MINELRES: Romania: Bulletin DIVERS on Ethnic Minorities - 38 (121)/2004

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Divers Bulletin no. 38 (121) / November 1, 2004

News
GOVERNMENT ENATCS DRAFT LAW FOR SUPPORTING ETHNIC ROMANIANS ABROAD
SERIOUS INCIDENT BETWEEN POLICE AND ETHNIC ROMA IN EASTERN ROMANIA
ROMA ORGANIZATIONS DISSATISFIED WITH NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE OF THEIR OWN
FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
TOEKES FAILS TO BRIDGE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HUNGARIAN PARTIES IN ROMANIA
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News

GOVERNMENT ENATCS DRAFT LAW FOR SUPPORTING ETHNIC ROMANIANS ABROAD

BUCHAREST � Ethnic Romanians abroad will benefit starting January 1,
2005 from various educational and cultural rights in Romania, as well as
from the right to study in all the education forms and to get
scholarships through contest.
The chief of governmental department for ethnic Romanians abroad Titus
Corlatean stated on October 26 that the persons belonging to the
Romanian cultural lead � Jewish, Saxons, Swabians etc-, who are still
attached to the country they were born in will also benefit from these
rights. "This is an important and necessary project for preserving the
national identity of ethnic Romanians living abroad, a modern law drawn
up at European standards, which received a favorable authorization from
OSCE and from the Council of Europe. This is a document long-expected by
the Romanians abroad", stated Corlatean.
Author: DIVERS


SERIOUS INCIDENT BETWEEN POLICE AND ETHNIC ROMA IN EASTERN ROMANIA

PIATRA NEAMT � One ethnic Roma (Gypsy) person was deadly shot on October
22 and a deputy of police station chief reached the hospital in serious
conditions after the burst of a conflict between the policemen and a
group of Roma allegedly stealing wood in a forest in Neamt county
(eastern Romania).
According to the Police, 25 ethnic Roma equipped with wood cutting
gadgets became violent after the policemen tried to ID them under the
presumption they were to steel wood.
Police fired in self-defense and an ethnic Roma collapsed. He was
carried home in a cart by the rest of the group, where he subsequently
died. Following the Roma attack, a policeman was seriously injured.
Two years ago, other two Roma in the whereabouts of the accidents were
deadly shot by policemen, within an operation of the rapid intervention
squad.
Author: DIVERS


ROMA ORGANIZATIONS DISSATISFIED WITH NOT HAVING A CANDIDATE OF THEIR OWN
FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

ALBA IULIA � Representatives of several organizations of ethnic Roma
expressed on October 24 the dissatisfaction the electoral Law restrains
the rights to register a candidate for the Presidency of Romania in
general elections scheduled for November 28.
They criticized, during a press conference, the decision of the Central
Electoral Bureau to reject Viorel Bumbu�s candidature for the position
of president of Romania.
This year�s spring, Bumbu, i.e. an ethnic Roma businessman was proposed
by several organizations of Roma to represent this minority in the race
for Presidency. Last week, BEC rejected the candidature as it does not
comply with the stipulations of law 370/2004 on electing the president
of Romania, being proposed by non-governmental organizations and not by
parties or political alliances.
Bumbu stated the decision is an infringement and a defiance of the
democracy in Romania.
Author: DIVERS


TOEKES FAILS TO BRIDGE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HUNGARIAN PARTIES IN ROMANIA

TIRGU-MURES - The mediation attempt undertaken by Reformed Bishop Laszlo
Toekes failed to bridge differences between the Hungarian Democratic
Federation of Romania (UDMR) and the Hungarian Civic Union (UCM), RFE/RL
reported on 26 October. Toekes was unsuccessful in convincing UDMR
Chairman Bela Marko to include UCM members on the UDMR lists for the
November elections.
Marko said the UCM refused to participate in the UDMR primaries, where
the lists were established. He said he was willing, however, to agree
that UDMR members listed on "eligible seats" pledge to represent the
views of Hungarian "movements or platforms" from outside the UDMR if
their views coincide. UCM Chairman Jenoe Szasz rejected Marko's offer,
saying that "those who ran in the UDMR primaries represent the UDMR"
Author: DIVERS

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