NID: ROMANIA: ANTIREGIME PROTESTS

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826830
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: December 19, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826830
I �1
ROMANIA: Antiregime Protests
The protests in Timisoara and Arad over the weekend, the largest since
the Brasov riots in 1987, are the latest signals that the corrupt and
repressive Ceausescu regime cannot Iniefinitely resist the changes
engulfing Eastern Europe.
Security has.been tightened throughout the country since riot
police opened fire on thousands of antigovernment demonstrators
in the two cities in ethnically diverse Transylvania. Timisoara was
outwardly calm yesterday, despite unconfirmed reports that hundrcds
of demonstrators were killed and a number arrested by heavily armed
security forces. The fate of Laszlo Tokes, the ethnic Hungarian
clergyman and civil rights activist whose court-ordered eviction
sparked the protests, is unknown. Romania has closed its borders
with Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and the USSR. President
Ceausescu yesterday proceeded with a scheduled visit to Iran.
Comment: The brutal response to the demonstrations signals
Ceausescu's determination to continue to resist popular demands for
change, even at the risl of further international criticism and deeper
isolation. His decision not to postpone his trip to Tehran was
calculated to project confidence and strength, although privately
he has become increasingly alarmed about the impact of Bloc
developments on his regime. He has acknowledged, for instance, that
reform ideas have infected the party and galvanized forces eager to
depose him. He has also decreed that shortages of consumer goods,
particularly food, should be eliminated within two years, presumably
in an attem t to dampen public unrest over shortages this winter.
Ceausescu's crackdown indicates that he retains the loyalty of the
privileged security forces, at least for now. They fear any relaxation
of controls would make them targets for popular rage. but their
reliability will be increasingly doubtful as the political and economic
crisis deepens. They could eventually support a disaffected individual
or group in the party leadership and move against the hardli
dictator under tI7 banner of nationalist renewal.
"-TOrSe)
'ICS 2993/89
19 December 1969
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Antigovernment Demonstrations, 16-17 December 1989
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Hungarians Outraged, Soviets Quiet So Far
The Hungarian National Assembly yesterday condemned Romania's persecution of Laszlo
Tokes as a brutal violation of basic human rights and urged the Budapest government to take
specific steps to defend Tokes and his congregation. The ruling Socialist Party has issued its
own condemnation of Romania. About 50,000 participated in a demonstration in Budapest
last night called by the Hungarian Democratic Forum to protest the Romanian actions.
Romania-bashing is a sure way to win votes in Hungary, and the increasing openness of
Hungarian politics could encourage partisan competition in demanding sanctions against
Romania. If demonstrators believe rumors of great bloodshed, Hungarian police may have
difficulty protecting the Romanian Embassy from attacks.
Moscow has not commentec officially on the Tokes affair, and press coverage of the riots
has been light. Today's edition of Izvestiya, however, refers to Tokes as a human rights
champion and notes that his house arrest has attracted international attention. Moscow is
likely to condemn the violence, reiterate the need for reform, and offer at least private
support for Hungary's efforts to raise the issue internationally.
"1"--71r) Sew
TCS 2993/89 19 December 1989
Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826830