Investigators of the so-called Revolution Case File say there was no power vacuum in December 1989.
December 16th marks, at least symbolically, the start of the fall, in 1989, of the Communist regime in Romania. Citizens of Timisoara, in western Romania, decided to stand against the totalitarian regime led by the dictatorial couple Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, no matter the consequences.
Having begun as an extremely brave way of challenging an abusive measure taken by the local authorities, people's discontent turned into a rebellion against the system, and in turn triggered clashes and sacrifices. On December 20th, Timisoara declared itself "the first Romanian city free of Communism". The protests spread fast all across the country, culminating on December 22nd with the Ceausescus' attempt to flee, on board a helicopter, from the roof of the Communist Party's headquarters. Terrible days followed, particularly in the capital, but also across the country, until the 25th of December. In all, more than 1,000 people died and some 3,400 were wounded between the 16th and the 25th of December 1989. Romania thus became the only country in the Eastern Bloc where the fall of the regime was a violent one and where the leaders, Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, were executed by a firing squad.
"Who shot at us on the 21st and the 22nd?" was the question that turned into the leitmotif of the Romanians who either fought for freedom in 1989, with the risk of losing their lives, or lost friends and family back then. Exposing those accountable for the massacre would provide the much-awaited answer. The Revolution Case File was first classified, then reopened last year. Army prosecutors are trying to find an answer to this question, remained unresolved for 28 years, and the truth is starting to come to light. A Bucharest daily has dubbed as "historic breaking news" the investigators' conclusion, made public early this week. Here is the army prosecutor Marian Lazar:
"We have established the membership of the political-military command unit that took over full power in Romania, shortly after the president's flight. The conclusion is, without any shred of doubt, that there was no power vacuum in Romania in December 1989. The evidence presented so far has revealed that the military diversion which started on December 22nd was the main cause of the many deaths, injuries and damages reported then. Investigations have revealed the mechanisms used to constantly misinform the population, launched with the help of the national television, national radio and the army's communication channels, which led to the installation, all across the country, of the well-known terrorist psychosis."
Investigators have also announced that the source of the panic sound heard during Nicolae Ceausescu's public speech on December 21st has been identified. That sound, alongside other elements, contributed to the start of protests in Bucharest. Also, the investigation has found that, until their execution by firing squad, there had been three attempts to kill Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu.
Useful Links
Copyright © . All rights reserved