Rumanian state sponsored atrocities against the Csango minority

November 14, 2001

Madame Livia Liliana Sibişteanu the vice-chief inspector of the Bákó County (judetul Bacau in Rumanian) Education Inspectorate, other education inspectors, Mr. Ioan Joca, the mayor of Klézse (Cleja in Rumanian), Mr. Petrică Codori vice-mayor, the local policeman and the school principals of Klézse, all together, carried out an investigation into the extracurricular activity involving teaching of the maternal language of Hungarian (organized by parents and the Association of Csango Hungarians from Moldova).  They threatened with home-searches and hefty fines, those parents who lent their houses for the after-school teaching of the maternal language.

Madame Livia Liliana Sibişteanu declared repeatedly that if the parents do not agree to the present situation, they should move to Hungary, because here (in Moldova) everybody is Rumanian, according to her this is a fact that can be proved from the birth certificates (issued by the Rumanian government). Previously there were approximately one hundred children attending the extracurricular Hungarian in Klézse and neighbouring Buda. There were two-three hours daily spent with the teaching of the maternal language.

November 15, 2001

The Ministry of Education's inspectorate continued its "investigation" in Pusztina (Pustina in Rumanian), investigating the Hungarian language teaching here as well.  They inspected the private home of Mr. Jenő Bilibók, to see the room used for the language teaching, and while the homeowner absent, they removed two books, personal property of Mr. Jenő Bilibók (note: government officials stealing).

November 16, 2001

The Chief of Cabinet of Bákó County Prefecture, Mr. Liviu Bogdan visited Klézse to "investigate" the manuals and books used for the extracurricular education of maternal language.  This time they summoned Mr. Attila Hegyeli, coordinator of the language program, and requested him to show to them those rooms where the teachings take place.  Again, they "removed" two books, personal property of Ms. Angela Istók from the private residence of Ms. Istók.  The investigators requested Medical Approvals and Approvals for Operation to be presented. (note, that the teaching is a volunteer, non-profit activity, seeking no fees or retribution whatsoever, and it is being held in private homes)

November 19, 2001

An inspection of the Ministry of Health was held in Klézse at the sites of the extracurricular maternal language education (private homes) and following that, all activities were forbidden in those rooms used to perform the teaching activities.  It was brought to the attention of the homeowners that they face fines of five to thirty millions local currency in the case of non-compliance to the order.  As a result, the teaching of maternal language was halted in these rooms, however, a lower profile teaching of smaller groups still continues in the homes of the teachers.

November 21, 2001

The local media reported that the inquiry requested by the school principals of Klézse was completed and the vice-chief inspector of education sent her report to the Ministry of Education.

November 29, 2001

Mr. Jenő Bilibók and Mr. Attila Hegyeli, representing the Association of the Csango Hungarians of Moldova, paid a visit to the Education Inspectorate of Bákó County at the invitation of the Inspectorate.
The Chief Inspector Mr. Gheorghi Iorga, Vice-chief Inspector Madame Livia Liliana Sibişteanu the person responsible for the Csango case, a series of other education inspectors and the attorney of the Inspectorate, received them.
The representatives of the Csango association were seeking answers to the following question:  Why Hungarian language education could not start, in spite of the fact, that after the signature-investigations by the committee of Ministry of Education (signatures of parents requesting Hungarian language courses at the local schools of Klézse and Lészped (Lespezi in Rumanian)) the committee itself recommended accepting this request.  The inspectors answer was that implementing last year's recommendation of the Ministry of Education was the duty of last year's inspectorate and not theirs, and that the parents should have repeated the petitioning this year as well. (Note: a tremendous pressure was put on those parents to make them withdraw their petition, and their children were constantly ridiculed and harassed by the Rumanian teachers, and Rumanian catholic priests!! of these villages) Mr. Attila Hegyeli presented the Inspectorate with a new petition signed by thirty-seven parents, requesting that the teaching of maternal language be introduced into the state schools.  A written answer was immediately formulated by the Inspectorate responding that there is a Ministry of Education approval required for such a thing, and that the local state schools must request from the ministry the releasing of such rooms suitable for this type of education program.