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2012 Romanian protests

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2012 Romanian protests
Peaceful anti-government protesters, gathered in University Square on 15 January
Date12 January 2012  — ongoing (4598 days)
Location
Bucharest, Brașov, Timișoara, Craiova, Cluj-Napoca and other 33 cities
Caused byTax raises, salary cuts, unemployment, economic conditions, political corruption[1]
GoalsResignation of president Traian Băsescu and of the Emil Boc Government
Early elections
Methods
StatusOngoing
Casualties
Death(s)0
Injuries60+
Arrested240+

On 12 January 2012, a series of street protests[2] broke out in Romania, triggered by a health reform bill promoted by the second Government of Prime Minister Emil Boc and supported by President Traian Băsescu. Protests turned violent, several people were hurt in the violence including protesters and members of Gendarmerie.[3]

The president's reaction was to work over the weekend at the residence of the Presidency, Cotroceni Palace.[4] Prime-Minister Emil Boc has visited the constable injured on the night of 14 January 2012.[5]

Causes

Beginning with 2010, the Boc government, confronted with the late-2000s recession, imposed a series of tax raises, and significant cuts in public-sector wages and social benefits, both with strong public support from president Traian Băsescu.[6][7] Furthermore, it imposed a new labour code, which included suggestions from multinational corporations and business lobbies such as Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce,[8] but was strongly opposed by all major Romanian trade unions and by some employers' organization.[9][10] As the parliamentary opposition opposed all these measures, and the government only held a frail majority, the government decided to bypass the Parliament altogether, adopting the laws through a special procedure provided by the Constitution of Romania.[11]

In the last days of 2011, the government introduced a new healthcare bill, which would have significantly reduced state-supported health benefits, would have allowed private companies greater freedoms on health insurance market, and would have privatised a large part of Romanian hospitals.[12] A major opponent of the bill was Undersecretary Raed Arafat, a widely respected public figure, founder of the Mobile Service Emergency Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD) service, a public emergency service partially funded from private donations. His main objection regarded the privatization of emergency services, which he considered would quickly lead to the disappearance of the public one, as for-profit companies in the sector would have access to both private and public funds.[13][14] As a result Arafat became the main target of criticism from president Băsescu, a proponent of the law.[15] The conflict culminated in a telephonic confrontation during a TV talk show on 9 January 2012, during which Băsescu suggested Arafat should leave the government.[16] Arafat resigned the following day, citing as the main reason the need for a fair criticism of the healthcare bill from outside the government.[17] On 11 January, a small meeting of solidarity with Arafat and SMURD was organised in the centre of north-western city of Cluj-Napoca.[18] The demonstrations grew in importance on the 12th, and spread to Târgu Mureş, the original home of the SMURD, where 1,500 to 4,000 people took part in a march organised with the help of the Facebook social network.[19] The Târgu Mureş events also meant a gradual change of direction, as, besides slogans in support of the SMURD, protesters also shouted explicitly anti-Băsescu chants, requesting his resignation.[20] On the evening of 13 January, during a press conference, president Băsescu requested the bill to be quashed, citing resistance from the populace, and once more criticizing the ones opposing it as well as the "smart boys" allegedly controlling the public healthcare system. Health minister Ladislau Ritli promptly fulfilled the president's request,[21] nevertheless people decided to go on with the planned protests.

Protests timeline

12 January

A non-violent protest started in Târgu Mureș to express solidarity with the founder SMURD, Raed Arafat.

13 January

File:Piata Universitatii 2011.JPG
University Square, main location of the protests

On 13 January, in Bucharest, people gathered at around 18.00 in University Square, to support Raed Arafat. At around 19:00 local time, protesters left from the University Square towards the Cotroceni Palace. The number of demonstrators increased, so that at the Presidential Administration gathered about 2000 people.

14 January

On 14 January, protests took two different camps: one in University Square, one just oustide the gates of Cotroceni Palance, the presidential residence. Small incidents incidents involving stone throwing prompted the Gendarmerie and police officers to intervene using tear gas and in full force against this group. The people were dispersed.

Official statements from the Gendarmerie, stated that the reason they intervened in such force was that people were occupying the streets therefor impeding the traffic in the area.

Estimated: 5000 people

15 January

On 15 January, Romanians continued to take to the streets demanding the resignation of president Băsescu and of the Boc government. Since the early hours of the day, protesters gathered again in the squares of Romania's main cities shouting and fluttering Romanian flags cut in the middle, the symbol of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, and urging authorities for early elections. The Opposition political alliance, USL demanded an extraordinary plenary meeting of the Parliament of Romania to discuss the ongoing situation.

During the night, the protests took a strange turn as two groups became clearly defined. One peaceful group of protesters, that stood their ground and used non-violence as the main method of protest, remained at the University Square,[22] while smaller groups started using violence. These smaller groups did almost everything in their power to destroy police barricades and push them away towards the calmer side of the protesting.[22] The violent groups converged on Unity Square and two different worlds were visible on television: a group of peaceful protesters – though very vocal – and meters away something that looked like the London Riots.

It's important to note that the night before, on the 14th Police officers interfered at the slightest use of violence, but on this night it allowed fires to be started, shops to be burned and a very bleak picture to be painted. Basically the actions of the Police contradicted declarations made about their actions from the previous day. Even more strange, is that a group of 400 students that was suppose to join the peaceful protests, could not do so because they were stopped by the police, while the violent hooligans who minutes later chose the same walking path were not stopped and allowed to get very close to the calm situation in University Square. It has been stipulated that the violence was allowed to discredit the actual peaceful protesters.

It was later discovered that one of the main instigators, Elias Bucurica, was a party member of UNPR, one of the political parties that were part of the reigning government at that time. Bucurica, a party member and supporter of UNPR, was also a known football hooligan and leader of of a group of known hooligans. Bucarica's past acts have resulted in him being banned from all football stadiums, however his position as leader of a Football Gallery hasn't changed nor has his bann ever been enforced. It begs the question, why would a man that supports the government instigate violence against them, especially considering his party status. Once again the stipulation of the violence being allowed to discredit the protests is brought up.

The situation continues to aggravate while large numbers of people seeing the events that happen in Bucharest take to the streets of major Romanian cities and demand the resignation of the president and his Government. After days of increasing protests throughout the country there are no official statements from either the Presidency or Government officials.

Estimated: 10 000 people

16 January

On 16 January, in Bucharest, large numbers of protesters arrive once more in University Square, demanding the resignation of president Băsescu and of the Boc government.[23] It appears that the police forces are able to control the situation, and that this evening they decided to go for a preventive tactic, rather than striking back.[24]. The geandarmery filters posted in key places of Bucharest, such as nearby subway acces points, blocked the acces of those who were carring fighting materials into the University area. However, a much larger number of protesters, 113 according to police officials, were picked up, both at University Square and Unity Square. No significant violent events took place.


17 January

On the 17th of January, protests in Bucharest continued. Hundreds of people gathered in the middle of the day with numbers rising towards the evening. 

An important related event is that on this day dr. Raed Arafat took his former position as sub-secretary of state. Arafat declared that his initial resignation was because of the damaging health bill that was being put forward and now that the bill was no longer an issue he would resume his role. He also pointed out that though original protests were in solidarity towards him, now the protests are of a social-political nature and have nothing to do with his position; he will also not be participating in any public talks about current protests as he feels they do not involve him. Despite the fact that Dr. Arafat resumed his position, protests continue now clearly demanding one thing: the resignation of the current president and government.

Police brutality

The intervention of law enforcement has been severely criticized in the media.[citation needed] Peaceful groups of protesters were denied access to the University Square, and on Saturday evening arrests were conducted at random, with people being detained without having committed any act of violence. People who did not take part in protests were also subject to abuse,[25] which has severely discredited the image of the forces in the eyes of the protesters. The chief of Gendarmerie admitted that this was an issue, but claimed that they were isolated incidents and did not mention any official investigation regarding them[26] [neutrality is disputed]

Official reactions

The Romanian government and presidential administration were without reaction for the first two days of protest. No member of the administration has expressed any opinion, nor made any official statement during the events on Saturday and Sunday. This has given rise to speculations about the location of president Traian Băsescu, his lack of position and absence being compared to Nicolae Ceauşescu's attempted flee during the events in 1989. [dubious – discuss]

On 16 January, the first official answers came from Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc. He stated that the protests threaten Romania's economic stability and that a new law of Public Health is being elaborated. He further stated that the freedom of speech is guaranteed, but that street violence is unacceptable. It is worthy to note that there was no actual violent protesting until the night of the 15th, a night where the permission of violence and the controversial identification of pro-government people in the violent protesters.[citation needed] For the 3 days that there were no violent incidents, there was no official reaction, but the second violence started – again, very controversial violence that had nothing to do with the actual protests – the official position only mentioned that violence.[27]. However, Romanian authorities made no attempt to address the other complaints, nor to carry any dialogue with the protesters.

Other cities

Protesters started anti-government rallies, on Saturday 13 January 2012, also in major cities like Cluj-Napoca, Piteşti, Târgovişte, Iaşi, Timişoara, Bacău, Reşiţa, Suceava, Bistriţa, Târgu Mureş, Braşov, Arad, Constanţa and other 16 cities across Romania.

Cluj-Napoca

Demonstrators from Union Square, Cluj-Napoca, whose number has reached about 600, left, in Monday evening, in a march through the center of Cluj-Napoca, chanting anti-government and anti-presidential slogans and having placards with messages such as "PDL and USL, the same misery". Participants in the march were supervised by gendarmes, and protesters beared large tricolors.[28]

Timişoara

About one hundred people, most revolutionists, gathered on Sunday at around 14.00, in Victory Square, Timişoara, at a meeting against President Traian Băsescu. The meeting is authorized and is scheduled to 17.00, when in Victory Square are expected supporters of football team Poli Timişoara, at an unauthorized meeting, which was initiated through the Facebook social network.[29]

Iaşi

About four hundred people gathered Sunday at Iaşi, to attend the meeting of solidarity with Dr. Raed Arafat, initiated by the Iaşi Liberal Party's youth organization, in Union Square. Protesters gathered both in Union Square, and Palace of Culture Square, the protesters from the last location coming in march to Union Square, where it held a protest meeting.[30]

Effects

References

  1. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/world/europe/romanians-protest-austerity-measures.html
  2. ^ Romanian police fire tear gas in 3rd day of anti-government protests against austerity cuts. Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  3. ^ BBC. BBC. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  4. ^ Ce a făcut Băsescu în timpul protestelor din ultimele două zile. Rtv.net. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  5. ^ PROTESTE ÎN BUCUREŞTI. Băsescu a fost şi ieri, şi azi la Palatul Cotroceni. Gandul.info. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Legile privind reducerea cu 25% a salariilor bugetarilor şi recalcularea pensiilor, publicate în MO". Gândul. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Presa de azi: Boc taie pensii şi salarii sau nu le dă deloc". Ziare.com. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  8. ^ Bechir, Mariana (4 March 2011). "Dezbaterile "Adevărul": Codul Muncii, un pas uriaş spre capitalism". Adevărul. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Sindicatele reiau mâine protestele legate de Codul Muncii". Evenimentul Zilei. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  10. ^ Bechir, Mariana (20 February 2011). "De ce au trecut patronatele de partea sindicatelor în urma schimbării Codului Muncii". Adevărul. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  11. ^ Ciobanu, Rodica; Sultănoiu, Marian (6 April 2011). "Într-o jumătate de mandat, Boc şi-a asumat răspunderea cât toţi ceilalţi premieri în 20 de ani de guvernare. Ce spun foştii prim-miniştri despre această practică". Gândul. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  12. ^ Mixich, Vlad (28 December 2011). "Ce ar fi adus noua lege a sănătăţii pentru pacienţi, medici şi industria asigurărilor?". Hotnews.ro. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  13. ^ Mixich, Vlad (6 January 2012). "Raed Arafat despre reforma în sănătate şi acuzaţiile lui Traian Băsescu". Hotnews.ro. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Raed Arafat, despre noua lege: Misiunea salvării de vieţi, înlocuită de competiţia comercială". Mediafax. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Băsescu: Dacă este un duşman al apariţiei a încă unui sistem privat de sănătate, el este Raed Arafat". Mediafax. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  16. ^ Deleanu, Valentina (9 January 2012). "T. Băsescu s-a războit cu Raed Arafat în direct la TV: "Nu e de acord, pleacă!"". Adevărul. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  17. ^ Deleanu, Valentina (10 January 2012). "Raed Arafat şi-a dat demisia: "Nu se poate susţine ca eu sunt împotriva sistemului"". Adevărul. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  18. ^ Stan, Daniela (11 January 2012). "Raed Arafat susţinut de tineri la Cluj". Adevărul. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  19. ^ Burtescu, Alin (13 January 2012). "SMURD, extremă urgenţă! Proteste de solidaritate cu Raed Arafat în toată ţar". Puterea. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Miting de susţinere pentru Raed Arafat: 1.500 de oameni au ieşit în stradă la Târgu Mureş". Mediafax. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  21. ^ Lica, Cristina (13 March 2011). "Ministrul Ritli a retras legea Sănătăţii, la cererea preşedintelui Băsescu". Evenimentul Zilei. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  22. ^ a b CNN IReport. Ireport.cnn.com. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  23. ^ O nouă rundă de PROTESTE în Bucureşti şi Timişoara. Manifestanţii au început să vină. Sunt aşteptaţi şi studenţi. Antena3.ro. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  24. ^ Primele petarde aruncate asupra jandarmilor. Ninsoarea a incetat. 9 manifestanti au fost dusi la sectie: unul cu droguri, ceilalti cu torte si petarde. Hotnews.ro. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  25. ^ Ce nu s-a văzut la proteste: Jandarmii agresează o persoană care filmează. Realitatea.net (1970-01-01). Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  26. ^ Aurel Moise, şeful jandarmeriei: Au fost şi cazuri în care jandarmii au exagerat. Realitatea.net (1970-01-01). Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  27. ^ Primele declaraţii ale lui Emil Boc de la începerea protestelor: Violenţele compromit stabilitatea economică. Antena3.ro. Retrieved on 17 January 2012.
  28. ^ Gândul.info - Protests in Cluj-Napoca
  29. ^ Gândul.info - Protests in Timişoara
  30. ^ Tele'M.ro - Third day of protests in several cities across Romania

Template:Anti-government protests in the 21st century

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