Tyrannies are buried by the shovel of self-deception. [3], From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, The former headquarters of the Central Committee of the, File:Ceausescu Final Speech - Former Central Committee Building - Bucharest - Romania.jpg, Video of Ceausescus Last Speech, December 1989, Nicolae Ceauescu LAST SPEECH (english subtitles) 1/2, https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Ceauescu%27s_final_speech&oldid=714636674, Articles with Romanian-language external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core. The people only received 200 grams per day, against an identity card. PROSECUTOR: Mr. Chairman, we find the two accused guilty of having committed criminal actions according to the following articles of the penal code: Articles 162, 163, 165 and 357. quotes Israeli oppositionists as accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of loathing Barack Obama so intensely it has endangering the Jewish states security. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I do not recognize this court. I am now talking to you as simple citizens, and I hope that you will tell the truth. CEAUSESCU: I do not answer, I will only answer questions before the Grand National Assembly. PROSECUTOR: Note the following: The defendant refuses to sign this statement. PROSECUTOR: Who ordered shooting into the crowd? Ceauescu's speech of 21 August 1968 [English Subtitles] Transcrierea discursului lui Ceauescu: 01:08 Nicolae Ceauescu: Dragi tovari. PROSECUTOR: The people are fighting against you, not against the new forum. PROSECUTOR: Who ordered shooting into the crowd? Romania's Lying, Thieving, Widely Hated First Lady | OZY PROSECUTOR: Let us now talk about the accounts in Switzerland, Mr. Ceausescu. These two defendants procured the most luxurious foodstuffs and clothes from abroad. The Defence Minister, General Vasile Milea, was said to have committed suicide although it is equally possible he was shot by a member of the Ceauescu retinue. Almost none of the uninsured will end up paying the ObamaCare mandate penalty, according to an updated analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, which found that 87% will be able to claim an exemption. The palaces belong to the people. PROSECUTOR: Why do you think that people are fighting today? Another question . I ask the chairman of the prosecutor's office to read the bill of indictment. Romanian demonstrators gathered in front of the headquarters of the Romanian Communist Party in Bucharest during the 1989 anti-communist revolution, 22 December 1989. Therefore, it is a mistake for the two accused to refuse to cooperate with us. 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. They are shooting at children; they are shooting arbitrarily into the apartments. Another question to Ceauescu: Who ordered the bloodbath in Timisoara. How can one say something like this? We will speak only at the National Assembly, because we have worked hard for the people all our lives. Suntem in fata unui tribunal al poporului. The defendant has not recognized us. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I do not recognize this court. Ceauescu answers: As I said before, the people are fighting for their freedom and against this putsch, against this usurpation. They are speaking about injustice, ineptitude and impeachment. "Video of Ceausescus Last Speech, December 1989," Making the History of 1989, Item #696, https://chnm.gmu.edu/1989/items/show/696 (accessed May 28 2021, 3:24 pm). Description One of the most decisive moments in the Romanian Revolution of 1989 was Ceausescu's December 21st speech (or lack thereof). I have nothing to do with them. PROSECUTOR: Who gave the order to shoot in Bucharest, for instance? 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. Transcript of the closed trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceauescu You told us about it here. PROSECUTOR: Children cannot even buy plain candy, and you are living in the palaces of the people. PROSECUTOR: Did you hear the charges? Usurpers have been punished severely during the past centuries in Romania's history. 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. The workers were augmented by bystanders who were rounded up on Calea Victoriei. Absolute Power: The Astonishing Personal Photos Of Nicolae Ceausescu CEAUSESCU: No, the people are fighting for freedom and against the new forum. Sections in italic type are from Austrian television comentary: NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I only recognize the Grand National Assembly. Dressed in a black Persian lamb hat with matching coat collar, Ceausesecu, 71, was . Workers from a Bucharest power plant started chanting "Ti-mi-oa-ra! One of the fundamental defenses of a democracy is the truth. Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 4, 2023. I will not answer you putschists, Ceausescu says. "Stenographic transcript of meeting of the Executive Committee of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party," August 17, 1968, History . Military base Trgovite - December 25th 1989. Military base Tirgoviste - December 25th 1989. The notorious programme of razing villages in the countryside would be halted. PROSECUTOR: The people are fighting against you, not against the new forum. The balcony where Ceauescu delivered his last speech, taken over by the crowd during the Romanian Revolution of 1989 The speech was typical of most of Ceauescu's speeches over the years. PROSECUTOR: This situation is known. Ceauescu's speech of 21 August 1968 [English Subtitles] - Readable As the crowd becomes more unruly, Ceausescu becomes more confused and he begins arguing with the unseen hecklers. Recent items of interest by Belmont readers based on Amazon click-throughs. I am a member and the chairwoman of the Academy of Sciences. We have sufficient data on this period. The Lion and the Unicorn: Gladstone vs. Disraeli CEAUSESCU: I do not recognize this court. PROSECUTOR: You claim to have taken measures so that every peasant is entitled to 200 kilograms of wheat. Stanley double-crossed Richard at the crucial moment. Defendant, if you had no accounts in Switzerland, will you sign a statement confirming that the money that may be in Switzerland should be transferred to the Romanian state, the State Bank. This speech was an annual event and carefully scripted by the regime to ensure both success and the appearance of popular support. That is why the people are fighting all over the country. They are cowards. The process usually follows this path. This speech was an annual event and carefully scripted by the regime to insure both success and the appearance of popular support. What do you think? I only recognize the working class and the Grand National Assembly no one else. All their property will be impounded. This speech was an annual event and carefully scripted by the regime to insure both success and the appearance of popular support. Why did you make the peasants starve? Who pays them? PROSECUTOR: In all district capitals, which you grandly called municipalities, there is shooting going on. Fanatics, whom you are paying. What do you say as a citizen? PROSECUTOR: But not of our army, you are not the commander in chief of our army. Since the old government has been dissolved and Ceausescu has lost his functions, he no longer has the right to be treated as the president. Ceausescu relates his recent meeting with Dubcek in Prague in August 1968. 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. The story of Ceauescu's final speech is a textbook example. The prosecutor quotes Ceauescu, Ceauescu's program. But who gave the order to shoot? But by then there was nowhere to hide. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I will not sign anything. ELENA CEAUSESCU: The terrorists are from Securitate. CEAUSESCU: Is it possible that we are facing such charges? Then he is treated like a normal citizen. I will not say anything here. All Rights Reserved. But who gave the order to shoot? Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu appeared on the balcony of the Central Committee of Comunmunist Party of Romania building, in Bucharest, Romania, on 21 December 1989, and began as he had in years past, with a speech laden with the usual `wooden language`. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: No one recognizes that. Are they the people, or are you paying them? No one was shot. His security guard appears, disappears and, finally, hustles Ceausescu off the balcony. ELENA CEAUSESCU: Such impudence! This page was last edited on 8 October 2016, at 23:48. COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE: Even though he -- like her -- committed insane acts, we want to defend them. Those moments of Ceausescus weakness and the power of popular pressure explain why, a mere 48 hours later, Ceausescu was attempting to flee Romania, all power lost. After many people began to exit the square, Ceauescu shouted over the public address system for them to "remain seated". The produce which the peasants grew was exported, and the peasants came from the most remote provinces to Bucharest and to the other cities in order to buy bread. PROSECUTOR: Yes, but you are paying the mercenaries. I do not recognize this court. The defendant has not recognized us. Later reports suggested the couple had been captured. PROSECUTOR: By now, there have been 34 casualties. The crimes against the people grew year by year. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17U.S.C. Not a single shot was fired in Palace Square. ELENA CEAUSESCU: The intelligentsia of the country will hear what you are accusing us of. Nicolae Ceausescu LAST SPEECH english subtitles 2/2 - YouTube 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. This page was last modified on 10 April 2016, at 21:40. PROSECUTOR: Did you know about the genocide or did you, as a chemist, only deal with polymers? The president of the United States is the commander in chief over all branches of the military. "This is the final battle," he said. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: No, the people are fighting for freedom and against the new forum. You are faced with charges that you held really sumptuous celebrations on all holidays at your house. This shows again how false the charges are. ELENA CEAUSESCU: How can one tell us something like this? Tip Jar or Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the Belmont Club. Answer this question! You were the most important aide, the number two in the cabinet, in the government. He refused to undergo a psychiatric examination. PROSECUTOR: This is how you worked with the people and exercised your functions! The people were slaves. The prosecutor turns to Elena: You have always been wiser and more ready to talk, a scientist. I will only speak at the Grand National Assembly. The prosecutor wants to find out on which basis the trial can be continued. TheWashington Timesreports that a top intelligence official is accusing the Obama admininistration of funding a terror network for the next ten years, alleging the administration paid a cash ransom to redeem Bowe Bergdahl. Its provisional leader is the 73-year-old former Foreign Minister, Mr Corneliu Mnescu. ELENA CEAUESCU: Such impudence! The charges are incorrect, and I will not answer a single question here. What about the accounts? Centralized regimes may seem to collapse suddenly, yet in reality they have been coming apart for a long time. I will only speak in front of it. The court notes that the investigations have been concluded. You are guilty of these offenses even if you do not want to admit it. PROSECUTOR: We have wonderful programs. a silent falling away among American allies. PROSECUTOR: We now have another leading organ. They are not only accused of offenses committed during the past few days, but of offenses committed during the past 25 years. The day began as it ended with vehement anti-Ceauescu demonstrations. But those who shot at the young people were the security men, the terrorists. 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). He then tried to placate the crowd by offering to raise workers' salaries by 200 lei per month (about 18 U.S. dollars at the time, yet a 10%-20% raise for a modest salary) and student scholarships from 100 to 110 lei while continuing to praise the achievements of the past 42 years. What defamation, what provocations! Unprecedented Interruption of Ceausescu's Speech With AM-Romania, Bjt 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. After an outage of transmission of Romanian television, the speaker announces the verdict in the trial of Elena and Nicolae Ceausescu is death sentence. ELENA CEAUSESCU: We will not sign any statement. Elena answers: The intellectuals of this country should hear you, you and your colleagues. 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. Ceauescu was finally cornered in a small town, where he and his wife were subjected to a summary trial, taken out to the courtyard and shot. ALISON SMALE December 21, 1989. Trump says "this is the final battle" as he lays out grievances, 2024 NICOLAE CEAUESCU: We will discuss this before the Grand National Assembly. Ceausescu's last speech was interrupted but not by the shouts of the masses. Romania's dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's final speech (executed 12/25) More Notable Events on December 21: 1997 Detroit Lions Barry Sanders is 3rd to run for 2,000 yards in a season 1991 U.S. actress Jane Fonda marries CNN-director Ted Turner 1989 Dan Quayle sends out 30,000 Xmas cards with word beacon spelled beakon CEAUSESCU: I do not recognize you. The next he was a hunted man. PROSECUTOR: Whether you have ever had a mental illness. The destruction of buildings and state institutions, undermining of the national economy, in accordance with Articles 165 and 145 of the penal code. 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. You were not used to talking to the people. Elena Ceauescu's last moments were as pathetic as one could imagine. Making use of Marxist-Leninist rhetoric, he delivered a litany of the achievements of the "socialist revolution" and Romanian "multi-laterally developed . PROSECUTOR: This would serve your defense. One of the first acts of the new leadership was to place the security forces, the dreaded Securitate, under control of the army. Fanatics, whom you are paying. They used to fetch people from orphans' homes or from abroad whom they trained in special institutions to become murderers of their own people. We are all equal. PROSECUTOR: So you know the new forum. In response, the two laugh, and she says: We do not stay abroad. Ceauescu's final speech is a speech delivered by Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauescu on 21 December 1989. You were the most important aide, the number two in the cabinet, in the government. Thirty years on, will the guilty pay for horror of Ceauescu orphanages? Who pays them? The National Salvation Front is now our supreme body. The Ceauescu administrations Prime Minister, Mr Constantin Dsclescu, and his government were said to have resigned. George thought about it for awhile and concluded he just couldnt. As hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when . You have destroyed the Romanian villages and the Romanian soil. 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! By 6 pm, Romanian television was broadcasting live reports of victory rallies attended by thousands in Bucharest. Diane Dimond writes in Real Clear Politicsabout the low level grumbling that risen to detectable levels since the Bergdahl affair. Despite this, I ask the court to make a decision which we will be able to justify later as well. I am talking to you as simple citizens at the least, as simple citizens, and I tell you: I am the president of Romania. His security guard appears, disappears and, finally, hustles Ceausescu off the balcony. No one was shot. It is a historic time, given that no military member goes public to speak negatively about the ultimate commander. We live in a normal apartment, just like every other citizen. The catastrophic situation of the country is known all over the world. His 1936 mugshot at age 18 still haunts the internet. KGB technicians and agents made one of the most brilliant moves and played a recording of whistles and protests through installed speakers in the square. Elena and Nicolae Ceauescu should be punished in a really legal trial. In response, the two laugh, and she says: We do not stay abroad. I only recognize the working class and the Grand National Assembly -- no one else. 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. It is as if, in that moment, everyday Romanian's saw the possibility, saw the reality of the weakness of Ceausescus regime. This year, the crowd begins to chant unscripted comments back at the dictator. 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. The Securitate had hidden food reserves on which Bucharest could have survived for months, the whole of Bucharest. They organized the putsch. For example, George Ciampa, an 89-year old D-Day veteran refused an invitation to meet with President Obama at the White House. 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 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. At some point the entire structure of governance becomes a system of workarounds with all real power devolved to the man on the ground. 105). Wilson Center Digital Archive The Execution Spot of Nicolae Ceausescu - Dark Tourists This speech was an annual event and carefully scripted by the regime to insure both success and the appearance of popular support. Central planning in economics leads to a mismatch in prices and a collapse in the economy while a Central Narrative in politics leads to an increased incidence of involuntary rebellion. Hayek and Ceauescu's Last Speech - PJ Media The produce which the peasants grew was exported, and the peasants came from the most remote provinces to Bucharest and to the other cities in order to buy bread. PROSECUTOR: Who gave the order to shoot in Bucharest, for instance? The Three Conjectures at Amazon Kindle for $1.99, reflections on terrorism and the nuclear age They wanted to separate the people from the army. ELENA CEAUESCU: The intelligentsia of the country will hear what you are accusing us of. ELENA CEAUESCU: Accounts in Switzerland? Nobody has opened an account. CEAUSESCU: No, no. ELENA CEAUESCU: I will not answer. NICOLAE CEAUESCU: This is not possible at all. The administrations threats, so dire on paper, are toothless in practice because they actually cant afford to carry out the threat. ELENA CEAUSESCU: What genocide? CEAUSESCU: We had no account in Switzerland. 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. PROSECUTOR: Will you sign the statement now or not? 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. PROSECUTOR: Do you not know anything about the order to shoot? NICOLAE CEAUESCU: I will not answer this question. They were given red flags, banners and large pictures of Ceauescu. Immediately before them were plainclothes Securitate agents and a row of police militia, who kept the mass of the crowd about thirty meters back from the front of the Central Committee building. Workers from a Bucharest power plant started chanting Ti-mi-oa-ra! And you might perhaps have achieved the understanding of the Romanian people if you had now admitted your guilt. PROSECUTOR: You claim to have taken measures so that every peasant is entitled to 200 kilograms of wheat. Sections in italic type are from the austrian television comentary: NICOLAE CEAUSESCU: I only recognize the Grand National Assembly. Share . We are all equal. At that moment Elena says to Nicolae: Forget about them. If you had had a mental illness and admitted this, you would not be responsible for your acts.