Statement of Foundation for Legal Defence of Hungarians Rights regarding 15th March on Székely Land

There will be a democratic mass demonstration in order to express the request of Szekelys (ethnic Hungarians) for territorial autonomy organized by Székely National Council and by mayor’s office of Székelyudvarhely (almost 100 % pure Szekely city in Szekely Land) on 15th March, the national day of Hungarians. According to press information Romanian people are called upon a provocative counter-demonstration by the Party of Great Romania.

Full with anxiety we have heard information about military movements of Romanian Army in the territory of Székely Land (inhabited by almost 1 Million Hungarian speaking Szekely people) as well as about declarations and manifestations showing impatience against Hungarian community made by representatives of the Romanian State and Romanian parties. These are suitable for intimidation and could inspire a feeling of direct physical threat in the Hungarian community that intends to express its right for self-government. This is enhanced by absurd and impossible rumours about „revolt” being in preparation published in Romanian press and on the web. According to these rumours this is organized and supported by the Hungarian secret service in favour of violent achievement of independence of Transsylvania and its connection to Hungary later. All these gets special sense and importance knowing the bloody pogrom against Hungarians in 1990 in Marosvásárhely (one of the biggest Hungarian city in Transylvania) without any constitutional legal consequences.

We do expect an accurate inquiry from the Hungarian government and international community especially the European Union about the up-to-date real conditions of minority ethnic groups (especially Hungarians) in Romania and in Székely Land as well as about content and sources of rumours. They should turn to Romanian governmental organs immediately claiming information relating to these issues and asking whether Romanian state gurantees the undisturbed and secure celebration of the Hungarian community on 15th March, their personal safety and the right of self-government for them.

It would be proper to declare as well by Hungary, the international organizations and especially the European Union that Romania should comply the provisions of the applicable international laws, especially relevant documents about human rights of Europe Council about protection of minorities as well as of documents and agreements of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and of United Nations and similarly Romania has to respect for instructions of valid basic agreement between Rumania and Hungary especially to keep the instructions of Article 1 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and of Article 1 of International Covenant on Economical, Social and Cultural Rights. These legal documents do guarantee the right of self-government of ethnic groups on the basis of which they may confer in public and make standpoint about for them suitable and right methods of use of the right of self-government due for them according to the valid international laws.
The prohibition of threat and violence against minority ethnic groups result from the basic human rights and they are explicitly prohibited by Para 2 of Article 6 of Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Europe Council and by Article 6 of the CEI Instrument for the protection of minority rights (signed by the Member States of the Central European Initiative) about defence of rights of minorities. All manifestations and activities striving to restrict and to hinder to make use of rights to confer about right of self-government, to make use of right of assembly for this reason and that of violence free expression of opinion about self-government. It is the eminent interest and obligation of the Hungarian State and of international community to hinder this violation of international law and to save European peace and security by a determined intervention which is a rightful expectation by the Hungarian people.

Budapest, 13th March 2006.

Foundation for Legal Defence of Hungarians’ Rights – Nemzeti Jogvédő Alapítvány

www.nja.hu Dr. Zsolt Zétényi Chairman