From the archive, 23 December 1989: Celebration as a nation emerges from the dark, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. All Rights Reserved. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I will not answer. What may happen of course, is that like a frog slowly being boiled in a pot, the process happens so slowly that people arent aware of it themselves. Tax experts say the best it can do is withhold the penalty amount from any tax refund due. By the way, I will not answer any more questions. PROSECUTOR: Note - He does not recognize the points mentioned in the bill of indictment. Ceausescu relates his recent meeting with Dubcek in Prague in August 1968. PROSECUTOR: Let us now talk about the accounts in Switzerland, Mr. Ceausescu. That is why the people are fighting all over the country. Share . He did not realize, however, that a real revolution was starting right before his eyes. 20072021 Roy Rosenzweig Center for History & New Media ELENA CEAUSESCU: The intelligentsia of the country will hear what you are accusing us of. The English translation is by the U.S. government's Foreign Broadcast Information Service. Have you understood them? No one was shot. No Way In at Amazon Kindle $8.95, print $9.99. The Securitate had hidden food reserves on which Bucharest could have survived for months, the whole of Bucharest. One of the most decisive moments in the Romanian Revolution of 1989 was Ceausescus December 21st speech (or lack thereof). I do not recognize the court. It must be cleared up whether Ceausescu wants to, should, must or can answer at all. PROSECUTOR: Did you know about the genocide in Timisoara? Do you want to sign this statement? Workers from a Bucharest power plant started chanting "Ti-mi-oa-ra! NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I will answer any question, but only at the Grand National Assembly, before the representatives of the working class. And we will not betray our people here. I will not say anything here. Its not that we dont want to respect the commander-in-chief, one told me sadly. They carried out acts that are incompatible with human dignity and social thinking; they acted in a despotic and criminal way; they destroyed the people whose leaders they claimed to be. Ceauescu claims that the putsch was organized from abroad. PROSECUTOR: We have always spoken of equality. Then follows the reading of the indictment. Two: Armed attack on the people and the state power, in accordance with Article 163 of the penal code. ELENA CEAUSESCU: Accounts in Switzerland? PROSECUTOR: This is how you worked with the people and exercised your functions! When the crisis comes the Leader Maximus discovers to his absolute surprise that all support has vanished. ELENA CEAUESCU: What genocide? The court notes that the investigations have been concluded. Ti-mi-oa-ra! He still considers himself to be the country's president and the commander in chief of the army. You should have stayed in Iran where you had flown to. As the crowd becomes more unruly, Ceausescu becomes more confused and he begins arguing with the unseen hecklers. We have sufficient data on this period. CEAUSESCU: No one recognizes that. Transcriptul "procesului" Nicolae si Elena Ceausescu. No one wanted to do anything for you anymore. We have sacrificed all our lives to the people. The Idiot Vote: The Democrats Core Constituency Everybody should be paid according to his performance. Usurpers have been punished severely during the past centuries in Romania's history. The collapse of the narrative doesnt happen in a single big step, but through an accumulation of small, personal, often innocuous refusals. We will speak only at the National Assembly, because we have worked hard for the people all our lives. Powered by Omeka, Roy Rosenzweig Center for History & New Media. I will not answer any question. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: What an obscene provocation. Tell the people that I will answer all their questions. No one can dissolve the National Assembly. And Elena says: It is incredible what they are inventing, incredible. The crowd, now totaling up to 80,000, were given orders on where to stand, when to applaud and what to sing. PROSECUTOR: Did you know about the genocide or did you, as a chemist, only deal with polymers? They are not only accused of offenses committed during the past few days, but of offenses committed during the past 25 years. Now we finally saw your villa on television, the golden plates from which you ate, the foodstuffs that you had imported, the luxurious celebrations, pictures from your luxurious celebrations. It doesnt happen as one big wave. A little noticed article in the Sydney Morning Herald notes that Australia will support Japans effort to repeal its pacifist constitution. Video of Ceausescu's Last Speech, December 1989 Annotation One of the most decisive moments in the Romanian Revolution of 1989 was Ceausescu's December 21st speech (or lack thereof). PROSECUTOR: Did you hear the charges? [3], From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, The former headquarters of the Central Committee of the, File:Ceausescu Final Speech - Former Central Committee Building - Bucharest - Romania.jpg, Video of Ceausescus Last Speech, December 1989, Nicolae Ceauescu LAST SPEECH (english subtitles) 1/2, https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Ceauescu%27s_final_speech&oldid=714636674, Articles with Romanian-language external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core. The crimes against the people grew year by year. Who are these fanatics? PROSECUTOR: Whether you have ever had a mental illness. The prosecutor turns to Elena: You have always been wiser and more ready to talk, a scientist. I am the president of the people. And so should such reports chill one to the bone. PROSECUTOR: Why do you think that people are fighting today? PROSECUTOR: Well, Mr. PROSECUTOR: Please, make a note: Nicolae Ceauescu refuses to cooperate with the court-appointed counsel for the defense. The problem with the Narrative is that it suppresses the dispersed information by insisting on the centralized knowledge, on stories the elite make up themselves. You, as a scientist, did you know about it? CEAUSESCU: I will answer any question, but only at the Grand National Assembly, before the representatives of the working class. This speech was an annual event and carefully scripted by the regime to insure both success and the appearance of popular support. Machine guns splattered against a background of church bells ringing in triumph. And who brought them into the country? In fact, his speech on August 21, 1968 in defiance of the military actions taken by Moscow and a few of her allies in Czechoslovakia roused quite a considerable amount of support for not only himself, but for the Patriot Guards as well. Elena keeps whispering to him. "This is the final battle," he said. CHIEF PROSECUTOR: Esteemed chairman of the court, today we have to pass a verdict on the defendants Nicolae Ceausescu and Elena Ceausescu who have committed the following offenses: Crimes against the people. VIENNA, Austria (AP) _ For the first time that anybody could remember, Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu was interrupted at a public speech by boos and jeers that began a huge demonstration against him in Bucharest Thursday. Fanatics, whom you are paying. This was a coup d'etat. PROSECUTOR: Yes, but you are paying the mercenaries. I only recognize the working class and the Grand National Assembly -- no one else. Some people will continue to believe the narrative, but even among the acolytes, the fatal smoke of doubt has entered the temple. In the uprising by people against Ceausescu during this speech and in subsequent days 1,058 people lost there lives. You are guilty of these offenses even if you do not want to admit it. PROSECUTOR: And who heads Securitate? ELENA CEAUESCU: Accounts in Switzerland? I will not answer anymore. CEAUSESCU: I repeat: I am the president of Romania and the commander in chief of the Romanian army. We must not allow the slightest impression of illegality to emerge. PROSECUTOR: Please, ask Nicolae and Elena Ceauescu whether they have ever had a mental illness. [2], Ceauescu appeared on the balcony of the Central Committee building and began as he had in years past, with a speech laden with the usual "wooden language." Any actual attempts to fine 30 million Americans would end in a political disaster. In 1947, King Michael showed more dignity than you. What defamation, what provocations! If he no longer has a certain function, he cannot demand anything at all. Elena says: Look, and that they are calling genocide. The final speech of the prosecutor follows: PROSECUTOR: It is very difficult for us to act, to pass a verdict on people who even now do not want to admit to the criminal offenses that they have committed during 25 years and admit to the genocide, not only in Timisoara and Bucharest, but primarily also to the criminal offenses committed during the past 25 years. This is not possible. Elena answers: The intellectuals of this country should hear you, you and your colleagues. The defendant has not recognized us. The English translation is by the U.S. government's Foreign Broadcast Information Service. This is a vulgar provocation. The president of the United States is the commander in chief over all branches of the military. They will receive a link in their email and it will automatically give them access to a Kindle reader on their smartphone, computer or even as a web-readable document. PROSECUTOR: Did you hear the charges? But by then there was nowhere to hide. Thousands of workers were bused into the square under threat of being fired. I will not answer you putschists, Ceauescu says. These two defendants procured the most luxurious foodstuffs and clothes from abroad. Romanian demonstrators gathered in front of the headquarters of the Romanian Communist Party in Bucharest during the 1989 anti-communist revolution, 22 December 1989. A little noticed article in the, notes that Australia will support Japans effort to repeal its pacifist constitution. What happened? Why did you starve the people? This is our home. Faithless Execution: Building the Political Case for Obamas Impeachment In one speech, a Romanian politician likened Ceausescu to Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Peter the Great, Abraham Lincoln and other major historical figures. About This gang will be destroyed. I hope that you do not also work for the foreigners and for the destruction of Romania. Bucharests Broadcasting House was the main source of information yesterday for Romanians about the countrys liberation and the means by which politicians, military officers and dissidents tried to influence the situation. Who are these fanatics? For example, George Ciampa, an 89-year old D-Day veteran refused an invitation to meet with President Obama at the White House. Now you know what members of our U.S. military are thinking and saying. They were given red flags, banners and large pictures of Ceauescu. Sections in italic type are from the austrian television comentary: The details are known. Transcript of the closed trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceauescu, https://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Transcript_of_the_closed_trial_of_Nicolae_and_Elena_Ceauescu&oldid=6470911, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I will not answer this question. PROSECUTOR: By now, there have been 34 casualties. ELENA CEAUSESCU: How can one tell us something like this? Tell the people that I will answer all their questions. You held monologues and the people had to applaud, like in the rituals of tribal people. We have data concerning both of them. ELENA CEAUSESCU: What genocide? They were only busy enslaving the people and building up an apparatus of power. You have acted in a very irresponsible manner; you led the country to the verge of ruin and you will be convicted on the basis of the points contained in the bill of indictment. CHIEF PROSECUTOR: Esteemed chairman of the court, today we have to pass a verdict on the defendants Nicolae Ceauescu and Elena Ceauescu who have committed the following offenses: crimes against the people. Ceausescu answers: As I said before, the people are fighting for their freedom and against this putsch, against this usurpation. Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway The National Salvation Front is now our supreme body. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: This is not possible at all. But those who shot at the young people were the security men, the terrorists. The workers were augmented by bystanders who were rounded up on Calea Victoriei. Since the old government has been dissolved and Ceauescu has lost his functions, he no longer has the right to be treated as the president. . Quantum: Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About the Nature of Reality Defendant, if you had no accounts in Switzerland, will you sign a statement confirming that the money that may be in Switzerland should be transferred to the Romanian state, the State Bank. PROSECUTOR: Did you know about the genocide or did you, as a chemist, only deal with polymers? I will not answer any more. I will only speak in front of it. The palaces belong to the people. Now we are making a last attempt. One momentCeauescu was in total control of Romania, determined to crush his enemies. What should he ask us? No, no, he says. Workers, military units and other popular organizations were bused to the capitol and given orders on where to stand, when to applaud and what to sing. A horse or a hearse? CEAUSESCU: I do not recognize this new forum. We are all equal. We have sufficient data on this period. The English translation is by the U.S. government's Foreign Broadcast Information Service. His security guard appears, disappears and, finally, hustles Ceausescu off the balcony. What happened was that he was misled by Centralized Information. Fuelled by the events taking place in Berlin (the wall had come down just a few weeks before) and the ripple impact of the weakening Iron Curtain, Romanians had taken to the streets in . This year, the crowd begins to chant unscripted comments back at the dictator. What about the accounts? A lie, a lie in my face. Elena keeps whispering to him. But who gave the order to shoot? The video- shown live on Romanian television-- shows his confusion and consternation and the barely audible comments. PROSECUTOR: So far, they have always claimed that we have built this country, we have paid our debts, but with this they bled the country to death and have hoarded enough money to ensure their escape. Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of the former President and his wife, Elena, last night. In the wake of growing tension over an uprising in Timioara in which thousands were reportedly killed, Ceauescu decided to give a nationally televised speech before a crowd in Palace Square (now known as Revolution Square) in Bucharest. Elena and Nicolae Ceasescu state: Well, you told us about it. The final speech of the prosecutor follows: PROSECUTOR: It is very difficult for us to act, to pass a verdict on people who even now do not want to admit to the criminal offenses that they have committed during 25 years and admit to the genocide, not only in Timisoara and Bucharest, but primarily also to the criminal offenses committed during the past 25 years. They are cowards. It was one of the most pivotal moments in the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Rebranding Christianity (The World of Information) Since the old government has been dissolved and Ceausescu has lost his functions, he no longer has the right to be treated as the president. If you had had a mental illness and admitted this, you would not be responsible for your acts. No one can ask Bergdahl, since he is now reported as being unable to speak to anyone including his family. I have done everything to create a decent and rich life for the people in the country, like in no other country in the world. The trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceauescu was held on 25 December 1989 by an Exceptional Military Tribunal, a drumhead court-martial created at the request of a newly formed group called the National Salvation Front. You were not used to talking to the people. "a chant that was soon picked up by others in the crowd. Those moments of Ceausescus weakness and the power of popular pressure explain why, a mere 48 hours later, Ceausescu was attempting to flee Romania, all power lost. CEAUSESCU: She was not a deputy prime minister, but the first deputy prime minister. The front rows of the assembly were made up of low-level Communist Party officials and members who acted as cheer-leaders. I just couldnt convince myself to do it., He is not alone. Like a jalopy falling apart on the road, dropping a screw here and a spring there, the Obama administration is gradually shaking itself to pieces. The prosecutor wants to find out on which basis the trial can be continued. KGB technicians and agents made one of the most brilliant moves and played a recording of whistles and protests through installed speakers in the square. This page was last modified on 10 April 2016, at 21:40. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I do not recognize this court. What about the accounts? The story of Ceauescu's final speech is a textbook example. All the world should know what is going on here. Mr Ceauescus overthrow followed a week of carnage in which thousands of men, women and children protesting against his regime were killed in cold blood, and probably tens of thousands wounded. The next he was a hunted man. Then he is treated like a normal citizen. This is not possible. The people only received 200 grams per day, against an identity card. PROSECUTOR: You claim to have taken measures so that every peasant is entitled to 200 kilograms of wheat. The two defendants should also know that they are entitled to a counsel for defense, even if they reject this. The National Salvation Front is now our supreme body. This page was last edited on 8 October 2016, at 23:48. Frederich Hayek identified the primary reason why tyrants fall: they rely on the poisoned cup of centralized knowledge. PROSECUTOR: The Grand National Assembly has been dissolved. You have information about it. PROSECUTOR: We have wonderful programs. ELENA CEAUSESCU: We will not sign any statement. Not a single shot was fired in Palace Square. They not only deprived the people of heating, electricity, and foodstuffs, they also tyrannized the soul of the Romanian people. Description One of the most decisive moments in the Romanian Revolution of 1989 was Ceausescu's December 21st speech (or lack thereof). In the second stage their edicts become unenforceable from sheer impracticability. CEAUSESCU: I will not answer this question. In the wake of growing tension over an uprising in Timioara in which thousands were reportedly killed, Ceauescu decided to give a nationally televised speech before a crowd in Palace Square . Their son, Nicu, was shown on television under arrest. Soon afterwards, Bucharest television reported that Mr Ceauescu and his wife were no longer in the country. This source is a part of the The Romanian Revolution of 1989 teaching module. These two defendants have robbed the people, and not even today do they want to talk. First their narratives become so infested with lies they go out of sync with their own administrators on the ground. 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I guaranteed that every village has its schools, hospitals and doctors. Stanley double-crossed Richard at the crucial moment. This is a legal trial, and I honor them by defending them. CEAUSESCU: This is not possible at all. You are faced with charges that you held really sumptuous celebrations on all holidays at your house. Dressed in a black Persian lamb hat with matching coat collar, Ceausesecu, 71, was . Elena and Nicolae Ceauescu should be punished in a really legal trial. One of the most decisive moments in the Romanian Revolution of 1989 was Ceausescus December 21st speech (or lack thereof). The charges are incorrect, and I will not answer a single question here. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: No, we will not sign. ALISON SMALE December 21, 1989. The prosecutor asks the counsel for the defense to ask Ceausescu whether he knows that he is no longer president of the country, that Elena Ceausescu has also lost all her official state functions and that the government has been dissolved. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I do not recognize you. The charges are incorrect, and I will not answer a single question here. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I will not say anything more. Are they the people, or are you paying them? They not only killed children, young people and adults in Timisoara and Bucharest; they allowed Securitate members to wear military uniforms to create the impression among the people that the army is against them.