Magyar Egyház, 1988 (67. évfolyam, 2-4. szám)
1988-07-01 / 4. szám
10. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ removed from military leadership by the 1980’s, and the removal of minority officers from lower-echelon ranks is currently in progress. In addition, educational progress have been increasingly restrictive on the subjects of ethnological significance to minorities. Collections of artifacts from peoples living within Romania for centuries have been placed in storage and are unavailable in public view. Massive emigrations to other countries are depleting the country of many of its artists, educators and intellectuals. Of the numerous minority groups living in Romania today — Hungarians, Germans, Ukrainians, Southern Slavs and Gypsies — by far the largest is the Hungarian speaking population (2,000,000). Perhaps because they are the most numerous they constitute the greatest threat, and the weight of discrimination and intolerance has been borne most visibly by them. The Romanian member Church of the WARC, the Reformed Church in Romania, is Hungarian speaking. The WARC’s concern, however, has now broadened to include violations of human rights among all Romanian minorities in particular, and is urging that the government respect the human and civil rights of all its citizens. ONE MORE WORD ABOUT TRANSYLVANIA Dear Friends: Since 1003 Transylvania was a part of Hungary, but after World War I on June 4, 1920 it was given to Romania by the Peace Treaty of Trianon. In 1940 Transylvania was given back to Hungary and in 1947 back to Romania. Historically Transylvania was a part of Hungary for 1,000 years and was a cradle of Magyar culture for just as long. Presently a cultural genocide is under way to eradicate Hungarian culture and history from Romania and destroy their ethnic heritage. The 2.5 million Hungarians of Romania for years have been victims of intense ethnic discrimination. Following the closing of the Hungarian-language schools the Romanians began to rename their communities, streets and forcibly oust the residents. We are being told by Hungarian refugees that their homes, churches, and even their cemeteries are being bulldozed to the ground. Presently from 13,000 settlements 7,000 are scheduled for destruction. The secret purpose of the demolition is to destroy the German and Hungarian minorities by taking them out of their home environment. Most of the targeted communities are' Hungarian. In Hargita County there are 236 villages out of which 100 are scheduled for total destruction. Feher County has 658, Maros 487, Bihar 435, Szatmar 226, Kolozs 420 and Kovaszna 122 villages, and out of these villages hundreds will be destroyed and shall disappear forever from the map as if they never existed. Try to imagine being forced out of your home and being uprooted by conspiring and sinister forces. I have seen the destruction of our home, my birth place. I had tears in my eyes when I saw the weeds where our house used to be. It was depressing to be a homeless refugee, but thank God we found friends who offered us hope in our future. For the victims of tyranny we Americans are their hope. At Christmas of 1956 my family and I left all our belongings behind us, and escaped to the West to save our lives. Having first hand experience as a refugee I know the hardship and suffering the homeless face. I have seen the troubles and needs of those who had no place to go, thus knowing it I urge you to help. Hungary is not allowed to mobilize its military to assist those who are persecuted by the Romanians, but at least the Hungarian Red Cross, also the Reformed Church of Hungary, and the Roman Catholic Churches help the Transylvanian refugees to find food, homes and jobs. Unfortunately their resources are limited. Western help is also needed. The church leaders of Hungary very recently declared that all people on earth have the right to live in dignity in the land of their birth, and even the ethnic minorities should be granted their human rights. This is a good beginning, but when thousands escape their homeland, Transylvania, something more forceful is needed to prevent the Romanian warfare against the ethnic Germans and Hungarians. Lately the leaders of most major religions feel obligated to express an opinion about the apartheid of South Africa, but they may not know what is happening in Romania. Let us inform them and express our concern in behalf of all oppressed and homeless people, regardless of their national background. Our mission priority is toward our own, but here in America we also need to remember that we are from many different backgrounds, and our obligations are international. Not all refugees end up in Hungary. Some of them manage to escape to the West. To help the refugees of Transylvania our Synod pledged $10,000. During my five years service here in Columbus we never asked our friends for financial help, but this time we do. We don’t ask for ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters who are becoming homeless refugees. We also ask our friends to approach our political leaders for moral support. In the Bible you find many refugees who were forced to escape from their homelands to save their lives. Thus the refugee problem is old. We need to notice, however, that those of us who received more blessings from God than millions of other people, have a moral obligation to help those who are not as fortunate as we are. Romania is accused by the Hungarian government of committing cultural genocide, as thousands of Hungarians from Romania escape as refugees. It would be best for the refugees if an international forum could help their cause, but presently there is only a diplomatic war between Bucharest and Budapest over the ethnic minorities. A mass demonstration of 100,000 people was held June 27th in Budapest, the largest since the 1956 uprising. Demonstrations and wide public support can enhance the cause of human rights,' but for a real and permanent solution the international community and the “Ecumenical Church” must offer their assistance. Following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 when almost 200,000 refugees arrived in Austria, we were treated with love and respect, but that land was not our home. Our home was left behind, and it was our hope that the political conditions would so change in Hungary that it would be free and independent again. Many of you know that presently there are discussions about the possibility of withdrawing the 65,000 Russian troops from Hungary, so there is a chance for having a less oppressive political system. But that does not mean that 2.5 million Magyars should be uprooted from their Transylvanian homeland and re
