Dear Mr. President!
We are appalled and perplexed as to why the Spanish government decided to initiate criminal proceedings against you, and several other Catalan leaders. After all, you only abided by the moral code, that was phrased by members of the international community in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights the following way: „the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the community to which he belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the Covenant”.
You and members of the Catalan government managed to flawlessly meet these obligations, which are applicable to everyone. On the other hand, however, many European politicians forget, that they too have their responsibility towards other individuals, including yourself, in the sense that they cannot evade their duty to respect the rights laid down in the Covenant.
Article 1 of the Covenant stipulates:
„1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.”
Dear Mr. President!
We are witnessing that numerous European stateless nations, national communities, or minorities attempt to dissociate themselves from your aspirations. Hardly could have we imagined such a massive occurrence of Stockholm syndrome in a democratic Europe. Leaders of intimidated communities, acting as hostages, are trying to reassure the power institutions of oppressive and often abusive majorities, that their aspirations are not the same as those of the Catalans. Conversely, it is the universal interest of every human being to ensure the implementation of the provision set out in the UN Covenant, and to follow the moral precepts enshrined in its Preamble, irrespective of the situation of his respective country, or community.
The firmness of the Catalan peoples, serves as an encouragement for us Szeklers, in our peaceful, and democratic political struggle, aimed to restructure the Romanian constitutional framework, so as to bring about proper regional conditions for the collective will of the Szekler peoples, and the self-determination thereof.
Just a few days after the anniversary of the Hungarian revolution of 1956, I am reading the lines of the leaflet of Albert Camus. His writing called “The Blood of Hungarians” is chastising the indifference of Europe, while also thanking Hungarians for the “royal heritage” they gave as a gift to Europe: “the freedom, which they themselves did not obtain, but gave back to us in one single day”.
Drawing on the example of Albert Camus, my message to you and to all Catalans is the following: thank you that on the day of the referendum you gave us all back the freedom you yourselves have not yet obtained.
Izsák Balázs
President of the Szekler National Council
Marosvásárhely, 2017.11.07.
Szekler National Council