MINELRES: Romania: Ethnic Diversity Briefs, No.28

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Mediafax <divers@mediafax.ro>


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No. 28 / October 21, 2002

DIVERS
- reporting ethnic diversity -

SUMMARY
1. VANDALS WROTE ANTI-SEMITIC SLOGANS ON JEWISH THEATRE
2. SKIRMISHES AT ROMANIAN-MAGYAR PROTESTS
3. UDMR ASKS FOR SUPPORT FROM ROMANIAN CIVIL SOCIETY
4. ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST JEWISH THEATRE IN THE WORLD
5. ROUND TABLE ON FIGHTING AGAINST RACISM AND INTOLERANCE
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VANDALS WROTE ANTI-SEMITIC SLOGANS ON JEWISH THEATRE
BUCHAREST - Unknown persons spray-painted swastikas and Nazi slogans on
the Bucharest Jewish Theatre on 12 October. Local Jewish leaders said
they found the Nazi slogan "Arbeit Macht Frei" painted in black on the
theatre. The slogan was commonly displayed in the Nazi death camps.
"It's a criminal, fascist and barbarian act and we ordered an
investigation," Culture Minister Razvan Theodorescu said. "It's not only
an anti-Semitic act, it is an act that tarnishes Romania's image,"
Jewish community leader Nicolae Cajal said. Romania in March adopted
laws that make fascist and xenophobic organizations and symbols illegal
and punishable by prison sentences of up to five years. Implementation
has been slow. Authorities have also ordered the removal of statues and
other monuments honoring Romania's pro-Nazi wartime leader, Ion
Antonescu. Some were erected as recently as last year. Romania is now
home to just 6,000 Jews, most of them elderly. Before World War II,
800,000 Jews lived there. About half of those died in the Holocaust, and
many emigrated to Israel during the communist years. (DIVERS)

SKIRMISHES AT ROMANIAN-MAGYAR PROTESTS
CLUJ-NAPOCA - Over two thousand persons, Romanian and Magyar people,
last week commemorated a century since inaugurating the statue of King
Matei Corvin (Matyas Corvin) downtown of Cluj city, Transylvania. As
before, such a manifestation was carried out under pressure. Minor
incidents - blatant waving of Romanian flags and voicing inciting
slogans - turned out, as the commemoration actions organized by the
Democratic Union of Magyars from Romania (UDMR) overlaid to the
proceedings of Cluj Hall, run by ultranationalist mayor Gheorghe Funar.
(DIVERS)

UDMR ASKS FOR SUPPORT FROM ROMANIAN CIVIL SOCIETY
BUCHAREST - The Democratic Union of Magyars from Romania (UDMR) last
week launched a surprising message, proving to be willing in rebounding
the political relations with the former governance partners, PNL and PD.
Apparently dissatisfied with the collaboration led with the governing
party, the Union's leaders made appeal to be supported by Romanian civil
society in accomplishing challenges of Magyar community: administrative
decentralization, public University with mother language learning etc.
The first reactions raised by the former allied were rather negative.
During 1996 - 2000, UDMR was part of the governance next to other
right-center parties. In the past two years, yet the Magyar Union has
signed protocol of political collaboration with PSD socialists. (DIVERS)

ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST JEWISH THEATRE IN THE WORLD
IASI - National Theatre "Vasile Alecsandri" Iasi on October 15-18 hosts
"Avram Goldfaden" festival, this year celebrating 126 years since
establishing in Iasi the first Jewish theatre in the world. On this
occasion, in Iasi there arrived over 160 guests from Germany, Great
Britain, Israel, Canada, the United States of America and Romania. "It
will be an international theatre festival celebrating Avram Goldfaden,
an important figure of Romanian and international theatre ", stated Ioan
Holban, the director of National Theatre. Throughout the four days of
festival, the spectators has been able to see plays staged by Jewish
theaters from Romania, Israel and the United States of America, and has
been able to participate to various conferences and workshops. (DIVERS)

ROUND TABLE ON FIGHTING AGAINST RACISM AND INTOLERANCE
BUCHAREST - The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
(ECRI) within European Board organized on Wednesday, October 16, a round
table having prevention of such actions as topic. On this occasion,
there was presented the second ECRI report related to Romania. The
document indicates that in our country many efforts have been carried
out in fighting racism and intolerance, yet the problems still exist,
chiefly in the sector of legal provisions enforcement and also as
regards the public opinion's attitude, reflected in certain political
groups and media. The most signification issues are related to general
condition of the population of Roma ethnicity and to the necessity to
take up the current society climate against minorities. (DIVERS)


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