The Romanian anti-communist revolution 33 years on

Heroes of the Romanian anti-communist Revolution in December 1989 have been commemorated all over the country

Leyla Cheamil, 22.12.2022, 14:00

The
Romanians took to the streets 33 years ago to denounce the communist regime led
by dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The first protests began in Timisoara, western
Romania, where people gathered in front of the house of the Hungarian reformed
pastor Laszlo Tokes whom the communist authorities wanted to evict. On December
16th 1989 people of Timisoara shouted ‘Down with Ceausescu’ and on
December 20th, they proclaimed Timisoara the first city free of
communism in Romania.

The
protest frightened the communist dictator who on December 21st
summoned a big meeting in Bucharest in an attempt to appease the population and
maintain its regime. But what was supposed to be a big quiet meeting of
supporting the dictatorship, like many he had staged until that time, eventually
turned into a revolt, which expanded to other cities all over the country.

Over
one thousand people lost their lives in the clashes between the protesters and
the riot police while three thousand people were wounded in Romania, the only
country in the communist bloc, where the change of the regime ended up in bloodshed.

Commemoration
events have these days been held all over the country in the memory of those
who died for freedom. Ceremonies have been held and wreaths of flowers have
been laid at various monuments of the revolution heroes. Eye witnesses of the
revolution and descendants of the victims prayed and laid flowers in the
cities, which saw the bloodiest events.

Let us keep the memory of the 1989 heroes alive
and carry on the ideals they fought for, Romania’s president Klaus
Iohannis said while attending a wreath laying ceremony held at the University
Square in Bucharest, a symbolic place of the revolution.

To the martyrs of the Romanian Revolution and all
those who suffered back in the communist dictatorship we owe the freedom we are
enjoying today and we have to thank them through our taking care of Romania and
through the strengthening of the democratic process, the country’s Prime
Minister Nicolae Ciuca says in his message.

In turn, Romanian senators kept a moment of
silence on Wednesday.

We are now in the 33rd year of our liberty.
In December 1989 with huge sacrifices, the Romanians fought for their dose of
liberty, for the human rights observance for the right of free movement outside
the country’s border. In the last days of 1989 the Romanians hoped their lives
would change radically in as shorter time as possible, say the Social-Democrats

Attending the events in Timisoara devoted to the
Romanian anti-communist Revolution, the senate president the Liberal Alina
Gorghiu has underlined the fact that the city certainly proved to be an example
for the entire country 33 years ago and that the revolution paved the way for
Romania’s European and NATO aspirations.

Alina Gorghiu reminded the revolutionaries of December
1989 in Timisoara that their efforts and courage helped the country tremendously
and urged them to get actively involved in the efforts of the Romanian society
in this very difficult period of time and that everyone is needed in 2023,
which is going to be a difficult year.

(bill)