February 25, 2000

The Chief Rabbi of Rumania's Jewish community, Ernest Neuman, told AP that anti-Semitic graffiti and Nazi swastikas appeared all over Timisoara/Temesvár during January. The Jewish community has asked the local authorities to vigorously pursue and use all legal means at their disposal to punish the person(s) responsible for invective such as Down with the Jews! Juden Achtung! Jews Watch Out! Although the city council ordered the immediate removal of the anti-Semitic signs and asked police to investigate the case, the AP pointed out that despite legislation banning anti-Semitism, the authorities in Rumania have often been slow to implement such provisions during the past decade. Close to the border with Former Yugoslavia, 400,000 people of various nationalities (among them Hungarians, Germans, and Jews) once inhabited the city of Timisoara. Before the Second World War, there were 800,000 Jews in Rumania. After the war the overwhelming majority of the remaining 400,000 Jews immigrated to Israel. Today, approximately 14,000 remain, noted the wire service. [Népújság (Tirgu-Mures/Marosvásárhely), Feb. 25, 2000, MTI—Hungarian Telegraph Agency (Budapest), Feb. 24, 2000]

February 24, 2000

The Supreme Court postponed today's hearing in the appeal filed by former Cluj/Kolozs County Prefect Vasile Salcudeanu [see report of February 3]. The Prefect had turned to the highest judicial body after Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar continued to act as mayor while under suspension. The defendant, Gheorghe Funar claimed to the court that he has not had the chance to hire a lawyer. Funar also said that he has initiated criminal proceedings against the plaintiff with the Cluj/Kolozsvár the Prosecution Office, leading the Supreme Court to postpone the appeal case to March 16. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár) Feb. 25, 2000]

Having lost his party's support for failure to satisfactorily handle the case against Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar, the government dismissed Christian Democrat Vasile Salcudeanu, Prefect of Cluj/Kolozs County. Another member of the Christian Democratic Peasant Party, Bogdan Cerghizan, has been appointed to replace Salcudeanu. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár) Feb. 25, 2000]

Arad County Prosecutor Micle Blag announced that the state was closing its investigation on identifying and prosecuting those responsible for disturbing the peace and inciting to hatred during an unauthorized demonstration last October 6^th. [See report of February 4.] The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania had filed criminal charges after a group of hecklers disrupted their commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the execution of 13 Hungarian generals by Austria following the 1848-49 Hungarian war for independence. The prosecutor gave the following reasons for his decision to call off the investigation: (1) the incident did not have a nationalist-chauvinist character since it was the spontaneous expression of a group of people misled by the ambiguous interpretation of historical events, (2) we cannot allege that the incident was a violation of the freedom to religion since heckling outside the Catholic church did not disturb the service going on inside, (3) the demonstrators can not be accused of disrupting the commemoration since their spontaneous action was merely in reaction to the city council's decision to allow a Hungarian-Rumanian Reconciliation and Friendship park to be established in the city. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 24, 2000]

Two ethnic Hungarian students from the Hungarian Reformed Secondary School were beaten up on a city bus in Cluj/Kolozsvár for speaking Hungarian, reported their principal, Árpád Székely. Parents of the two victims, who are sisters, filed charges with the police on February 25 after one of the girl's had her jaw broken and both suffered trauma, reported the medical examiner. One of the victim's described the incident to the city's Hungarian-language daily, Szabadság, as follows: "My sister, I and one of our schoolmates were going home on the No. 47 bus after an opera performance and talking amongst ourselves. Two girls, seated nearby, reprimanded us and said 'Do not speak Hungarian anymore.' We stopped for a while but then started talking again. Then they warned us again. Before they got off the bus one of them came over and hit me. When my sister asked why she did that, they started to beat and kick her as hard as they could. There were 10 to 15 other people on the bus beside us; none of them said a word. The girls made us to get off at the last stop where they kept beating my sister and me. Then I managed to escape and run home to get my parents. By the time my mother and I got back, the girls had left and my sister's face was already swelling. She said that the attackers had threatened to kill her, should they see her again in the neighborhood." The Police did not return the newspaper's telephone calls for further details on the case. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 29, 2000]

February 23, 2000

Hearings in the defamation case filed by Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar against the President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR), Béla Markó, were once again postponed from January 26 until February 29. Markó has been summoned to appear before the District Court [see report of January 6]. [Szatmári Friss Újság (Satu-Mare/Szatmárnémeti), Feb. 23, 2000]

At a press conference in Cluj/Kolozsvár, the city's ultra-nationalist Mayor Gheorghe Funar announced his intention to initiate a referendum in order to impede the establishment of a Hungarian-language private university in the city. If it turns out that the majority of the city’s population is against the creation of such a university, then the city council will prohibit its establishment, said Funar. Ha also added that the referendum will clarify for the public that the 1992 census data might be completely wrong and Cluj/Kolozsvár might be less than 20 percent ethnic Hungarian inhabited. This would not make the minority provisions of the bill on public administration (currently before the Senate) applicable in the city, emphasized Funar. A specific provision of the bill requires those local administrative bodies dealing with the public to use the languages of minorities comprising at least 20 percent of a given locality. [Népújság (Tirgu-Mures/Marosvásárhely), Feb. 23, 2000]

February 10, 2000

In a radio broadcast before his brief visit to Bucharest, NATO Secretary General George Robertson said that NATO priorities this year include developing a plan to deal with the criteria necessary for the accession of the nine states that have expressed their wish to become members. Robertson emphasized that achieving NATO’s major goal — peace in the Balkans— also depends on the extent to which Rumania would contribute towards the effort as a partner. The objectives of his visit will be to express the Alliance's appreciation for Rumania’s conduct during the Kosovo air strikes and to review its progress on accession requirements. [DAHR News Watch (Bucharest), Feb. 11, 2000]

February 8, 2000

Following considerable international and domestic disapproval, the government decided today to withdraw the Bill on Religious Affairs, which was submitted to the Human Rights Committee of the Chamber of Deputies last year by the Radu Vasile-led government. [See report of February 3.] Nicolae Branzea, State Secretary for Religious Affairs reported that the reason for the move was the fact that the bill failed to address the issue of restitution of illegally confiscated church properties. The bill also included several provisions infringing upon the right to freedom of religion and discriminated against smaller religious communities. [Népújság (Tirgu-Mures/Marosvásárhely), Feb. 9, 2000]

February 7, 2000

A solution for the restitution of illegally confiscated minority church and communal properties is still pending, said Minister for Minority Affairs, Péter Eckstein-Kovács, and the government may issue a decree to move the matter along if the legislature does not act soon. Eckstein's department has been at the forefront of adopting such legislation. The government is currently examining a list of assets submitted by the various minority churches and organizations for consideration. [DAHR News Watch (Bucharest), Feb. 7, 2000]

February 4, 2000

On the order of the Huedin/Bánffyhunyad Prosecutor's Office, the bilingual topographical signs in two 20 percent ethnic Hungarian-inhabited villages — Macau/Mákófalva and Inucu/Inaktelke (Cluj/Kolozs County, Aghiresu/Egres Commune)— were removed. The commune’s mayor, Nicolae Babenciuc, reported to the media that he was ordered by prosecutor Sandor Nicolae and a police superintendent called Marcis to go to the local court’s headquarters and forced to sign a declaration stating that he will order the swift removal of the Hungarian-language signs in the two villages. Following media attention to this incident, Sancraiu/Kalotaszentkirály Mayor József Kisjancsi also informed the Hungarian-language daily Szabadság that the above-mentioned prosecutor also pressured him to do the same. János Boros, responsible for public administration matters for the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania, commented that the incidents threaten the independence of local councils as the decisions to post these bilingual signs were brought at the local level. Boros also recalled that Cluj/Kolozsvár Mayor Gheorghe Funar stands behind these breaches of law since on June 24, 1998 he initiated criminal action against those who ordered the placement of bilingual signs throughout the county. Since the Attorney General did not state whether or not criminality was involved in that case, Funar has taken his ruling as a go-ahead to agitate for removal of bilingual signs, commented Boros. In May 1998, the Constitutional Court found unconstitutional Government Decree 22/1997, which allowed for those communities that are at least 20 percent minority inhabited to post bilingual signs. Since the signs in the above-mentioned two Cluj County villages were raised while the decree was still in effect their removal is, in point of fact, illegal concluded Boros. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 4, 2000]

Police in Arad began investigating an unauthorized demonstration that occurred in the city on October 6^th of last year. Charges for disturbing the peace and incitement to hatred were filed by the local branch of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) after a group disturbed a peaceful commemoration organized by ethnic Hungarians. October 6 marks the 150th anniversary of the execution of 13 Hungarian generals by Austria following the 1848-49 Hungarian war for independence. Photographs and video recordings managed to identify a few of the hecklers. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 4, 2000]

The Board of Directors of Sapientia, the foundation that will prepare the groundwork for establishing the Partium Christian University [see report of January 13], held its first meeting to develop medium and long-range projects to be completed by year's end. Sapientia President Sándor Tonk told the media that in addition to establishing the private Hungarian-language university as soon as possible, they also plan to expand Hungarian-language higher education opportunities in general by creating a network of university campuses and modern libraries. Proposals and ideas for other projects are welcomed, said Tonk. He emphasized that the new institution will initially consist only of those departments not found in public facilities where students can learn in Hungarian, such as agricultural, legal and economic studies. Tonk also said that the foundation's registration process should be completed by mid-March. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 4, 2000]

February 3, 2000

During his official visit in Bucharest U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Pickering assured Rumania that the United States is ready to help the government implement reforms, ensure macro-economic stability and assist the country towards viable economic progress. Pickering emphasized that the U.S. will provide special support for programs dealing with social security, child welfare and pension plan reform. He added that the U.S. continues to support Rumania's NATO membership and holds out the prospect of possible cooperation with Rumania during the country's OSCE presidency next year. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 4, 2000]

The Supreme Court will hear Cluj/Kolozsvár County Prefect Vasile Salcudeanu’s appeal on the Funar case on February 24 [see report of January 26]. The Prefect turned to the highest judicial body after the Cluj/Kolozsvár mayor continued to act as mayor while under suspension. Salcudeanu suspended Gheorghe Funar on January 25, but the administrative court nullified the Prefect's decision the following day, thus paving the way for Funar to continue functioning. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 4, 2000]

A letter from key members of the United States Congress to the President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR), Béla Markó urged the Hungarian leader to take all necessary steps to have the Bill on Religious Affairs withdrawn from the Rumanian Parliament. Co-Chairmen of the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus — Representatives Tom Lantos and Edward Porter — along with the chairman of European Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate's International Relations Committee, Gordon Smith, drew attention to the fact that adoption of such a legal act would conflict with Rumania’s international commitments made to the Council of Europe, European Union, NATO and the OSCE. The U.S. legislators object in particular to the unusually high threshold (115.000 members) the bill sets for official recognition of a religious denomination. Moreover, without official recognition, these smaller groups can not raise churches in localities where they comprise less than five percent of the population. [DAHR Bulletin (Bucharest), Feb. 3, 2000]

February 2, 2000

In addition to the one in Cluj/Kolozsvár, the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) announced that it has set up other local information offices to provide the public with information on the Law on Restitution of Illegally Confiscated Agricultural and Forestlands [See reports of January 10 and 27]. The Association of Hungarian Farmers in Rumania has joined the Alliance in the effort, which seeks to provide first-hand information to those interested in regaining lands and tracking the fair implementation of the law. With the help of the Hungarian Government Office for Hungarian Minorities Abroad, DAHR has also established such an office in Budapest, located in District V, Deák Ferenc utca 10. Telephone (06-80) 201-0388. Updated information is also available on the DAHR’s homepage: http://www.rmdsz.ro. Those interested in submitting a claim can do so until March 12 at local DAHR offices. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 2, 2000]

February 1, 2000

The Senate of the Cluj/Kolozsvár-based Babes-Bolyai University decided on a new composition. According to the Hungarian-language daily Szabadság, 22 of the 101 members in the restructured Senate are ethnic-Hungarian. In addition, an ethnic Hungarian, whose nomination is scheduled for February 9, will fill the Deputy Rector position. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 1, 2000]

On the first day of the parliamentary session, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Rumania (DAHR) Deputy Sándor Kónya-Hamar informed the media on upcoming legislative events affecting the every-day life of the Hungarian community. Considered the most urgent one, the Bill on the Restoration of Illegally Confiscated Properties is presently before the Senate after having passed the Chamber of Deputies [See report of August 25, 1999]. Due to political changes, the Senate does not have a coalition party majority anymore, which might hamper adoption of the deputies' version. Kónya also noted that it would be equally important to pass the following laws: the bill on the reform of the justice system, the bill on public administration (passed the Chamber of Deputies and currently in the Senate), amendments to the bill on local elections and the one on parliamentary elections. With regards to the bill on public administration, Kónya pointed out that the Senate version places those Hungarians who live dispersed throughout the country at a disadvantage as it decreases the number of the local councils. [Szabadság (Cluj/Kolozsvár), Feb. 1, 2000]