Marián Štastný, Executive Vice-President of the Slovak World Congress and his associate Dr. Paul Arnold of Switzerland. They were in touch with the Čarnogurský family of Bratislava and passed on the plans for the demonstration via Štastný's mother-in-law, who was on a visit to Switzerland.
Catholic activist František Mikloško
initiated a request for a permit to demonstrate, but his proposal was rejected by the authorities. Information about the event was propagated through Vatican Radio and, after the event, by Radio Free Europe
and Voice of America
.
The demonstration was the first important step towards destroying the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Five thousand Slovaks
protested at Hviezdoslav Square
with candle
s in their hands, and further thousands in adjacent streets, while the main entrance to the square was blocked by the secret police
. Police first used water cannon
s against protesters while they ran their sirens and yelled at protesters to get away from the square, then began attacking the protesters with baton
s and sticks.
Interestingly, leading Communist officials (e.g. the Slovak prime minister
, minister of the interior, minister of culture) were observing the whole "operation" from inside the Carlton Hotel on Hviezdoslav square.
25 March has become Struggle for Human Rights Day in Slovakia
, commemorating the Candle demonstration.
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, the capital of Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, was the first mass demonstration since 1969 against the communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
regime in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
.
The Demonstration was organized by Roman Catholic dissent
Dissent
Dissent is a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or an entity...
groups asking for religious freedom in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. The peaceful Candle Demonstration of five á thousand believers was suppressed by the police.
The Demonstration was planned by Marián Štastný, Executive Vice-President of the Slovak World Congress and his associate Dr. Paul Arnold of Switzerland. They were in touch with the Čarnogurský family of Bratislava and passed on the plans for the demonstration via Štastný's mother-in-law, who was on a visit to Switzerland.
Catholic activist František Mikloško
František Mikloško
František Mikloško is a Slovak politician. He is a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic and a former member of Christian Democratic Movement. Mikloško was Speaker of the Slovak National Council from 1990 to 1992. Mikloško is the longest-serving member of parliament in Slovakia...
initiated a request for a permit to demonstrate, but his proposal was rejected by the authorities. Information about the event was propagated through Vatican Radio and, after the event, by Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
and Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
.
The demonstration was the first important step towards destroying the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Five thousand Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
protested at Hviezdoslav Square
Hviezdoslavovo námestie (Bratislava)
Hviezdoslavovo námestie is one of the best-known squares in Bratislava. It is located in the Old Town, between the New Bridge and the Slovak National Theatre.The square is named after Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav.-History:...
with candle
Candle
A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
s in their hands, and further thousands in adjacent streets, while the main entrance to the square was blocked by the secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
. Police first used water cannon
Water cannon
A water cannon is a device that shoots a high-pressure stream of water. Typically, a water cannon can deliver a large volume of water, often over dozens of metres / hundreds of feet. They are used in firefighting and riot control. Most water cannon fall under the category of a fire...
s against protesters while they ran their sirens and yelled at protesters to get away from the square, then began attacking the protesters with baton
Club (weapon)
A club is among the simplest of all weapons. A club is essentially a short staff, or stick, usually made of wood, and wielded as a weapon since prehistoric times....
s and sticks.
Interestingly, leading Communist officials (e.g. the Slovak prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, minister of the interior, minister of culture) were observing the whole "operation" from inside the Carlton Hotel on Hviezdoslav square.
25 March has become Struggle for Human Rights Day in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, commemorating the Candle demonstration.
External links
- All about Candle demonstration (Slovak and English)