On
Dec. 22, 1989, around 12:30, when the sirence began to sound the alarm I was in
town. I came home quickly and watched television, and around 16:00 I went to
the center of the town. Near the center I met a Christian, Norel Gabriel, who
made me turn back telling me what had happened in the center: militia officer
Agache Aurel was dead before the statue of Gabor Aron, the other militiamen –
Sasu, Stefan, Codrus – were badly betean and carried to the hospital, being
doubtful that they would live, the militia building was on fire, also
the city hall and the court hall, smoke and agitation were in the stress. I
returned home worried. I looked the gate and the doors, and I stayed up all
night. Next morning I went to church. There was a crowd in the center. I felt
many unfriendly looks. Romanians flags were torn, the parking lot of the city
hall was being scoured. Seeing the hostile atmosphere I hurried back home.
During the next few days I did not see any Romanian Christian in town. On
Christmans Day, during the service, the church was circled two times by 20-25
“revolutionaries”, on the pretext that there was a terrorist in the church.
They look Miricioiu Constantin a member of the Parochial Council, to the city
hall. After the service I went together with all believers in front of the city
hall and cleared the situation and freed the innocent man.
I
wonder why were we not left to celebrate our divine service in peace and to
sing our ancient carols the proper way, and not with tears on our cheeks and
pangs of worry in our hearts seeing armed man twice at the church door ?
When
I went to bless the houses of the Twelfth day, I was welcomed with joy at being
able to see each other. Many of the faithful had been at home for a week: some
had their vacation, some were on sick leave, and some were absent without
leave. All were frightened, because in the factories their Hungarians
colleagues spoke roughly to then, and abused them sending them were than came
from. Most of the nameplates on their apartment door were taken of. Immediately
after the New Year’s Romanians teachers began to leave the town because of the
hostile atmosphere, and the propaganda for the segregation of the schools
began. Many of the faithful were asking me “What is to be done ?”, “Can we stay
any longer around here?” I encouraged them telling them that we have to mind
our own business, that things will clear up. The families of teachers Codreanu,
Emil, Vlaicu, Stefan, Puiu Mihaela, Dodu Moise and Georgescu Puiu engineers at
IFET for nearly 20 years in Tg. Secuiesc, Gresu Octavian, also an engieneer,
Niculescu Tatiana - a-judge – and
another of her colleagues, Dutu
Teodor-state attornez, ex militiamen and Securitate men, and others I do not
know of, had left the town.
Throughout
the area there have been demonstrations for Hungarian schools. Hungarian pupils
at the Romanian section were withdrawn and enlisted at the Hungarian section,
and there remained high classes with onlz 5-6 Romanian pupils. A few faithfuls
who had their children at the Sanitary hight scool in Odorheiu Secuiesc had to
transfer in Brasov .In the centre of the town is the statue of Gabor Aron, a
Szeckler revolutionary of 1848. Since January 1990, almost every Sunday and the
other days, too, Hungarian banners hung from the statue and the antennas or
mirrors of cars. At the end of January 1990 I took part at a so-called “meeting
with the press”.
In
fact, it was a meeting with some of the Romanian teachers who had remained in
the county with the Romanian actors in
Sf. Gheorghe,nad a few priests. The great question was “What are we
do?Do we pack and leave, or do we remain behind and become martyrs?”I
shuddered. History was repeating itself. There were several proposals.
Political parties had not yet reached our county. I proposed the restabilishment
of “Astra”, which had existed in our county until 1940, that is, cultural
resistance, and to mind our own business. There were two Hungarians in the
hall, and I think that I then being followed.
During
the whole period the Romanians of the area –Bretcu, Ojdula, Tg. Secuiesc,
Zabala, Covasna- were under pressure. And Ido not think that they were afraid
of “Arab terrorists” as they were of their Hungarians “brothers”,who now acted
as it they were in Hungary. In the Romanian villages in the mountains, since
the very days of the revolution the Hungarian flag was hoisted on Catholic
churches, and it was not the Gospel that was though there , but the Hungarian
anthem. In the localities whit mixed Romanian and Hungarian population these
manifestations were more subdued. February came and the situation did not
improve at all. Romanians were more and more frightened, throught the area ,
especially in Tg. Secuiesc. We were beginning to think that 1940 was to come
again, as we were told by our parents and grandparents. After six in the
afternoon noone went out alone.
Lone
Romanians were beaten. This anti-Romanian hostility, manifested even from the
beginning of the revolution, intensified after the apparition of “Vatra
Romaneasca” organization,characterized by the local press as a nationalist,
fascist and anti-Hungarian organization. Aftre the events in Targu-Mures, there
began the demonstration of solidarity with the Hungarians in Tg.Mures, and all
Romanians were regarded with hostility and called “Vetristi”.
Regarding
the events of March 15 in the area: in all localities there were held
demonstrations and meetings, and layings of wreaths with the Hungarian colours
in all memorial places.
Even since March 12, in Bretcu, where Gabor Aron was born, the Hungarian flag was hoisted. On March 14, in Bretcu, a great demonstration organized by Catholic priests from Martarus and Bretcu was held, and the next day, on March 15, columns of riders, carts, buses left from every village to Tg Secuiesc, to lay wreats at the statue of Gabor Aron. For three days without pause, children and adults from all the neighbouring villages came in “pilgrimage” to the statue of Gabor Aron, singing and dancing with an enthusiasm I have never seen before, taking pictures of themselves with their hands on the Hungarian flag. I did not take part in any of these manifestations, which annoyed some of the Hungarian “brothers”.
And now here are some facts about myself. I was born in Bretcu on Feb. 1, 1952; my parents were Zinca and Gheorghe Bercu. I graduated general school in Bretcu and high school in Tg. Secuiesc. I graduated from the Theological Seminary in Sibiu in 1976, and between Jan.. 1, 1976 and Oct. 1, 1990 I have been a priest in Tg. Secuiesc. I have ministered units: Cernatu, Ghelnita, Treria, Zabala, Martarus, Ojdula and Bretcu. I have been getting alog quite well with everyone, and I tried to do my duty of priest and man. I can speak a little Hungarian and I have used it whenever it has been necessary. I had good relationship with people and with Reformed and Catholic priests, taking part in events in their parishes. I went on rather well with the local authorities (inAugust 1988 they discontinued my food ration because I did not deliver the cheese for two sheep and a lamb; they were dissatisified because I kept on requesting a piece of land for the building of a new church – in exchange for the graveyard land which was seized in 1968! – now a park in front of the textile factory). On December 23 I have been the first Romanian who went to the former vice-president – now the mayor – and to the chief of the patriotic guards and asked them to take measures for the safety of the population, so that they should not be terrorized by criminals. My car was controlled every time I went to the centre or outside the town, although everyone knew me. I was asked to become a member of the CPUN (Provisional Council for National Unity), and I was present at some of its meetings. I was controlled and followed all the time, day and night. I did my duty, performed all services on Sundays and holidays. On March 9, my name was mentioned in the “Cuvantul Nou “ newspaper as a member of the Provisional Committee of the Provisional Committee of the Covasna branch of the”Vatra Romaneasca” Union. That was only a proposal made in my absence, and which I did not accept. Various telephone threats began to flow: “We’ll teach you’Vatra’!”, that they would tear my beard, that I should be glad to glad to be alive in this town,”Romanian scum” and others, impossible to render. Knowing that I had not signed any kind of adhesion to any organization and that I did not take partmin any meeting, I disregardedthe telephone threats – the psychologic war. Others were receiving threats, too: Teacher M. Vasile, Calu Ion, an engineer, - broken windows and a note at the door. The threats extended to my family in Bretcu: my brother, my brother in law and my uncle were threatened.
After the Tg. Mures events the “joke” became even more serious. On March 20I was at home. I was working in the garden with two faithful - Luca Ioan and P. Marian. Sirens began to sound. Columns of demonstrators passed the rectory gate towards the centre. I had just locked the gate after the two faithful had left.Everyone was glaring at the house. Some tried the gate, others kicked it. My God, what had I done wrong? The telephone rang all the time. I did not answer it. I was in my home with the children, watching what was going on in the street. At the demonstration my name was shouted, too: “Death to ‘Vatra Romaneasca’! I picked up the phone: “So you’re home., Romanian scum! We’ll skin you!” We all got into the car left town, and went to my parents’ in law. I returned the next day, but at 10:12 I left again, because the threats went on. I was searched for everywhere, and the rectory windows were broken. In the church they threatened the cleaning woman and made her open the door. They looked for me in the church’s attic, in the tower and in the sanctuary, once in the evening and twice the next morning. A great crowd had been in front of the rectory. The gates were forced open, and about 30 people got into the yard. The city traffic was blocked for about three hours – National Road no 11. The rectory and the church were under surveillance, so that I did not perform the service on March 25. I came back with my wife to the parish (the children having remained in Zabala, being scared) after informing the county Police, the prosecutor’s office and the Archdeaconry about what had happened, and after sending an appeal to the “Cuvantul Nou” newspaper, which was published on March 29, 1990.
During Passion Weed I performed my duties normally but prudently. The attendance was the lowest ever since I was a priest in Tg. Secuiesc. I performed the Ressurection service under the guard of 12 armed soldiers, because we had been threatened that we would be set on fire to burn like rats. After Easter I also received a letter saving that if I would not move out town before the elections they would move me. Other priests also received this kind of letters. After Easter priests Damian Victor from Bretcu and Nastase Constantin from Ojdula were transferred from their parishes.
I serviced these parishes, too, until Sep 1, when I was transferred to the parish of Sacele to town, Brasov county. I gave up this transfer and came to Zabala parish, in Covasna county, were I serve since Sep. 1, 1990. The permanent uncertainty in which I lived determined me to leave Tg. Secuiesc. I was permanently expecting to be attacked. I could always hear behind my back: “Stinking ‘Vatra’ loving Romanian!”, “This boor should be skinned!”; even in the market someonesaid that I should have things cheaper because I am with’Vatra Romaneasca”. The tentative of being run over by a car and the notice of a Hungarian Christian that I should take care and not walk alone in town, especially in the evening, worried me and made me ask for a transfer. Another serious problem is the Magyarization of Romanians in mixed families. The Magyarization that started hundreds of years ago continues even today. Romanians were also Magyarized through the Greek Catholic Church of the so-called Szeckler community.. Services and cult books have been translated in Hungarian. In some places churches no longer exist, and in Prian and Ghelnita they are the only traces of the existence of Romanians in those places.
I
have written all this from my own conviction and free will, hoping to help
somehow the dignified life of the Romanians of this area, so that we should not
be humiliated and abused in our own county, and that we should live in peace, understanding and more
dignity.
IOAN BERCU
Romanian Ortodox Priest