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

1980-10-01 / 10. szám

GRIEVANCES AND LEGITIMATE DEMANDS OF THE NATIVE HUNGARIAN POPULATION OF TRANSYLVANIA

Today, at the end of the 20th century, civilized societies under majority rule firmly believe that such rule should not infringe upon the rights of minority groups.

On the authority of the Human Rights Proclamation of the United Nations these rights include:

Each individual’s right to equal education, equal job opportunity for equal pay, equal housing, welfare and protection under the law.

Each individual’s right to free worship in the church of his choice.

Each individual’s right to speak his own language, to keep and develop his ethnic cultural heritage, to keep and develop his ethnic identity without interference from the ruling majority.

Each individual’s right to live within his own ethnic group, and the right of this group to selfadministration.

THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF RUMANIA IS FOUND IN FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF EACH OF THESE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS IN REGARD TO THE HUNGARIAN MINORITY.

1. Hungarian districts, Hungarian cities, townships and villages are denied self-administration.

2. Hungarian schools are eliminated step by step.

3. The public use of the Hungarian language is forbidden.

4. The publication of Hungarian literary and professional books, journals and periodicals are severely restricted.

5. The Hungarian Churches are under constant harassment. Archives, libraries and museums are confiscated.

6. Hungarian children are brutally beaten and punished for speaking their own language on the school grounds. Hungarian teachers are intimidated, arrested, tortured and even beaten to death.

7. Hungarian cemeteries are desecrated, torn up, tombstones removed, and turned into new Rumanian cemeteries in order to eradicate every trace of a Hungarian past.

8. Hungarians are discriminated against in the fields of education, job, housing, welfare, and every other aspect of human existence.

Since each and every one of these grievances not only conflicts with the Human Rights Proclamation of the United Nations, and with articles VII and VIII of the Helsinki Agreement, but are in flagrant violation of the Peace Treaties signed by Rumania as well as the very constitution of the Socialist Republic of Rumania, it has become necessary that the rightful demands of Transylvanian people be brought to the attention of the civilized World, as follows:

1. The recognition of the Hungarian language in Transylvania as the second official language.

2. The establishment of two or more Hungarian Autonomous Regions under strictly Hungarian administration. Cities and townships with Hungarian majority must also have their own Hungarian administration, including police force.

3. The re-establishment of all Hungarian educational institutions, including the Hungarian universities of Kolozsvár and Marosvásárhely.

4. The return of all confiscated archives, libraries and museums.

5. The re-establishment of the freedom of the churches and church-related organizations.

6. The return of old Hungarian cemeteries under the care and authority of the Hungarian churches and cultural organizations.

7. Equal opportunity in every field of human existence, including the termination of job-discrimination.

8. The termination of all harassments and intimidations in relation to nationality.

THESE DEMANDS REPRESENT NOTHING MORE THAN NORMAL EXPECTANCE DUE A NATIVE POPULATION OF A COUNTRY, WHICH, DURING THE COURSE OF HISTORY, FINDS ITSELF TAKEN OVER BY ANOTHER NATION, AND PLUNGED INTO THE UNFORTUNATE STATUS OF A MINORITY.

To inform your Representatives and Senators about the true situation in Transylvania, send this magazine to them or send their names and addresses to us and we will send them a copy.

VI

THE TRANSYLVANIAN QUARTERLY