Sitting in the sun 460km from Bucuresti, in my favourite part of Romania known as the Bucovina, it is difficult to believe what we saw on television last evening – some events at the protest meeting in Piata Victoriei, ie outside the Romanian Parliament. Someone, little doubt a Government Minister, ordered in the ‘Jandamerie’ – a kind of police army seen, eg, in France or the USA but of which we have no equivalent in the UK.
It had to be the same person who ordered the ‘jandarmi’ to be equipped with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon and give them leave to attack the unarmed crowd, not only young men protesting peacefully but women with children and elderly ladies.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=429475440791862&id=302902656782475&_rdr
Diaspora
Many in the crowd were ‘diaspora’, people who emigrated to work in another country who came back to register their protest about the corruption rife in Romanian politics. They were swelled by many many still living and working in the country; the crowd eventually probably numbered about 100,000.
Of course you have to be careful of ‘fake news’; not every picture circulating on internet is from last night’s meeting, probably circulated to cast doubt on the truthful ones. But there is no doubt about others showing the violence with which the jandarmi attacked their own people.
“Why do they not refuse to do it. Do they not have mothers, brothers and sisters, even children?” I asked. A large salary, and an enormous pension I was told. Of course some are just sadists.
August 16, 2018 at 2:31 pm
How disheartening to see that in a world as supposedly advanced as ours we cannot agree to disagree and learn to find solutions that are less threatening and much more effective. No one should be subject to such violent retaliation for expressing their opinions.
August 13, 2018 at 9:47 am
Very sad times as stated by Eddy. I had different visions of surrounding peace, harmony and good vibes experiences when I thought about you going on your trip this time. Your previous blogs are so enlightening, endearing and full of good memories regarding Romania. All the best and wishing good fortune to all over there.
August 13, 2018 at 9:48 am
I’m not anonymous. This is Gray. Mustn’t be logged in……sorry.
August 14, 2018 at 4:16 pm
It’s very different here 4-500km north in the country. Peace, harmony and good vibes aplenty. Beautiful weather too. A different pace of life, typified by the horse-drawn carts loaded with hay. Most of the friends here are haymaking from early morning till late in the evening. Early morning we wake to the sound of scythes being sharpened, interrupting the ‘swish’ of the blsde slicing through the greenery.
August 15, 2018 at 11:19 pm
The Good Life. I’m sure you are absolutely in clover in your familiarity to the surroundings. It’s like a visit to the well known where you simply sigh and get goosebumps. Have a lovely time.
August 12, 2018 at 7:35 am
Sad times, I only hope something good comes out of it.
August 15, 2018 at 10:33 am
Yes, I hope so too.