1. Hyde Park NGO

 Is a non-profit, non-political organization, funded by a group of listeners and followers of the popular talk-show Hyde Park, who at the constituent meeting on May 11^th 2003 unanimously voted for the Creation of the NGO. We associated so that we can defend ourselves more efficiently of pressures of the authorities, that seemed troubled by the freedom of speech, by truths voiced in the night broadcast Hyde Park or in other interactive shows and public places trough the mouths of citizens taught in Hyde Park.

Therefore the purpose of Hyde Park NGO is to promote the freedom of speech and defend everyone’s right to express his believes, opinions and ideas, according to democratic principles.

In January-February 2004 HP volunteers monitored several media institutions and traced serious law violations. In the beginning of March we published a press-released with the results of the monitoring and launched a protest campaign.

To render the public opinion we organized protests on 29 February, 7, 14 and 21 March called “the spring of free word”.

The last months the authorized weekly meetings acquired a character of freedom of expression promotion.

2. HP NGO objectives

•  Promotes the principles of freedom of speech and access to information
• Contributes to the development of the society and its institutions, to the increasing of the cultural level and civic education of citizens
• Develops a positive attitude among the public regarding the freedom of expression,  contributing to the acknowledge of this fundamental right
• Applies and defends democratic, European values

Current activities

The first common action, initiated the day of foundation, was a declaration against federalization of the Republic of Moldova. The text was written by Ion Ciocanu, member of the HP NGO Council, and signed by over 1200 persons. The signed declaration was presented (July 3rd 2003) to the Presidency of RM, at the OSCE and UN missions in Chisinau, and at diplomatic missions of the states implicated in the process of settlement of the Nistru conflict.

Since June 22nd we are editing every Sunday a info-bulletin that is distributed gratis to the NGO’s followers, press representatives, local and central authorities. It contains information about our plans and activities, different opinions about current events, comments, attitudes of citizens that do not have access to other rostrums for free expression.

Starting July the 6th, several HP meetings took place out of town, in Slobozia-Duşca (Chişinău district , Tătărăşti (Străşeni), Dobruşa (Soroca), Hînceşti, Pepeni (Bălţi), Ciuciuleni (Hînceşti), Bălţi, Hirişeni (Teleneşti), Cărpineni and Mingir (Hînceşti), Ulmu and Văsieni (Chisinau), Bardar and Ruseştii Noi (Chisinau). We discussed about NGO’s activities, human rights, access to information, freedom of expression and social, political, cultural issues. These manifestations initiated by the HP sustainers will have continuity.

3.The first protest march against censorship in the public press, against persecutions of independent mass-media, and for the re-opening of the radio show Hyde Park at the municipal radio station was organized on July 7^th 2003. The action was repeated August the 23^rd including the stake of the Chişinău Mayoralty, the municipal radio station Antena C and the Audiovisual Coordinator Council. Over 300 citizens participated.
In the near future we will demand the authorities’ permission to organize other protest manifestation in this problem if the situation won’t change. Until then we will establish relations with other, similar NGOs to participate together at the promotion of the freedom of speech. Another action against the state censorship in the public press took place on October the 16^th.

Since February the 29^th 2004 we organize authorized meetings on the Classics Alee. At the free microphone anyone can speak freely about anything that is important to him.

The 11^th May 2004 we recalled to the Antena C administration through a protest meeting that they are the ones to blame for the shut down of the free-speaking program. We announced that we intend to take a hungry stake if the program won’t be reopened.

On 30^th July 2003 at the Art & Culture Center “Ginta Latină” took place a National Press Club, organized by The Union of Journalists and The Independent Journalism Center and initiated by HP NGO, where we tried to find out whom and why closed up the HP broadcast.

The 24th August 2003 took place a public discussion with the Dr. Psychiatrist Alexei Maşec, who talked (with examples, proves and witnesses) about the practice of psychiatry as an instrument of political pressure. The conference was registered and it is placed on the web.

The 1-7 September we initiated a protest campaign and collected over 1200 signatures in sustain of the installing of the bust of Liviu Rebreanu on the Classics Alee. The lists with signatures were presented to the authorities and published in press.

Since November 2003, after participating at the IV NGO Forum in RM, HP NGO is a representative of “Human Rights” associative sector in the National NGO Council. HP NGO participated at the founding and activates in the Committee for Protection of Independence and Constitution. Our organization adhered the 17^th June 2004 at the Coalition for free and correct elections. 

4. We intend to…
        …Institute some zones of freedom of expression in every locality to stimulate the free thinking and participation of every citizen in the public life.

…Establish permanent relations with similar organization in Moldova and from abroad in order to develop common projects, to exchange experience and information, to promote at regional, global level the principles of free expression, to share our experience in this field.

…Promote in the Moldavian press the interactive form of realization of shows and publications, by initiating round tables, discussions with the Moldavian press representatives with the participation of local and central authorities, with invitees from Romania and from West.

…Realize interactive TV or radio shows like Hyde Park, with the participation of RM citizens and even neighbor states’ citizens, to discuss topical problems: Europeanization, democratization. These programs could be hosted by channels that cover partially or the entire territory of RM.

Through these actions we want to promote the freedom of opinion and of expression, the democratic pluralism, contributing to the healing of the society, to the well functioning of the state and to the European integration.

 September 2004