Surreal Footage from the 90s: The Human Torch protest of Ryszard Siwiec.

On September the 8th, 1968, Ryszard Siwiec, a 59-year-old accountant and former Home Army soldier, decided to take his own life in protest at Poland's participation in the recent invasion of Czechoslovakia. He did so in front of 100,000 people who'd gathered for the annual harvest festival in a Warsaw stadium, including Poland's communist leadership and many foreign diplomats.
Recently uncovered footage shows the crowd suddenly parting around a man engulfed in flames, shouting and flapping his arms up and down. The flames are eventually extinguished and he is led away by the police, his clothes burnt to shreds and his skin blackened.

Guest	Feb 20, 09, 11:58 / #
I remember during the 90s seeing footage on a Polish news show of some man setting fire to himself while some children were dancing in folk costumes, and while he staggered and waved around while aflame in the audience, the children just kept dancing and dancing not too far off. Could anyone give information particular to this event? The man's name, a news article, the actual footage itself etc... Any links or information on this would help. Thank you.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 [Suspended]	Edited by: Harry Feb 20, 09, 12:36 / #
On September the 8th, 1968, Ryszard Siwiec, a 59-year-old accountant and former Home Army soldier, decided to take his own life in protest at Poland's participation in the recent invasion of Czechoslovakia. He did so in front of 100,000 people who'd gathered for the annual harvest festival in a Warsaw stadium, including Poland's communist leadership and many foreign diplomats. Recently uncovered footage shows the crowd suddenly parting around a man engulfed in flames, shouting and flapping his arms up and down. The flames are eventually extinguished and he is led away by the police, his clothes burnt to shreds and his skin blackened. http://www.radio.cz/en/article/113259 More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryszard_Siwiec

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Edited by: plk123 Feb 20, 09, 15:48 / #
here is one with his voice recorded a couple of days prior to his protest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZZlrPQHDH0 i do wonder if there is info on what he said there at the stadium and it makes me wonder how he actually died as he seems to be relatively OK after the burning..