Culture

Bucharest marks 30 years of the 'Mineriad'

Bucharest (Romania), Jun 12 (EFE), (Camera: Robert Ghement).-Romania is to mark 30 years since some 10,000 miners, manipulated by Ion Iliescu's government, took to the streets of the country's capital to attack anti-government protesters as well as the opposition party headquarters. Today, survivors of the brutal events still call for justice.FOOTAGE AND SOUNDBITES OF VASILE ENE, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF VICTIMS OF THE 1990-1991 MINERIADS:1.- "These days mark the 30th anniversary of the repression in June 1990, known as the 'Mineriad'".2.- "As victims, we created the Association of Victims of the 1990-1991 Mineriads and we opened a case thanks to a collective complaint in 1997.3.-" As the years passed the victims are still waiting for justice to be done. "4 .- "On June 13, 1990, the army and government troops evacuated the square and confirmed that there were no protesters left."5.- "But instead of closing this black chapter, they called the miners, who were received by government representatives."7 .-" More than 20,000 people came, including 10,000 miners, 5,000 of which were from the Jiu Valley. We have documents that show how the National Salvation Front (FSN) asked the Ministry of Transport to put trains to send them to Bucharest. "8.-" We can reproach Iliescu that, although the protests had faded, he asked the miners to occupy University Square. "9.-" Iliescu did nothing but send his troops to devastate Bucharest, beat the people, destroy the headquarters of the opposition parties and the newspapers and magazines which had appeared at the time. It was an attack on democracy. "10.-" I took my identity card from the miner and walked a few meters in this direction, but they hit me from behind with a stick and I lost consciousness. They hit me on the head, I had a fracture and I was paralyzed. Then they tied my hands and took me to the esplanade in front of the National Theater. "11.-" On June 13, 4 people were officially declared dead by gunshots and 18 wounded by bullets, one died of a heart attack at the University Square and one died from a knife wound near the media was."