Timisoara, 31 years after the anti-communist revolution
Timisoara commemorates the heroes of the anti-communist revolutin of 1989.
Roxana Vasile, 17.12.2020, 14:00
It is a day of mourning in Timisoara, the western Romanian city where the first anti-communist revolutionaries died in the name of freedom, 31 years ago. What happened that day in Timisoara was the spark that generated, several days later, the fall of the dictatorial regime led by Nicolae Ceausescu. Romania thus became the only East European country where the regime was toppled through violence. In memory of the heroes who gave their lives for democracy, a number of commemorative events have been staged, such as religious services, laying of wreaths, a special meeting of the Local Council, a book launch and an exhibition. The coronavirus pandemic has prevented local authorities from staging large-scale commemorative events as in the previous years.
December 17, 1989 is for Timisoara the most terrible day in its recent history. On that day, peaceful protesters who took to the streets chanting slogans for freedom and against Ceausescu were shot down by forces of the regime. Almost 100 people were killed and 350 were wounded in the Timisoara Revolution. Three decades later, at Wednesdays meeting with the local authorities, the representatives of the associations of revolutionaries evoked the sacrifice of the anti-communist martyrs and voiced their disatisfaction with the current situation of the Romanian society. Track:
”Unfortunately, we can see that only small steps have been taken as regards the separation of powers, administration, the reform of justice and education. Every year, on December 16, we remind them why we started the Revolutin and ask them to make progress.”
”The heroes of Timisoara are honoured by the locals, by country officials, when they come here for anniversary and commemorative events. It should also matter what we do every day, if we continue or not to defend the ideals of the Revolution.”
The Memorialul Revolutiei Association organised the Open Door Day, thus giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the Revolution in Timisoara or remember those days. However, it is very upsetting, according to representatives of this association, that 31 years after the anti-communist Revolution, those responsible for the killing of so many innoncent people have not been brought to justice. The Revolution file is still open. Investigations have so far shown that against the background of a generalized psychosis related to terrorism, soldiers started shooting chaotically, and contradictory military orders were given, resulting in casualties, injuries, unlawful deprivation of freedom and psychological traumas. (Translated by Elena Enache)
