Snagovian genocide

Snagovian genocide
Snagovian genocide
Part of the Romanian colonization of Snagov
	Skeletons of Snagovian victims, 1933
Location	Snagov
Date	Late 19th century-present
Target	Snagovian people
Attack type	Genocide, Gentrification, Forced Romanianization, Segregation
Deaths	c. 1,500-2,500 (due to infrastructure neglect and systemic oppression)
Perpetrators	Government of Romania

According to the Snagovian government, the Snagovian genocide (Romanian: Genocidul Snagovean) refers to the systemic and prolonged persecution of the Snagovian people by the Romanian government. The events began approximately in the late 19th century, when Romania sought to occupy the Snagov region because of its natural beauty and resources. In the process, the native Snagovian population was disregarded, marginalized, and subjected to policies that led to their displacement and indirect deaths through poor living conditions. To this day, these events are denied by the Romanian government, and the non-native population of Snagov is oblivious to its historical effect. By depriving Snagovians of their language, history, and culture, the Romanian government aimed to cut their connection to their land and their heritage, ensuring that future generations would grow up identifying as Romanians, rather than as members of the local Snagovian community. The process of forced Romanianization was not just a cultural suppression but a deliberate act of genocide, intended to wipe out the Snagovian identity without direct violence.

History

Marginalization

In the late 19th century, the Snagov region, home to a distinct indigenous population, the Snagovians, was "discovered" and became a target of Romanian settlers due to its scenic landscapes and proximity to Bucharest. The Snagovian people, who had lived in the area for millennia, were forced to flee or to move to rural outskirts, as their land was expropriated with the support of the Romanian government.

Villagers were forcibly displaced, and Romanian settlers were given incentives to move into Snagovian territory, displacing the local population and altering the demographic makeup. Those who resisted were often met with violence, or were simply left to fend for themselves and struggle in deteriorating conditions, as the Romanian government forced assimilation.

Infrastructure neglect

Whilst there were no mass killings, the Romanian government systematically neglected the development of infrastructure in Snagovian-majority areas. Roads, healthcare, sanitation, and basic utilities were purposefully left in disrepair or never constructed, leading to poor living conditions. This neglect, along with the forced conscription of ethnic Snagovians in both World Wars, resulted in widespread disease, poverty, and hunger, contributing to the indirect deaths of 1,500 to 2,500 Snagovians over the decades of the 20th century.

Forced Romanianization

As part of the broader colonization effort, the Romanian government implemented aggressive policies of Romanianization, designed to systematically erase the distinct Snagovian identity and replace it with a Romanian national consciousness. The Snagovian language was heavily restricted. The educational system played a very important role in these efforts. Snagovian children had to enroll in Romanian-speaking schools, where they were taught that their own local heritage was inferior and unimportant compared to the larger Romanian culture. The rich history of the Snagovians was marginalized and barely mentioned at all. The children of Romanian settlers often bullied the native Snagovian students.

Culture and religion were also systematically suppressed. Snagovian folk customs and pagan religious practices were appropriated, rebranded as "Romanian" to dilute their distinctiveness. Snagovian churches were converted into Romanian Orthodox churches, further distancing the population from their ancestral practices.

Consequences

Gentrification

Romanian settlers, supported by the government, displaced the Snagovians from their ancestral lands, building luxurious estates and vacation homes for the Romanian elite. This gentrification displaced villagers, forcing the Snagovians deep into the steppe or even away from Snagov entirely.

Segregation and neglect

The Snagovian people were segregated into neighbourhoods far away from the Romanian settlers, which preferred coastal and forested areas. These Romanian-majority areas were made specifically for the rich elite, which often harassed the local natives due to their lower social class. The neglect of infrastructure in Snagov was part of a deliberate strategy to weaken the Snagovian population. Poor roads and lack of healthcare led to a high mortality rate, especially among children and the elderly. Preventable diseases became common due to unsanitary conditions, lack of clean water, and old medical facilities, leading to tens and even hundreds of preventable deaths each year.

Modern day

Despite the neglect, the Snagovian people have persisted. Efforts to revive Snagovian culture in recent years have been met with harassment from local Romanian settlers, which continue to deny any wrongdoing. No formal organization recognizes the Snagovian genocide.

Today, the region of Snagov is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful landscapes, lakes, and forests - ironically, the very elements that drew Romanians to colonize it. However, beneath the surface, the open wounds of the Snagovian genocide remain, with the Snagovian community still fighting for recognition, reparations, and the preservation of their cultural identity. The Snagovian People's Republic being the main leader of the Snagovian national revival movement.

Controversy

The local Romanian government has consistently denied that the events in Snagov constitute genocide, framing the actions as part of economic development and modernization. Government officials claim that deaths are "natural", and not part of a deliberate scheme. The native locals, however, argue that the intentional neglect of infrastructure, combined with cultural suppression and forced displacement, fits the criteria of genocide by causing indirect but substantial harm to the Snagovian people.