1988. április (71-108. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

Ute(3)ís^i”Ba^] ©m£

Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London. WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126)

81/1988 (E) 14th April, 1988

The "Free Románia" Organisation Forms a Committee in Budapest

On Tuesday evening, April 12th, representatives of the "Románia Libera" - Free Románia - organisation held a press conference in Attila Ara-Kovács’s fiat, who emigrated to Hungary from Transylvania a few years ago. The press conference was held in Fremch with Hungárián interpreters. The Free Románia organisation has already publicised itself many times, it was now possible to hear more about its identity. The organisation operates in Románia, primarily in Timisoara, Oradea and Arad, it is naturally outlawed. Somé of its representatives in Hungary formed a committee which set as its first task to help all refugees from Románia whatever their nationality and to try and organise aid fór them from both Hungárián and Western sources. The press conference was led by Cornel Rosca and Maria Chiorean, Teodor Petrus and Michail Anghel, a Greek Orthodox priest took part, they are members of the organisation*s Budapest committee.

First of all a report was given of the telegramrae which they sent to Olivér Cordel, the Australian Ambassador to Budapest. They protested against Ceaugescu’s Australian invitation and reception, which, according to the telegramme, disregards the feelings of the 23 millión strong Románián nation.

The rest of the conference was mainly concerned with the situation of Románián refugees in Hungary, including the Románián national minority. The greater part of which would like to travel to a third country, primarily the United States, Canada and Australia. The Hungárián authorities do nőt in any way assist them to do this, their situation is completely uncertain. Recently about thirty of them were summoned to the Foreign Control National Central Office - KEOKH - and were asked to retum to Románia. Their deportation has nőt yet been executed.

In the press conference it was said that the refugees of Románián nationality, who generally arrive in what they are standing up in, récéivé a single 1000 Forint pay- ment from the Red Cross and have no chance of a work permit or a fiat. Any sort of empty buildings would be of use to them such as barracks or even military tents bút they have been given nothing. According to the committee Ceau^escu only allows them to emigrate because he knows that Western bordérs are closed and thus makes Hungárián national problems greater and the work of the Hungárián govemment more difficult.

The committee would like to get Western organisations and govemments to pay financial support to the refugees. The group strives to co-operate with the official Hungárián authorities bút its contacts are minimál, therefore it primarily depends on help from the spontaiteously formed Hungárián social inítiatives. At the press conference two representatives of the Refugee Committee, which was nőt formed long ago in Budapest, were present, they gave a report of the negotiations going on with a Hungárián bank in order to deposit financial aid sent from the West. They said that refugees who go on to a third country must get aid in the form of hard currencey. They alsó said that they had made a contract with the Red Cross and that the "Aktions Komitat Siebenburger" West Germán welfare organisation’s five lorry load consignment of aid will be distributed by the Refugee Committee through the mediation of the Red Cross, a representative of the donators will control distribution.

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