The Eighth Tribe, 1979 (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1979-08-01 / 8. szám
August, 1979 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 5 ALBERT WASS: Nuclear Radiation — Against Minorities in Rumania? On September the 10th it will be two years ago that Károly Király, member of the Central Committee of the Rumanian Communist Party, a native Hungarian of Transylvania, wrote his historic letter to Ilie Verde, chairman of the Central Committee. He accused the Ceausescu government of breach of the Constitution, and with acts committed against the basic principles of Socialism in their treatment of the Hungarian minority. He further charged the Rumanian government with cultural genocide, intimidation, brutality, as well as political, economical and social discrimination against the native Hungarian population of Transylvania. Within 24 hours after the public release of that letter in one of the Hungarian party publications in Bucharest, Mr. Király, his wife and young child were arrested, disciplined, and allegedly deported into another part of the country. On January 24, 1978, The Times, The Guardian, The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and on January 25 The Le Monde and February 1, 1978 The New York Times carried the story, focusing world wide attention on the Király case. A short time later several etchnic publication in the United States, among them The Eighth Tribe, published the complete English translations of the Király letter. Those who are familiar with the present situation in Rumania agree that the publicity might have saved Király’s life. Ceausescu, in an attempt to show his tolerance to the Western World, from where substantial aid is flowing these days into Rumania, did not retaliate, though harshly criticized by a Hungarian comrade. Those who inquired about the whereabouts of Király and his family were told that as a disciplinary measure he was banished at the present from public life, and relocated in a distant community where he could freely move about but was not allowed to leave the city limits, at least temporarily. The location had to be kept secret for his own security, inquirers were told. For quite a long time nobody knew for certain what had really happened to the courageous Hungarian who dared to raise his voice against the brutal, and oppressive Nazi-like minority policies of “Führer” Ceausescu. Nevertheless, the “Király letter” became an important cornerstone in the evaluation of Rumania’s internal affairs. Not only throughout the Western Hemisphere, but within the Socialist camp as well. The complaint concerning the total disregard of minority rights came this time from a leading Communist, thus furnishing concrete proof that protests, appeals and demonstrations carried out during recent years in Washington, and elsewhere, by Transylvania exile organizations in America, were not motivated by bigoted propaganda but were truly deploring an intolerable situation, a genocide in progress, and rightfully pleading with the government of the United States to intervene on behalf of the 3,000,000 Hungarians of Transylvania before it would be too late. After more than a year of complete silence, a message has reached the Free World again concerning the fate of Mr. Király and his family. The message came directly from Transylvania through a visiting tourist whose name cannot be released, for well kown reasons. This tourist, a highly reliable person living in the West and visiting relatives in Transylvania, had the opportunty to meet face-to-face with Károly Király and his best friend, Sándor Zolcsák. He was told that the house in which Mr. Király and his family are forced to live is being exposed night after night to nuclear radiation. After complaining of strange spells, a Hungarian doctor, an expert in radiation, by the name of Dr. Csaba Hadnagy, examined the entire Király family and detected distinct symptoms of radiation. Four unexposed films inside the house also showed signs of radiation. Knowing well that in Rumania he cannot officially obtain a fair diagnosis, Mr. Király petitioned the Rumanian authorities to be allowed to visit another Socialist country; Hungary or Czechoslovakia for treatment. Permission was denied. According to Hungarian medical opinions, the Rumanian government is trying to drag out the time until radiation as such cannot be indisputably proven, though the damages caused by radiation are fatal. The message further states that lately the Zolcsák family is also being exposed to the same radiation. The two men, Király and Zolcsák, see no other hope for themselves and their families than to be subjected as soon as possible to an unbiased investigation by some sort of international committee of medical experts. Since the two men are unable to start any kind of action on their own behalf, they hope that the Western World, realizing their plight, might find a way to get involved and to expedite such international investigation. Thus sounds the message that reached the free world from horror ridden Transylvania. To Americans, the allegations seem incredible,
