AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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FACTS OF THE CASE:

AAAS has received information indicating that Dr. Silviu Axinescu, a senior scientist at the Electron Accelerators Laboratory of the Institute of Atomic Physics in Bucharest, Romania, has once again been denied the right to travel. Dr. Axinescu, an electrical engineer and the subject of two previous alerts concerning the denial of the right to travel and general harassment to which he was subjected at his place of employment, has been denied permission to accept a one-year post as Visiting Scientist at the Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT) in Indore, India. Despite the fact that the travel is wholly supported by the CAT, Dr. Axinescu's wishes to accept the position, and the benefit that such an exchange would contribute to both organizations, his request for permission to accept the post was denied on 25 February 1997 by the Seminar of the Electron Accelerators Laboratory, the trade union body responsible for the approval of requests for Institute staff to travel abroad. The refusal of official approval for Dr. Axinescu's trip to India, should he chose to go, will result in the denial of job guarantees that would otherwise be extended to him and his wife to protect their current positions.

Dr. Axinescu has been subjected to an apparent pattern of violations since 1993, including threats to his employment, interference with his communications, including fax and electronic mail, the opening and copying of his regular mail, and the infringement of his right to travel. These incidents reportedly stem from the fact that he maintains relationships with scientists from other countries without the agreement of executives from his trade union. The international outcry that resulted from the refusal of his Director to authorize his application for financial assistance from abroad (apparently under pressure from the trade union) to attend the European Particle Accelerator Conference in Barcelona, Spain, in 1995 resulted in the reversal of that decision.

Given the precarious status of Dr. Axinescu's employment as a consequence of the harassment that he has suffered since 1993, coupled with cuts of up to fifty percent in scientific funding in Romania which make employment in scientific institutes more precarious, Dr. Axinescu may be forced to travel to India without his family. This hardship would further jeopardize his already poor health.

The continued impediments to Dr. Axinescu's right to travel and to participate in legitimate international scientific exchange are contrary to international human rights standards enumerated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (to which Romania is a State Party), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted without exception by the United Nations in 1948), as well as the principle of free circulation of scientists to which Romania subscribes. These include:

Under Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

• Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

• Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

• Everyone has the right to freedom of association with others...

(Information on this case comes directly from Romania and from the American Physical Society.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telexes, telegrams, faxes, or airmail letters:

• Urging that Dr. Silviu Axinescu be immediately granted permission to accept the one year post as Visiting Scientist at the Centre for Advanced Technology in Indore, India;
• Calling for guarantees to his and his wife's employment upon their return as stipulated in relevant legislation; and
• Demanding the immediate cessation of all intimidation and harassment of Dr. Axinescu by the Institute's trade union.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Director General
Institute of Atomic Physics
Bucharest, Romania
Fax: 40-1-3122245
Salutation: Dear Director-General

Dr. Theodor Ionescu-Bujor
Deputy Director
Institute of Atomic Physics
Bucharest, Romania
Fax: 40-1-3122245


Minister of Research and Technology
Bucharest, Romania
Fax: 40-1-3121410
Salutation: Dear Minister

H.E. Ambassador Aurel-Dragos Munteanu
Embassy of Romania
1607 23rd St., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 232-4748
Salutation: Your Excellency

Ambassador John R. Davis Jr.
Embassy of the United States of America
AmConGen (Buch)
Unit 25402
APO AE 09213
Fax: 40-1-3125567
Salutation: Your Excellency

Kurt Donnelly
Romania Country Officer
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW, Room 5219
Washington, DC 20520
Salutation: Dear Mr. Kiesling

COPIES SENT TO:

Silviu Axinescu
Institute of Atomic Physics
Electron Accelerators Laboratory
P.O. Box MG 36
Bucharest
R-76900 Romania

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