Romanians mark 1989 revolt, reject government’s amnesty plan
12/22/18, 15:36
A woman holds a photograph of a 1989 uprising victim while singing the national anthem along with others during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. More than 1,000 Romanians have demanded more democracy during an anti-government march to commemorate the victims of 1989 anti-communist revolt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Romanians are demanding more democracy at an anti-government march to commemorate the victims of the country’s 1989 anti-communist revolt.
Protesters gathered Saturday outside government offices in Bucharest carrying candles and Romanian flags before marching to Revolution Square, where late Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu fled in a helicopter as crowds demanded his ouster.
The demonstrators chanted “We don’t want to be governed by thieves!” demanding that Romania’s Social Democratic government scrap a plan to grant amnesty to those convicted of corruption.
Oana Solomon told The Associated Press: “People died in 1989 because they wanted Romania to be free … we don’t want to go back to those days.”
Some 1,104 people died during the 1989 uprising that toppled Ceausescu. He was executed with his wife Elena after a summary trial on Christmas Day.
A woman cries during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. More than 1,000 Romanians have demanded more democracy during an anti-government march to commemorate the victims of 1989 anti-communist revolt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)A woman lights candles at a memorial for the 1989 uprising victims during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Dec. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)People hold a banner carrying anti-communist slogans of the 1989 uprising during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Dec. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)A woman waves a Romanian flag during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. More than 1,000 Romanians have demanded more democracy during an anti-government march to commemorate the victims of 1989 anti-communist revolt. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)A child plays with snow, backdropped by adults wrapped in European Union and Romanian flags during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Dec. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
