The
issue of Hungarian Education in Moldova, Romania in front of European
Parliament
Péter Olajos (MDF), Árpád Duka-Zólyomi (MKP),
Kinga Gál (FIDESZ), Csaba Sógor (RMDSZ) and László Tőkés (independent)
Members of the European Parliament have sent in a petition to
the European Commission on the obstruction of the Hungarian
language education and the intimidation of Csango-Hungarian
pupils in Nagypatak (Valea Mare, Moldova, Romania). Péter Olajos,
initiator of the petition called it outrageous to scare off
children from learning Hungarian in their spare time, especially
because they could not enjoy Hungarian education at school.
According to the MEPs, this situation heavily violates the 22nd
article of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights which states
that the EU respects the cultural, religious and linguistic
diversity. Therefore the MEPs stood out for the prevention of
similar situations in Romania.
On his visit last weekend to Moldova, Romania Csaba Sógor MEP
explained: "in spite of the selfless work of the Association
of Csango-Hungarians in Moldova and the enthusiasm of the teachers
only 1500 of the 9000 school-age Csango-Hungarian children have
the opportunity to learn Hungarian. We have to secure the financial
background and the peaceful atmosphere in the Hungarian villages
in Moldova. Most importantly we have to ensure that the children
and their parents shall not be intimidated, and as many pupils
could learn Hungarian in Moldova as possible."
As a feedback on the petition of László Tőkés MEP, the leader
of the High Commission on Minority Affairs responded: in a written
notice they would warn Romania to secure mother tongue education
for the Csango Hungarians of Moldova.
In the Hungarian Parliament Klára Sándor MP (SZDSZ) asked the
minister for foreign affairs how the "language extinction"
could be stopped in practice. Mrs. Horváth Fekszi Márta under-secretary
answered: this issue should be raised on every possible high-level
political discussion. The staff of the Hungarian Embassy in
Bucharest and the High Consulate in Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc)
will regularly visit the village of Nagypatak and monitor conditions.
Anti-Hungarian
mass meeting in Valea Mare/Nagypatak?
The Csango-Hungarian children of
Nagypatak (Valea Mare, Moldova, Romania) have been enjoying Hungarian
afternoon education provided by the Associaton of Csango-Hungarians
in Moldova since November 2007. Due to the friendly and constructive
atmosphere the number of children attending these classes has been
growing steadily in the first three months.
Begin January 2008 we were informed that the representatives of
a Romanian political party planned to gather signatures against
the Hungarian education in Nagypatak.
On 20 February 2008, in a television talk show on Kosovo and the
Csangos a viewer from Nagypatak called in and made clear that a
group of local people is out to make an end of the Hungarian education
in Nagypatak.
This group questions the activity of the Association being legal
and useful and claims that there is forced "Hungarization"
going on. The leader of this anonymous organization informed the
pupils of Hungarian classes and their parents about possible "dangers".
On 26 February only one pupil turned up on the usual Hungarian afternoon
classtelling, that they were threatened with getting bad credits
at school if they keep attending Hungarian classes.
On 27 February several colorful posters were placed in Nagypatak
asking the question rhetorically if Nagypatak was Hungarian or Romanian
soil. The same poster called to a mass meeting on Sunday, 2 March
after the morning mass in front of the church to discuss the situation.
The same evening when the posters were placed out, unknown people
stoned the building that gave home to the Hungarian education.
The mayor's office does not support and has no official information
on the planned mass meeting on Sunday, therefore has not authorized
it.
The Association of Csango-Hungarians in Moldova protests against
the violent attitudes and can only hope that the Sunday mass meeting
will not end up the same way as on other locations earlier.
