"Romania is very far from the European mentality"
Author: Alexander Fall Tuesday, December 23, 2014, 16:42
Gabor Landman Dutch citizen fighting for justice in Transylvania language rights.
Gabor Landman called it first appeared in the Transylvanian Hungarian public life when in July 2011 the Hungarian lacking label sticker pasted bronze table with Iorga quote placed in front of the Statue of Cluj, Matthias.
The European registered in the Netherlands Hungarian Human Rights Foundation NGO representative for Central Europe has been increasingly hear about it and struggle for justice with the linguistic rights of the Hungarians in Transylvania.
Recently Gábor Landman was heard in connection with two high-profile case generated. Foundation year sued in Cluj mayor's office, as the city border can not be read in English is the name of the town. In July, in the first instance won the lawsuit , the Foundation Szőcs Izabella law student in Cluj represented. The Town Hall appealed the trial resumes currently on appeal.
The interview Szőcs Isabella made available here .
One day nearly a year ago, on 24 December 2014 Landmant beaten and shackled in Tirgu Mures police because they want to communicate with the Hungarian authorities. The Netherlands Ambassador to the proposal from activist sued the police, the case is currently in court.
Not as a man of Transylvania How did you get so far as to fight for rights in the Hungarian language? How are you connected to Transylvania?
I am a Hungarian-born Dutch citizen, but my wife Transylvania. The language rights have always been interested in, but I started by this issue be addressed to the Dutch police was working as an interpreter and translator. Otherwise - like my wife - I am from a minority, because my grandparents were members of the Dutch Frisian minority, only talked among themselves and friezes with my father. In the Netherlands, friezes minority languages in areas with similar jogkerettel than Hungarians, however, the practical differences are enormous. In addition, the Netherlands has seen the extent to which Romanian citizens living in the European rights to them is natural that everyone speaks English to them, and that all the Dutch office of respect for their rights. So to me only natural that Romania is to mainstream these European citizens' my rights.
Six months ago Izabella Szőcs represented Hungary in the European Human Rights Foundation of Central Europe organization in a lawsuit brought by you at your place-name signs in Hungarian subtitling against Cluj-Napoca City Hall. At first instance, it won smoothly, experts say this is the second instance per captive. This and other lawsuits brought by you in the light of what you think of the Romanian justice? How does Romania sanctioned by the law of language rights?
It is true that Romania is criticized for lack of rule of law, but I have not had experience in court specifically injustices. The case started in Cluj nameplates per trial revealed that there has never been a court case on the table. I think the worse thing is injustice if the existing rights granted by law no one asks for the number. Of course, there are serious troubles with the authorities, since the Hungarian population is underrepresented in these structures, but it does not mean that the guaranteeing minority rights laws do not apply.
A year ago, they handcuffed and assaulted a police station Tirgu Mures, because Hungarian administration asked for. What do you expect for this reason launched a lawsuit?
A Dutch radio reporter conveyed from Dutch into Hungarian, as the purchasing local police station no one knew English, German, Dutch or speak French. The journalist, who was repeatedly tried to communicate in English, but failed. In my opinion a crime was racially motivated because he beat me only because I spoke in English. Further exacerbate things by the fact that the Protocol is a fake and false testimony Eight defend themselves. In Romania, otherwise aggravating circumstances, have been guilty of racist motives in a crime. The Tirgu Mures police attitude to the lawsuit anyway outrageous. For example, they did not want to wait until the first trial, even though they knew that this morning I arrive in the Netherlands and asked for a few hours delay.
I expect that the court will judge me for damages and that the appropriate punishment will be given to people who have made false testimony. He would also like to note that in Targu Mures could not Dutch interpreter during the criminal proceedings, so I was forced to co-operate in Hungarian. The use of the mother tongue is a fundamental right of European justice. Ten-year-old interpreter and translation gyakorlatomból know how disadvantage is the one who can not express themselves in their native language. Otherwise every police station in the Netherlands is Hungarian or Romanian interpreter in half an hour.
The court is a viable system? If the authorities do not respect the linguistic rights, you should be launched lawsuits? What are the steps for this?
The body in question should be asked, in English and if you do not respond within thirty days, the Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD), or you can turn to the courts. The procedure is free of anti-discrimination council, sued in court to 50 lei a call request or a private person or institution can be given. The
www.language-right.eu website is ready and you can download files, these methods can be used.
You once told me you do not understand that the Transylvanian Hungarians do not ask why their rights are respected, and that are passive in this regard. What could be the reason? Political parties, NGOs, associations or individuals why not turn to the judiciary?
Transylvania miss the European and Schengen spirit in which students experienced when I was in Maastricht. In the morning I went to the Netherlands o'clock in the afternoon I bought in Germany and in the evening I worked in Belgium. Almost every day conversation with German, English, French, Dutch, Hungarian. There are no ethnic tensions between Germans, Belgians and Dutch, and natural to everyone that English is the lingua franca . Romania - although it has since 2007. EU member - from the European mentality is still very far.
In addition, I found that the issue of language rights, a sensitive issue for many Hungarians in Transylvania, and do not make an effort to be true bilingualism in the offices. It is very convenient and easy way for people to choose to avoid conflict and prefer to align themselves with one language, the Romanian administration. That is why I think you should consider whether it is worth it economically to a community if you do not live in linguistic rights, as in Europe, outside of Romania nearly 12 million people speak Chinese. If the Hungarians do not feel at home, then there are the negative economic effects.
In addition, we see that many people believe in Transylvania: downside comes from, if the number of calls for respect for the rights, when in fact it is the opposite. The Transylvanian Hungarian community in my opinion, serious damage to property suffered from the fact that language rights are not respected. Just look at Belgium, which because of the three languages of the European Union, one of the welfare state. Belgium is perfect for multilingualism, so a Dutch, German or French-speaking citizens really feel at home there. It is very strange to think that you have not made a scientific study about the negative economic effects coupled with violation of language rights in Transylvania.
Netherlands conceivable similar cases like Transylvania? The Frisian community should or should such a way to fight for the rights of the language?
No, although in 1948, the Dutch authorities have punished Friesian peasants humiliating manner because of the Friesian was tejeskannákra that Molke (Milk) . Ever since the Dutch colonial society broke with its past, and the Frisian language is completely free to use. So there are police reports and convictions Friesian and Friesian when someone says something, it must describe friezes. What is more important: the Netherlands is completely inconceivable that the strips are under-represented in the courts, the police or offices as Transylvania. It is only natural to be a frieze or a defense minister or any other senior official as well. For the Netherlands it seems absurd that the Transylvanian indigenous populations underrepresented in state institutions. It is interesting, moreover, that in the McDonald's Frisian frieze inscriptions and friezes flags welcome visitors, while Targu Mures same McDonald's ignored the Hungarian language and symbols. Interestingly, in this case the differences within the European Union.
Bookmarks