Tens of thousands of people took part in lighting of the borders of Szeklerland, organizers estimate

Kolozsvar (MTI) – The organizer Szekely National Council (SZNT) estimates that a few tens of thousands people took part on Saturday’s mass event where people demanded the right of regional self-governance by illuminating the borders of Szeklerland.

SZNT press service said on Sunday: the organizers do not know about that whether a disorderly conduct happened or not. Under the demonstration, ecumenical services were held in 68 locations. Then, the participants went on the high grounds nearby to light fires. In the border area farther away from the places of assembly, spotlights indicated the borders of Szekelyland at nearly 100 illumination points.

The organizers said mainly the residents of border villages participated in the protest, but guests also arrived from the inner settlements of Szekelyland and from further away. The communication also mentions a smaller settlement where half of the population went to the border.

The residents of Apaca, Felsorakos and Urmos, which are administratively part of Brasso county, could sense the belonging to Szekelyland for the first time. The notice also points out that the borders of Szekelyand lit in miniature in Csomakoros. The local organizers drew the contours of the region with sawdust soaked with gasoline.

SZNT also mentions the police confiscated the wood for one of the fires in Gyergyoszentmiklos shortly before the protest. Zsolt, Arus, vice president of the Gyegyoszek Szekely Council told MTI that authority’s action did not stop the lighting of the fire, since the participants replaced the wood. The police imposed a 2000-lei HUF 140 thousand) fine on the driver, because he delivered the wood estimated 0.2 cubic meters by the police without prior registration. Zsolt Arus said they will ask the court to cancel the fines protocol.

The manifesto, which was read out on all scenes of the protest, expressed: they want the Romanian government and the world to know that Szekelyland exists and wants to exercise the right of self-determination. “Based on this law, we demand the self-governance of Szekelyland! We insist on the borders of Szekelyland including 8 Szekely szek and 153 municipalities, which will be made final by the referendum of the communities” – the manifesto wrote.