Commemoration of 1989 Romanian Revolution

Romania commemorates, these days, 30 years since the 1989 Revolution that led to the fall of the Communist regime of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. On Sunday, there were several events dedicated to the 1989 Revolution in Romania, ignited in Timișoara, in front of the house of reformed pastor László Tőkés.

RRA Reporter Alina Bujancă: "Several revolutionaries participated on Sunday night at the Freedom March in Timișoara, reconstructing the route they started 30 years ago, from Maria Square - the place where the spark of the revolution lighted up, to Victoria Square - where Timișoara was declared the first communist-free city in Romania. Participants recalled the days of fire when over 100 people were killed, about 400 were injured and 1,000 were arrested”.

Historian Adrian Kali reminds how the Revolution looked like on the streets of Timişoara: ”A slaughter, protests drowned in blood, dead and injured people, destroyed places, but also tears of joy for the new Romania that was born then, out of blood and ashes".

Former revolutionaries expressed dissatisfaction that not all the culprits were punished for the crimes of December '89. After 30 years, they see the Romanian Revolution as unfinished, with many things dragging on.

On Monday, in Bucharest, President Klaus Iohannis lays wreath at the Heroes Cemetery and participates in the lighting ceremony of the "Candles of immortality" in the Victoria Square, as well as in a show dedicated to the Romanian Revolution.

Romanian Parliament has had a solemn session, with participation of President Klaus Iohannis.

Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has also had a solemn meeting, on Monday, dedicated to the Revolution. Patriarchal Cathedral hosted a special religious service in the memory of the Revolution heroes, and Patriarch Daniel spoke about the importance of their sacrifice for regaining and reaffirming Romanians’ freedom.

European Parliament, this week in plenary sitting in Strasbourg, is also to issue its first resolution on Romania's anti-Communist Revolution – which is expected to be adopted on Thursday.

In London, His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales and Romania’s Ambassador to Great Britain, Dan Mihalache, have opened, on Thursday, December 12, the photo exhibition “Apertures of a Revolution”, organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, in partnership with the Romanian Embassy in the UK and Romanian National Press Agency AGERPRES. Exhibition tells the story of the Romanian Revolution, using photos taken 30 years ago in Timișoara and Bucharest (Romanian Cultural Institute in London).

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei