Romanian Head of the State, Traian Basescu, keeps on showing his disregard for collective rights, while the Romanian judiciary has stopped again a new bid by minority communities to develop their self-government powers. According to Divers.ro, a court in Covasna decided last Monday that the holding of a referendum for autonomy in the Székely territory is illegal.

The Székely territory encompasses three districts from the Transylvania region in Romania: Mureş, Harghita and Covasna. In Harghita and Covasna the Székely -a people that considers itself as ethnic Hungarian- are an overwhelmingly majority. The Székely have historically demanded the Romanian State a greater degree of cultural and political autonomy. These claims have always come up against centralist arguments, which consider that Székely self-government threatens the unity of the State.

Basescu, reelected President last November, has repeatedly expressed his refusal to be willing to address the issue of the Hungarian people form the standpoint of collective rights. During a recent trip to Hungary, Basescu said he was in favour of "individual rights for minorities", but added he "will not allow any claims for territorial autonomy".

Traian Basescu expressed his views against collective rights a few months ago. "It is now fashionable in international politics" he said "to try and impact the integrity of a state's territory under the mask of defending rights for minorities. In this respect, Romania is extremely firm and says yes to individual rights for any minority, and a definite no to collective rights".

Szekler National Council (SZNT), one of the community's strongest political organisations has called for the statements made by the President to be retracted and has pointed out that "recognition of collective rights guarantee the peaceful coexistence among different ethnic communities".

Photo: Székely demonstration (taken from www.sznt.ro)

Further information:

• Divers.ro: Referendumul pentru autonomia Secuimii, ilegal, in English here: Referendum on autonomy Székely, illegal
• BalkanInsight.com: Romania Opposes Collective Minority Rights
• Nationalia:The Székely of Romania call for referendum on territorial autonomy