For us not to forget

“To preserve the memory of every victim of the communist regime in Slovakia”. This is the aim of the Museum of the crimes and victims of communism, due to be opened in Bratislava (Slovak Republic) on 17 November, on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the “Velvet Revolution” which led to the fall of the totalitarian regime in the countries of Eastern and Middle Europe. One of the founders of the museum Frantisek Neupauer speaks about the project to Danka Jacecková (SIR Europe – Bratislav).Where should we look for the origins of the Museum of the crimes and victims of communism?”The idea arose from the meetings with people who had suffered during the period without freedom. Myself and my friends – we all were captured by the stories of suffering, unjust imprisonment and persecution before November 1989. We were impressed and encouraged by clear value orientation of those people. We couldn’t keep it just to ourselves, so we decided to create a project ‘Silent heroes in the battle with communism’, to mediate the experience of meeting such extraordinary people also to young people. In four years since its beginning, about 200 students have met their ‘silent hero’ and have documented the stories of 72 persons. We want to keep providing the space for such encounters. Our project differs from similar ones which are broadcast abroad in one important aspect – it aspires to be more about personal encounter and dialogue than about theoretical knowledge. Our ambition is not to create historical exhibitions. We want the stories of 70,000 people who were unjustly convicted by the communist regime to enter a space under ‘the roof’ of our museum by being documented by young people. So that the new generations may have the opportunity to touch them really personally and intimately and never be able to forget”.How can you describe the process which led from the first idea to actual opening of the Museum?”Many have started the project but until now, none of them has succeeded in transforming the idea into something with real features. Our journey is a journey of small steps. Thanks to the support of the Conrad Adenauer Foundation, the students involved in the project ‘Silent heroes’ could travel to Berlin and visit the Museum of STASI. That was the place where they were really ‘hit’ by the events and destinies of people who had suffered during communism. So strong was the visit to a ‘tragic memorial site’. On the base of this experience I came up with an appeal to establish a Museum of the crimes of communism also in Slovakia, which was signed by 3,000 people in 2010. A bit later, former prime minister Iveta Radicová came with the idea officially, but new government has different priorities. When I started to teach at St. Elisabeth University of Health and Social Sciences, this institution offered a space to us. Now, we are opening the Museum in some sort of a trial period, with priority to launch a website www.muezumkomunizmu.sk to introduce our aims. Unfortunately, we don’t have any support from the State. We have appealed to all parliament deputies and ended up with the support of one single member of the National Council. So we are back on our journey of ‘small steps’. It is normal that in the world such project is financed by filatropists. We have put it together on the base of voluntary work”.What activities do you prepare for the visitors and when can they expect an official opening of the Museum?”Unofficially it will be opened on 17 November, which is a day of public holiday in Slovakia, commemorating the events of November 1989. Official opening is planned on 25 March 2013, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Candle Demonstration. We’ll provide a tour around tragic memorial sites, uncover destinies of the ‘silent heroes’ through the eyes of young generation. The visitors will be able to see historical documents, copies of underground press and we’ll arrange encounters with former prisoners of conscience or their relatives. There were 70,000 people convicted by the communist regime, but overall number of those who had suffered exceeds 200,000″.Why is it important to remember the crimes of communism?”It’s important to talk about the crimes, but it’s more essential to show gratefulness towards those who withstanded. We want to document the stories and face of totalitarianism. We realize how necessary it is to express respect and gratitude to brave people. As civil activists we appeal to state authorities to award the great representatives of Christian dissent. Our journey is a journey to a man, and it’s full of searching for answers that transcend the given period of time: Why haven’t we backed up those who were persecuted? Where did those who were tortured find the strength to resist? What was the source of their courage? What can we learn from their example?”.