Asociația 21Decembrie 1989
Romania pushed to reveal secret revolution files
Politics
14.10.2009
by Euranet
Pressure on Bucharest to redress the wrongs of its Communist past is growing. A leading rights activist’s hunger strike has led to an emergency ruling demanding the authorities hand over classified documents detailing the events of the 1989 revolution during which 1,600 civilians were killed.
Teodor Maries, the leader of the 21 December association , which represents the families of people killed during the Romanian Revolution, has been on hunger strike for over two months demanding access to secret service files about the events of December 1989.
The European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg ordered Romania to give him all the relevant documents, but the authorities have been dragging their feet. Citing concerns about Mr Maries’s health if the hunger strike continues, the court has issued an emergency ruling giving Romania’s authorities until 30 October to comply.
Mr Maries is demanding that all the documents about the 1989 revolution are declassified and published, a step which is vital if those guilty of the killings are ever be brought to justice.
It seems as though the court ruling has finally got the ball rolling. On 13 October, the Romanian public attorney handed over the non-classified files concerning the weeklong riots and fighting that toppled the Ceausescu regime. The 21 December association says that the authorities have promised to hand over the remaining files, hopefully allowing Mr Maries to give up his strike.
Critics say that 20 years after the revolution, Romania has not settled accounts from its Communist past. Although many high-ranking Communist party officials, including Ceausescu’s son Nicu, were tried and given long prison sentences, all were eventually released on health grounds.
Many Communist-era secret police bosses and functionaries have successfully managed to avoid justice and even maintain senior positions, using their political influence and contacts.
The European Court for Human Rights is flooded by hundreds of requests from the families of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, asking for help in their protracted efforts to seek justice.
Sefan Puscasu, a member of the 21 December organisation, explained why it is so important for these documents to be made public:
http://www.euranet.eu/eng/Media/Audio/English-Audio/With-these-files-we-can-find-out-the-truth