This year, the crowd begins to chant unscripted comments back at the dictator. PROSECUTOR: And who wrote the papers for you, Elena? The video- shown live on Romanian television-- shows his confusion and consternation and the barely audible comments. Nicolae Ceauescu had been making speeches for over a couple of decades. I ask the court, as the plaintiff, to take note that proof has been furnished for all these points, that the two have committed the offenses mentioned. 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. It gave no further details. ELENA CEAUESCU: The intelligentsia of the country will hear what you are accusing us of. The front rows of the assembly were made up of low-level Communist Party officials and members who acted as cheer-leaders. And so should such reports chill one to the bone. Elena and Nicolae reject this. As the other primary sources reveal, the Ceausescus were tried a few days later and executed as enemies of the new Romanian state. George thought about it for awhile and concluded he just couldnt. Now the counsel for the defense, who was appointed by the court, asks whether Nicolae and Elena Ceauescu know the aforementioned facts that he is no longer president, that she has lost all official functions. And we will not betray our people here. In 1947, King Michael showed more dignity than you. PROSECUTOR: You claim to have taken measures so that every peasant is entitled to 200 kilograms of wheat. What happened? The next he was a hunted man. Elena and Nicolae Ceasescu state: Well, you told us about it. They are cowards. You were not used to talking to the people. PROSECUTOR: Children cannot even buy plain candy, and you are living in the palaces of the people. The slippage that attracts the most attention of course, is discontent within the United States military. Lech Walesa has openly accused president Obama as unable to lead in world. Why did you ruin the country so much: Why did you export everything? There is still shooting going on, the prosecutor says. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The Land of Green Plums, Mller, Herta at the best online prices at eBay! You should have stayed in Iran where you had flown to. Now the counsel for the defense, who was appointed by the court, asks whether Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu know the aforementioned facts -- that he is no longer president, that she has lost all official functions. Its provisional leader is the 73-year-old former Foreign Minister, Mr Corneliu Mnescu. PROSECUTOR: Please, ask Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu whether they have ever had a mental illness. And Elena says: It is incredible what they are inventing, incredible. The workers were augmented by bystanders who were rounded up on Calea Victoriei. They are speaking about injustice, ineptitude and impeachment. Because of this indictment, I call for the death sentence and the impounding of the entire property of the two accused. But we are not talking about people. The entire intelligentsia of the country ran away. The archive focuses largely on the period from 1965, when Romania was ruled over by the Ceausescus, until. If you had had a mental illness and admitted this, you would not be responsible for your acts. 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. ELENA CEAUESCU: Accounts in Switzerland? PROSECUTOR: We have wonderful programs. CEAUSESCU: Is it possible that we are facing such charges? NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I do not recognize you. The message was apparently sent on the understanding that Mr Ceauescu had been arrested. A horse or a hearse? These two defendants procured the most luxurious foodstuffs and clothes from abroad. Tell the people that I will answer all their questions. Immediately before them were plainclothes Securitate agents and a row of police militia, who kept the mass of the crowd about thirty yards back from the front of the Central Committee building. The court notes that the investigations have been concluded. Paper is patient. He answers: I am the president of Romania, and I am the commander in chief of the Romanian army. First their narratives become so infested with lies they go out of sync with their own administrators on the ground. Ti-mi-oa-ra! As the crowd becomes more unruly, Ceausescu becomes more confused and he begins arguing with the unseen hecklers. And today you are acting in the same megalomaniac way. The Man at the Top increasingly pulls on disconnected controls, yet still imagines he is in charge. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: No, no. Perhaps the biggest example of thisis a CBO report that while 30 million people will technically be liable to pay the Obamacare Individual Mandate fine but in practice all but 4 million will have their fines waived or exempted. 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. PROSECUTOR: By now, there have been 34 casualties. In the uprising by people against Ceausescu during this speech and in subsequent days 1,058 people lost there lives. At the beginning, Ceausescu claimed that it is a provocation to be asked whether he was sick. At some point the entire structure of governance becomes a system of workarounds with all real power devolved to the man on the ground. The following is a transscript of the closed trial of Romanian Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, as shown on Romanian and Austrian television. PROSECUTOR: In the same way he refused to hold a dialogue with the people, now he also refuses to speak with us. He refused to undergo a psychiatric examination. Military base Trgovite - December 25th 1989. All the world should know what is going on here. They are shooting at children; they are shooting arbitrarily into the apartments. Because of the crimes they committed against the people, I plead, on behalf of the victims of these two tyrants, for the death sentence for the two defendants. PROSECUTOR: Well, Mr. I am a member and the chairwoman of the Academy of Sciences. CEAUSESCU: No, we will not sign. The prosecutor wants to find out on which basis the trial can be continued. 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. However, they will be indicted, and a sentence will be passed on the basis of the new legal system. PROSECUTOR: Nicolae Ceausescu should tell us why he does not answer our questions. The collapse of the narrative doesnt happen in a single big step, but through an accumulation of small, personal, often innocuous refusals. PROSECUTOR: Please, make a note: Nicolae Ceausescu refuses to cooperate with the court-appointed counsel for the defense. A caretaker government was announced within an hour of the dictators capture. They wanted to separate the people from the army. 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. The Three Conjectures at Amazon Kindle for $1.99, reflections on terrorism and the nuclear age PROSECUTOR: So you know the new forum. Within hours Ceauescu was beseiged inside the Central Committee building by irate crowds. CEAUSESCU: I do not recognize this new forum. However, there is a difference between real sickness that must be treated and mental insanity which leads to corresponding actions, but which is denied by the person in question. PROSECUTOR: Yes, but you are paying the mercenaries. CEAUSESCU: I repeat: I am the president of Romania and the commander in chief of the Romanian army. CEAUSESCU: No, no. 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 Marxist-Leninist wooden language. However, he had badly misread the crowds mood. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: No, we had no palaces. Elena and Nicolae Ceauescu must be held fully responsible for this. They are cowards. At the moment the situation is rather uncertain. The prosecutor says: The world already knows what has happened here. 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. The entire intelligentsia of the country ran away. The new committee declared its immediate aim was an end to the cult of personality which had developed around the Ceauescu family. We have sufficient data on this period. His security guard appears, disappears and, finally, hustles Ceausescu off the balcony. The story of Ceauescu's final speech is a textbook example. I hope that you do not also work for the foreigners and for the destruction of Romania. As the other primary sources reveal, the Ceausescus were tried a few days later and executed as enemies of the new Romanian state. All their property will be impounded. PROSECUTOR: Do you not know anything about the order to shoot? As hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when . 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. What about the accounts? They not only deprived the people of heating, electricity and foodstuffs, they also tyrannized the soul of the Romanian people. You were so impertinent as to cut off oxygen lines in hospitals and to shoot people in their hospital beds. His 1936 mugshot at age 18 still haunts the internet. The mighty Law of the Land is exposed as all bark and no bite; a fine they cant enforce. The palaces belong to the people. The prosecutor agrees, but stresses that they lived in them while the people suffered. However, he had badly misread the crowd's mood. PROSECUTOR: The people are fighting against you, not against the new forum. Captive: My Time as a Prisoner of the Taliban Finally, I would like to refer once more to the genocide, the numerous killings carried out during the past few days. O voce: Un pahar cu apa! Suntem in fata unui tribunal al poporului. His security guard appears, disappears and, finally, hustles Ceausescu off the balcony. Everybody should be paid according to his performance. A voice in the studio said that the army was wholly on the side of the people. In 1947, we assumed power, but under completely different circumstances. Ceausescu claims that the putsch was organized from abroad. Sections in italic type are from the austrian television comentary: Only the front rows supported Ceauescu with cheers and applause, with most of the crowd remaining impassive. The atmosphere was one of jubilation, and the over-riding feeling among the thousands celebrating in the city centre before the shooting began was one of undiluted triumph. 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. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I do not recognize this court. The Lion and the Unicorn: Gladstone vs. Disraeli They have lost all respect for their commander in chief. What defamation, what provocations! I am the president of the people. Their son, Nicu, was shown on television under arrest. Finally, I would like to refer once more to the genocide, the numerous killings carried out during the past few days. As the crowd becomes more unruly, Ceausescu becomes more confused and he begins arguing with the unseen hecklers. ELENA CEAUSESCU: Incredible. A lie, a lie in my face. Ceausescu answers: As I said before, the people are fighting for their freedom and against this putsch, against this usurpation. What prevents him from doing so? ELENA CEAUESCU: Such impudence! But those who shot at the young people were the security men, the terrorists. Bucharest television said that they had left the country. However, why are your programs not implemented? A flight into peril, flashbacks to underground action. 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). 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. The administrations threats, so dire on paper, are toothless in practice because they actually cant afford to carry out the threat. Did you know that you can purchase some of these books and pamphlets by Richard Fernandez and share them with you friends? Another question . What do you think? The defendant has not recognized us. Its not that we dont want to respect the commander-in-chief, one told me sadly. I will not answer you putschists, Ceausescu says. They were even worse than the king, the former king of Romania. They wanted to separate the people from the army. Elena answers: The intellectuals of this country should hear you, you and your colleagues. Ceausescu's last speech was interrupted but not by the shouts of the masses. And I also do not recognize the counsel for the defense. Then he is treated like a normal citizen. And the next moment he was lying in the dust. PROSECUTOR: Why do you think that people are fighting today? 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. I just couldnt convince myself to do it., He is not alone. Who pays them? They were only busy enslaving the people and building up an apparatus of power. Ford said of his resignation,I was no longer in a position where I felt I could defend the American policy. Sooner or later inability to credit yoga or videos produced in Los Angeles as actual factors becomes more and more widespread. 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. Faithless Execution: Building the Political Case for Obamas Impeachment At the beginning, Ceauescu claimed that it is a provocation to be asked whether he was sick. In response, Ceauescu raised his right hand in hopes of silencing the crowd; his stunned expression remains one of the defining moments of the end of Communism in Eastern Europe. President Nicolae Ceauescu was overthrown yesterday and became a fugitive in the country he has ruled for 24 years as remnants of his personal troops fought bitter last battles with regular soldiers and demonstrators in the streets of the Romanian capital. Who pays them? The following is a transscript of the closed trial of Romanian Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, as shown on Romanian and Austrian television. Now you know what members of our U.S. military are thinking and saying. You held monologues and the people had to applaud, like in the rituals of tribal people. 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. The Soviet Parliament expressed its approval of the fall of President Ceauescu and sent to the Romanian people a special message of support proposed by President Gorbachev. But we are not talking about people. What about the accounts? Sections in italic type are from Austrian television comentary: NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I only recognize the Grand National Assembly. It should be stated once and for all that this military court is absolutely legal and that the former positions of the two Ceauescus are no longer valid. This shows again how false the charges are. The destruction of buildings and state institutions, undermining of the national economy, in accordance with Articles 165 and 145 of the penal code. You were the most important aide, the number two in the cabinet, in the government. 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. The two defendants should also know that they are entitled to a counsel for defense, even if they reject this. CEAUSESCU: We had no account in Switzerland. No one wanted to do anything for you anymore. He still considers himself to be the country's president and the commander in chief of the army. No one can dissolve the National Assembly. The counsel for the defense now takes the floor and instructs the Ceauescus once again that they have the right to defense and that they should accept this right. What do you think? 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 . If he no longer has a certain function, he cannot demand anything at all. Another question to Ceausescu: Who ordered the bloodbath in Timisoara. The Securitate had hidden food reserves on which Bucharest could have survived for months, the whole of Bucharest. "Stenographic transcript of meeting of the Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party," August 17, 1968, History . The War of the Words for $3.99, Understanding the crisis of the early 21st century in terms of information corruption in the financial, security and political spheres Earlier, joyful crowds had paraded through the city after reports that Mr Ceauescu had been arrested after trying to flee from the roof of the party headquarters by helicopter. ELENA CEAUSESCU: The intelligentsia of the country will hear what you are accusing us of. 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. CEAUSESCU: I do not recognize this court. PROSECUTOR: You have never been able to hold a dialogue with the people. Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway Stanley double-crossed Richard at the crucial moment. This demonstrates their lack of understanding. No, no, he says. No one can deprive me of these functions. The catastrophic situation of the country is known all over the world. Nicolae Ceauescu (Romanian pronunciation: [nikola.e ta.uesku]; 26 January 1918 25 December 1989) was a Romanian politician who was the Secretary Gener. The prosecutor wants to find out on which basis the trial can be continued. Have you understood them? Not a single shot. CEAUSESCU: Nobody can change the state structures. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I will not answer this question. PROSECUTOR: Esteemed Mr. Chairman, I have been one of those who, as a lawyer, would have liked to oppose the death sentence, because it is inhuman. Elena answers: The intellectuals of this country should hear you, you and your colleagues. PROSECUTOR: Will you sign the statement now or not? CEAUSESCU: I do not recognize you. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: Her scientific papers were published abroad! Ceauescu's final speech is a speech delivered by Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauescu on 21 December 1989. By the way, I will not answer any more questions. Yet there is a big difference between grousing, which is endemic to the military, and actual rebellion. However, why are your programs not implemented? 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. Elena keeps whispering to him. PROSECUTOR: By now, there have been 34 casualties. Then he is treated like a normal citizen. I have observed that she is not even able to read correctly, but she calls herself an university graduate. You need not admit your mistakes, mister. Elena and Nicolae Ceauescu state: Well, you told us about it. But who gave the order to shoot? 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. Ceauescu's speech of 21 August 1968 [English Subtitles] Transcrierea discursului lui Ceauescu: 01:08 Nicolae Ceauescu: Dragi tovari. Why did you make the peasants starve? PROSECUTOR: So you know the new forum. The defendant has not recognized us. Who are these fanatics? You see, there is no use in talking to these people. We have sufficient data on this period. And you might perhaps have achieved the understanding of the Romanian people if you had now admitted your guilt. And who brought them into the country? Now we are making a last attempt. CEAUSESCU: Nu recunosc nici un tribunal in afara de Marea Adunare Nationala. He always claimed to act and speak on behalf of the people, to be a beloved son of the people, but he only tyrannized the people all the time. If he no longer has a certain function, he cannot demand anything at all. Some people will continue to believe the narrative, but even among the acolytes, the fatal smoke of doubt has entered the temple. They used to fetch people from orphans' homes or from abroad whom they trained in special institutions to become murderers of their own people. PROSECUTOR: Who gave the order to shoot in Bucharest, for instance? I do not recognize this court. PROSECUTOR: We now have another leading organ. 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. The details are known. The Idiot Vote: The Democrats Core Constituency The prosecutor quotes Ceauescu, Ceauescu's program. Shakespeare dramatized the turnabout in his famous scene. It was one of the most pivotal moments in the Romanian Revolution of 1989. This is not possible. You have information about it. Here Nicolae Ceausescu steps in and defends her. This shows how little patriotism there is, how many treasonable offenses were committed.
Infinitum: Subject Unknown Ending Explained,
Dekalb, Il Police Shooting,
Articles C