The demonstration, organized by the civil group Maradjanak a fák a Romáin (The trees should stay at Római), gathered at the foot of the Északi connector bridge and marched the length of the Római beach before assembling to hear a number of speakers.

One speaker and prominent member of the Római protest movement Ágoston Ébert emphasized that despite the continuing discussions of the dam project in the Budapest General Assembly, and the announcement by the council of District 3 (where Római is located) that no construction may begin until an alternative plan is examined, preparations for the mobile dam are proceeding unobstructed, and applications for construction permits, including for removal of trees, have already been submitted. Ébert argued that the decision by District 3 to suspend construction is merely a “crummy trick” to deflate the power of the protest movement.

Geophysicist Gábor Timár also spoke at the demonstration. Timár was invited by an LMP council member last week to the Budapest General Assembly to give his testimony on alternative plans to the mobile dam, but was not permitted to speak. In fact, according to 444.hu, Budapest Mayor István Tarlós did not permit any independent experts to speak at the assembly, declaring, “This is not a public forum.”

Timár recounted how he felt “humiliated” at the Wednesday assembly, and expressed his dismay at how dismissive Tarlós had been of the work of independent experts on the question of Római beach.

“How can they behave this way with experts?” Timár asked, adding, “If we don’t go there, then they’ll tell us what we want!”
Demonstrators placed posters reading “Excavation Prohibited” along the length of Római beach, and chanted “We won’t allow it!”

The Curia, Hungary’s highest court, is currently considering whether a city-wide referendum can be held on the issue.

Source: The Budapest Beacon

Republished with permission

MTI photo: Mohai Balázs