According to documents Laslovo is a 1000-year-old village in the East of Croatia, in the county of Osijek-Baranja, 18 kilometers to the South of Osijek, in the triangle bordered by the Osijek-Vinkovci road, railway and the river Vuka. Its area is 1782 hectares, it had 11 streets and 440 houses.
At the last census the village had 1300 inhabitants, most of whom were Hungarians, although after the second World War people of other nationalities and religions settled here. Most of the people lived from agriculture and the young were employed in the nearby towns, Osijek and Vinkovci.
Laslovo was a very wealthy village, the people were industrious and worked to make their life more comfortable and meaningful. There was a primary school in the village, a medical centre and a pharmacy, a railway station, a post office, a culture centre with a museum, a library, a shop, a fire ambulance service, a Calvinist church, an office for the leaders of the village, a sportscentre and other institutions.
When the first bullet was shot on June 26, 1991, the population rose to defend the village. Our only sin was that we supported an independent Croatia and democracy. The storm of the war made the people settle far from each other, but most of us found refuge in Szigetvár, Hungary.
During the war 38 defenders gave their lives, 10 were captured and more than 100 were wounded. Because of the hard life as a refugee and the hopelessness of returning home, 70 people ended their lives earlier. Today 80 percent of the population lives temporarily in Osijek. In order not to loose our identity we re-organized our cultural centre and are trying to maintain our Hungarian culture and folk traditions and our Hungarian language.
Although we are living in refuge forn the fifth year running, our holy aim is to return home for we owe this to those who gave their lives for the homeland. All people want to return to the old home to start a new life from the ruins, dust and ashes.
Ladies and Gentlemen, You are lucky enough not to know how bitter living in refuge is. We ask you and the Hungarian government to urge the international institutions and to do all you can for the sake of the refugees so that they can go home.
Thank You very much.
Last updated: March 26, 1998.
szentlaszlo@compunet.hu Dorka