The Eighth Tribe, 1980 (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1980-01-01 / 1. szám

Indeed, the use of the native tongue is prohibited even at meetings of the Nationality Workers’ Councils.” The violation of law with regard to the proportionate representation of minorities is reflected in Kiraly’s following words:

“With regard to the question of personnel, the replacement of Hungarian officials (where there still are any) with Rumanians is being carried out with incredible persistence. This applies equally to the politico-administratve apparatus and to the various economic and industrial enterprises.”

Ex-Congressman (now New York City Mayor) Edward Koch made the following observation for the Congressional Record (1977) : “I am distressed at reports that indicate that discrimination taints many aspects of life for the Hungarian speaking minority. Last year I was shown a copy of the Rumanian laws that now require a minimum of 25 students for any grade school class to be conducted in Hungarian, while only two students are requred to form a class taught in Rumanian language.”

Concerning Rumanian historiography, I repeat that “recent Rumanian versions of their history and ethnic origins have been wrtten by politically motivated writers and are blatantly biased to the point

of FALSIFYING AND INVENTING HISTORICAL EVENTS.” (Current anthropolgy 18:781.)

The Rumanian demographer Satmarescu — who cannot be accused of harboring pro-Hungarian and irredentist sentiments — comments (1975:426) on the poor quality of published demographic data on Transylvania, the “tendency to overestimate the Rumanian section of the population” and the “frequency with which the basic territorial units for demographic tabulation have been modified.” On page 433 Mr. Satmarescu argues that “Whether or not it is a deliberate policy to reduce the strength of the Hungarian minority ... there is evidence of administrative measures, such as the discriminatory allocation of housing units, which make it more difficult for rural Hungarians to move into the large urban centers than for their Rumanian counterparts.” On page 536: “assuming that the Hungarian population (in Transylvania) of 1.7 million in 1910 had increased over the period 1910-1966 at a.) the average rate observed in Transylvania, b.) the average rate observed in Rumania, c.) the average rate observed in Hungary, and d.) the average rate of natural increase observed in Hungary, and making allowances for emigration and reparations associated with the two world wars, suggests a minimum expected Hungarian population in 1966 of 2.0 million and a maximum of over 2.5 million.”

Each of the several topics in contention is fertile ground for further study and debate. The data cited here demonstrate that through political, legal (as well as illegal), social, economic and educational means THE RUMANIAN GOVERNMENT AIMS TO DESTROY TRANSYLVANIAN HUNGARIAN CULTURE. THE TECHNIQUES OF ETHNOCIDE HAVE BEEN RICHLY DOCUMENTED BY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AND BY THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS.

Professor Sozan’s article as well as his reply to the attacks is well supported with a long list of outstanding works, cited as reference material.

HUNGARIANS IN TRANSYLVANIA ...

(Continued from page 2)

status by an act of war, be internationally recognized and protected. In the case of the Hungarians of Transylvania this protection already exists — on paper. It should be the obligation of the United Nations as well as the governments of the Great Powers responsible for the present situation, to take proper steps in enforcing the provisions of the peace treaties which clearly define the rights of the native Hungarian population of Transylvania to regional self-administration and complete cultural freedom.

DO YOU KNOW

that millions of

YOUR TAX DOLLARS

HELP SUPPORT THE MOST VICIOUS VIOLATORS OF HUMAN RIGHTS THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF RUMANIA?

IN TRANSYLVANIA

Three million Hungarians, Germans, Jews and other minorities are treated as inferior citizens, imprisoned, tortured, beaten to death by the political police, due to their ethnic origin!

PROTEST

THE PREFERRED NATION STATUS granted by our President to the

COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF RUMANIA!

For more information, read: Documented Faets and Figures on Transylvania. Published by the Danubian Press,

Astor, Fla. 32002.

VIII

THE TRANSYLVANIAN QUARTERLY