Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to the Resistance in Bucharest

On 9th May this year, a permanent exhibition, 'Memory as a form of justice' of the Sighet Memorial to the Victims of Communism, opened in Bucharest. To many, it is unthinkable that there was nothing here in the capital to serve the purpose of memory and education for such a period in Romania's history up until now, but thanks once again to the dedication of Ana Blandiana and Romulus Rusan, it is finally here. 

The Sighet Memorial in Sighetul Marmatiei, northern Maramures, was established in 1997 as a reminder of the crimes against humanity committed by the communist regime. An international study centre was also founded there. Of all the former communist countries, Romania's suffrance was certainly the longest and the most painful - from the agonisingly interminable years of oppression and resistance, to Ceausescu's grotesque Golden Age.

"The greatest victory of communism, a victory dramatically revealed only after 1989, was to create people without a memory – a brainwashed new man unable to remember what he was, what he had, or what he did before communism.

The creation of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and to the Resistance in Sighetul Marmatiei is a means of counteracting this victory, a means to resuscitate the collective memory." (The Memorial of the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance)

It is a superb exhibition in a century-old house that has been nicely renovated. Twenty-three panels give a clear and concise summary in themes of the Sighet Memorial, including two interactive touch screens where you can follow the journeys of some of the hundreds of thousands of political prisoners. The front garden, too, reflects the Sighet museum with a reproduction from The Convoy of the Sacrificial Victims (sculptor Aurel Vlad).

With everything translated into excellent English, and thus accessible to tourists and expats too, there is no longer any excuse for those in Bucharest (whether Romanian or otherwise) to plead ignorance as to the terror, appalling brutality and dehumanisation that took place under communism, particularly throughout the 1950s. From Bărăgan to the Pitesti Experiment (a strangely unknown chapter in history for many Romanians), everything is carefully, sensitively and pedagogically documented. Books are available in Romanian, English, French and German and the lovely lady at the front desk bends over backwards to answer questions and search for information you may need.

If you can't get to the Sighet Memorial, the Sighet Memorial has come to Bucharest. Please take an hour or two to visit, and then take a seat (there are plenty). You'll need time to collect your thoughts before taking a deep breath and heading out into the street and another world, via the door from which you arrived....

For more on The Pitesti Experiment, described by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the 1970 Nobel Prize laureate for literature, as the "most terrible act of barbarism in the contemporary world", please see HERE. Further reading on the deportations to the Baragan Plain can be found HERE.

Free entry
Str Jean Luis Calderon, nr. 66, open daily from 10h-18h
+40 21 313 7628

Photos by Sarah In Romania

Nicolae Manolescu under investigation for unexplained wealth

(Photo source) Romania's Ambassador to UNESCO in Paris, Nicolae Manolescu, is under investigation for unexplained wealth. The ANI has stated the existence of a questionable difference of nearly 77,800 euros between his acquired fortune and the income he and his wife at the time came by in 2009.

Digi 24 says the ANI has ordered the Commission for the Investigation of Wealth as part of the Appeals Court to launch a full inspection into Manolescu's income and property whilst in public office. Manolescu has been notified of the specific elements under investigation, made aware of his rights and has submitted a statement for the file.

According to Mediafax, Manolescu has no idea what they're talking about and neither does he know about any ANI report (despite having issued a statement for the file) - he would love to have 78,000 euros to spend, he said... He did know there was a case in 2011, however, but he thought that had been closed.

Comments under the Digi24 article say that PM Victor Ponta may have been a source - one of them accuses Manolescu of refusing to publish a story on Ponta's plagiarism in Romania Literara for which he is director, suggesting that the amount in question was hush money. Other comments in the Mediafax article hyperlinked above allude to the nice cushy job he has in Paris with a rumoured 10,000 euros monthly salary as sinecura, ie. a choice position given for services rendered... He was appointed by President Basescu in 2006 and perhaps he is now trying to keep on the right side of PM Ponta to keep his luxurious lifestyle on par once President Basescu has exited this coming November.

Apart from his ambassadorship at UNESCO, Nicolae Manolescu is a well-known literary critic, historian and professor at the University of Bucharest from whence he obtained his PhD in Letters. A corresponding member of the Romanian Academy for 16 years, he was made full member last year. In addition, he is in his second term as Chairman of the Writers' Union.

The news of Manolescu's possibly ill-earned gains has spread like wild-fire throughout the media spectrum in Romania, particularly via the channels critical of Ponta such as B1TV, Hotnews and Revista 22 - there's very rarely this much smoke without fire. Watch this space for more...

Anni-Lorei Mainka - goodbye but never farewell

(Photo source) It was with enormous sadness that I learned this morning of poet Anni-Lorei Mainka's passing - and I still cannot believe it. It is impossible to say that 'she died', because people like Anni-Lorei never do. Her enormous heart, immense compassion and empathy for every living thing, her humour and her courage will remain always and her timeless poetry, ever present, all-embracing, will outlive us all.

I never had the honour of meeting her in person. We became friends via Facebook several years ago - and it was as if I had known her forever. Anni was like that. She was an all-or-nothing person. Last March, for example, a package arrived in my mailbox from Köln. There inside was a gift from Anni - her book, Burgundia, which she called 'our world of dreams in a life of war'. On the inside cover, she had dedicated it with the phrase, "God bless your inspiration, dear Sarah - may it live forever...."

Born in 1958 and an interpreter, translator, journalist and author of both poetry and prose, Germanophone Anni grew up in Bucharest on Calea Rahova. She was a passionate student and went on to teach German and English in Ungheni, Arges, for a time. The poverty she saw in the villages there marked her deeply. Having to leave Romania (for Germany) at the age of 28 was a terribly mixed bag of emotions for Anni that gave her wings to soar but was accompanied by all the baggage that exile brings. She once told me that Romanian had become a sad language for her...

Visele doamnei Pachet 1
despre împachetarea/despachetarea unei vieţi

stau
îmbrăcată şi ştii
în buzunare am pus bucăţi mici mici
şi lungi foarte lungi de sfoară
am împachetat  fâşii de vis
le-am pus la uscat
cum ai spus
în zori le-am culcat sub copacii aceia bătrâni din dreptul cetăţii

da
am împachetat
cu timpul pe umăr
cu pielea scoasă din joc
fără să las urme de viaţă
totul în casă e stins
gazele lumina şi cerul le-am stins
restul
fiecare chitanţă
am pus-o în cutia poştală

cheia
am agăţat-o
ştii
în castan

de-l taie
o cheie nu pleacă
ciorile nu mănâncă chei
ciorile mănâncă cercei
spunea mama


Visele doamnei Pachet 2
Crăciunul pe scaunul liniştii

Crăciunul se lasă peste lume
abur de prune în culori de crăciunică
uite
pe marginea „liedului”

eu
aşezată pe scaunul ales de la început

nu mă sperii – am vreme de stat cu faţa spre lumina verde
plină de smântâna din cer
mă ţin de degete
mă aplec spre fustele lungi ale gândurilor 
nu-mi arde de stat pe pătratul de scaun
tivul adulmecă visul
Crăciunul cel mare pe jos prin Calea Lactee
acoperă lumea cu ploaia aceea de străpuns jaluzele
nici rugina nu le-a putut desprinde

stau pe scaunul liniştii
aşteptând mâna
păturile calde
ale ploilor de vară cu miros de castan


Visele doamnei Pachet 3
Edith Piaf la pachet

trebuie să-ţi spun
în dimineaţa fără isme
în abur de frunze de India
cozonac încolăcit în trandafir
Edith Piaf
Edith Piaf trece pe la mine spre seară
deschide uşa altei respiraţii

te-am ascultat
am pus ceasul la colţul casei
să treacă alaiul de duminică peste el

pe seară porumbeii de oraş dau din cap
cuminţi secundele se zbat sub ciocurile
înfundate în grabă
auzi
rugăciunile post-isme
nu mai încep cum ştii
şi nu sfârşesc în amin

frica încolăcită printre costiţe în congelator
nu încurcă
bunătăţile din frigider

crede-mă
firul potecilor
fără isme
se strecoară printre noi

fără urmă de aer
fără urmă de sânge
doar negre
sub plapuma înnodată a istoriei

Versuri de Anni Lorei Mainka
(nr. 5, mai 2013, anul III)

For some of Anni's books, please see Jurnal pe bilete de autobuz, Visele doamnei Pachet and Burgundia. Here she is in an interview with Mara Popa at Radio Romania in November 2012 and you can read more poetry HERE.

I did not know Anni. I never put my arms around her to hug her as I wanted to on oh, so many occasions. We never met near Calea Rahova after all and I never made it to Köln. I shall miss her with all my heart. I shall miss her comments on my Facebook wall, her voice of reason, her private messages with news and links on Romanian literature that she thought I would like (she gave up quickly with anything German since I don't speak a word of it!) and her comments about my blogposts (always pertinent - often funny)... I shall miss her just being there.

Dumnezeu să o odihnească în pace!

Why is Simona Halep STILL being ignored?

Tennis player Simona Halep doesn't shriek or grunt when she hits the ball, serving or otherwise. She doesn't sulk, doesn't stomp, wiggle or partake in court theatricals. She doesn't get involved in scandals. She isn't a sex bomb and neither does she have legs up to her ears. Simona Halep is the nice, respectful girl-next-door. She struggles with injuries. She is small. She is quiet. She is shy. 

Simona's rise in tennis has been fast and brilliant, and yet she is STILL largely ignored by the international press. WHY? Ranked n° 47 at the end of 2012 and n° 11 at the end of 2013, she is now n° 3 behind Serena Williams (1) and Li Na (2). She is the only player to have won titles on clay, grass and hard courts during that stretch. Making it to the finals at Roland Garros and defeated by Maria Sharapova (5), she is now going great guns at Wimbledon and in to the 4th round. On 27th June, her rally with Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko was Shot of the Day on BBC Sport.

'Every few weeks in tennis, an underdog bursts from obscurity to a breakthrough that nobody could have foreseen. But then a much greater challenge looms: building on the breakthrough. Most overnight sensations fail that test, becoming one-hit wonders and answers to trivia questions. And yet a handful of them have passed the test, taking crucial strides toward becoming members of the sport’s elite. Count Simona Halep among those who have passed.' - Tennis View Magazine

'In my opinion, it’s only a matter of time before Halep closes in on the top 10, and could ultimately represent a new style of play in women’s tennis – one that is neither the extreme of “big babe” tennis nor the defensive or crafty approaches of players like Errani and Radwanska. Watch out.' - (Aug. 2013) Mind the Racket

'It is unwise to ignore Simona Halep. She is on a run few others can dream of (Steffi Graf was the last player to win her first six WTA crowns in the same year)...' - (20 Jan. 2014) Australian Open

'It’s refreshing in this era of the blood-curdling shriek and the abuse of the clenched fist to see a player as basically undemonstrative as Halep. Like her rival Radwanska, she gives nothing away. She’s no drama queen or intimidator. What she is, though, is relentless, focused, multi-faceted, and mobile.' - (13 May 2014) Peter Bodo, Tennis.com

'A select band of players have the ability to make the game look effortless. Count Halep among them. She moves with grace, strikes with purpose and is free of the shrieks, tics and fist-pumps of her contemporaries. It is an enchanting combination....' - (24 June 2014) Michael Beattie, Wimbledon.com

These are just some of the commentaries about Simona and her game from sites online. See more HERE (in Romanian). But why aren't there more in the main-stream press. When one googles 'Simona Halep', the listings are still full of reports about her bust reduction surgery rather than her game and professionalism. The media's obsession with that has not gone unnoticed on social networks, where a vocal contingent has called for more focus on what she's done on the court. As far as I'm concerned, she's done all she can to make her tennis the topic of conversation. Now it's really up to the media to do the same.

Russian Maria Sharapova (5), also known as Shriekapova, Screechapova, The Wailer and The Siberian Siren, is the 'darling' of tennis. A superb player, she is also the undisputed queen of grunts with her climactic shrieks of 'the blue-movie variety'. She has been known to hit 105 on the decibel counter - louder than a motorcycle, lawnmower, or a small aircraft landing, about the same as an ambulance siren, and only five decibels quieter than a lion’s roar. She disappears off court for lengthy periods and takes ages between services. She sulks, she pouts, she flirts, is a diva to her bones, and gets mountains of press coverage for it all. Sports journalists (particularly across the pond) adore her. She also hits the headlines with stories such as THIS, THIS and THIS. Oh - and just recently, there's THIS one, too.

Simona Halep does none of that.

She is the only one of the top three seeded players to have won her matches and make it further at Wimbledon this year (Serena Williams ad Li Na are both out) though, and yet hasn't made headlines. Following her fourth Wimbledon win against Belinda Bencic 6-4 6-1, Simona gave a press conference. And guess what? Not a single British journalist showed up. Not ONE.

The Bleacher Report gives five reasons why they believe Simona to be so overlooked:

1) She isn't blonde. When it comes to tennis hype and endorsements, blondes may well get more funding, silly though that may sound. 'Perhaps it's mere coincidence that since switching from red to blond highlights late last year, Williams has scored an endorsement deal with Berlei sports bra company and appeared in a Beats headphones ad,' says the article.

2) She's not an Amazon. Halep is 5'6". That's average height. But Sharapova is 6'3". Ana Ivanovic, Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka are all 6' or taller.

3) Her accent. 'Having an American accent has helped Sharapova, a Russian who has spent most of her life in the U.S. Bouchard is Canadian. Halep speaks thoughtfully and clearly measures her words when speaking English. You have to wonder: If she were an Americanized star on a meteoric rise, would we know more about her?' says the Bleacher. See her in an interview HERE.

Dangerous liaisons

(Photo source: Mircea Basescu) Never a dull moment when it comes to scandals in the Romanian news. The latest polemic involves President Basescu's brother Mircea, who was placed under preventive arrest for thirty days last Friday for his alleged role in a corruption case. He is under suspicion of taking a bribe amounting to 250,000 euros in return for influence peddling to secure a reduced sentence for convicted underworld mobster, Sandu Anghel. 

Sandu Anghel (better known as Bercea Mondialu') was convicted in May 2011 to 8 years and 9 months behind bars for attempted murder (he stabbed his nephew, Ionut Anghel, alias Mercedes), see HERE. His son, Florin also got a five year sentence for complicity.

Media sources say that some time between 20/02/11 and 22/02/12, Mircea Basescu received 250,000 euros from Florin Anghel (Bercea Mondialu''s son) via an intermediary, Marian Capatana (also now in custody for thirty days), for his promise to intervene with the magistrates hearing his father's case. Bercea Mondialu' was not released however, and Florin Anghel paid another 350,000 euros to intermediary Marian Capatana for another bash at it. Of the total 600,000 euros forked out by Florin Anghel, Mircea Basescu 'allegedly' received 250,000 euros, while Marian Capatana empocketed 350,000. It was all money out the window though, since Bercea Mondialu' was convicted and sentenced to a hefty time in jail. 

(Photo source: Bercea Mondialu', his wife and son, Florin) And so, the Anghels are accusing Mircea Basescu of accepting hundreds of thousands of their euros in bribes, and Florin Anghel has filed a criminal complaint against him for influence peddling (or rather, perhaps, not peddling it well enough to curry favour for his father), embezzlement and misleading the investigators in a case where he himself (Florin Anghel) is accused of blackmail. Get it?

Bercea Mondialu's family members are meanwhile fast filling the prisons. His daughter (Izaura) and son-in-law (Marius Constantin) are in custody after being caught blackmailing Mircea Basescu in May. They wanted 280,000 euros for their silence on 'alleged' corruption acts. Also behind bars at the time of writing are Fanica Anghel (aka Stela - Florin's mother and Bercea Mondialu's wife) serving a year for perjury and extortion and Florin and Izaura's little brother Grinica Ion (a minor aged 17) accused of aggravated extortion.

On Wednesday, Florin Anghel released a controversial video (prompting Mircea Basescu's arrest) of secret recordings to Romanian TV station Antena 3, suggesting Mircea Basescu had indeed received cash for trying to sway magistrates. They also suggested President Basescu's knowledge of his brother’s dealings.

President Basescu, whose image has been seriously shaken both at home and abroad by his brother's adventures, has publicly denied any involvement.

"Being the president’s brother does not exempt you from being subject to the law. Let me assure you that between the need to consolidate the judiciary and the natural impulse to defend one’s brother, I choose consolidating the judiciary," he said. (Reuters)

President Basescu is having rather an embarrassing week when it comes to family matters. Being the president's son-in-law does not exempt you from being subject to the law either (though it helped for a while). Lawyer Radu Pricop (married to President Basescu's daughter, Ioana) and four others are currently being prosecuted for deception and fraud in a case of land restitution that involved trying to rip off the Bratianu heirs using forged documents to obtain multi-million euro damages for property seized under the former Communist regime. It turns out that a death certificate produced to support the claim for the 90 acres of land in Stefanesti (jud Arges) was total fiction. The Mr/Ms Bratianu featuring on the document is still very much alive and kicking. Oops....  Pricop told Romanian media that a "mistake" had crept into one of the documents, but that it had not influenced the outcome of the damages case. Yeah, right. Such a bloop doesn't only say a great deal about the kind of pondlife who would try to fleece an old, respected and admirable Romanian family, but also highlights the negligent, lazy and frankly useless defence (IMHO) who should have spotted the fraud before it went any further. Ugh. Please read more on this HERE.

Mircea Basescu’s wife, Doiniţa, publically apologized to president Basescu and his family for not having " lived up to the standards of dignity and rank they had reached”, and explained that she and her husband had been 'close friends' with Bercea Mondialu' and family to 'try to fight racial prejudice against gypsies'. Mircea Basescu is naş (godfather) to Bercea Mondialu’s granddaughter, named at a time when there was an impressive list of criminal allegations against him (Mondialu') and his family - which triggered much media attention.

Yesterday, Mircea Basescu admitted that he had accepted money, but it was in repayment of a loan and had nothing to do with getting a lighter sentence for Bercea Mondialu'. He also admitted to having met with Florin Anghel.

For PM Ponta, all this is like Christmas come early. He is having a field day and hasn't wasted any time in demanding President Basescu's resignation "to eliminate any pressure on the judiciary".

(Photo source: Radu Mazăre) The mayor of Constanța, Radu Mazăre (recently arrested on charges of corruption), is equally delighted. Just a little earlier today, he thanked the gypsies for having saved Romania. To celebrate, he is letting them sell pufuleți and other nibbles on the beaches tax-free. It's true. I swear. (so much for trying to write a serious post!)

But that's not all. Joking apart, it gets murkier....

Agerpres reported that while en route to the DNA for hearings on Thursday, Bercea Mondialu' told journalists through an open window of the police van that a sum of 2 million euros in exchange for his release had reached Judge Livia Stanciu (the High Court of Cassation and Justice), DNA chief prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi and Vasile Blaga, President of PDL. Ouch.

"Livia Stanciu promised me. We have info on Livia Stanciu", he stated.

Of course, Mondialu's accusations' were immediately grabbed by Voiculescu's media channels which launched a virulent media campaign against Kovesi. Only a few days ago, Voiculescu, charged with two criminal cases investigated by the DNA, accused Kovesi of being ignorant of the law and seriously wronging him.

On Friday, Kovesi filed a request with the Superior Council of Magistrates (CSM) asking that her reputation be protected against Bercea Mondial’s statements. She added that she would also be notifying the CNA of the "slanderous accusations" clearly designed to destroy her credibility along with that of DNA prosecutors.

Judge Livia Stanciu said the statements made by Bercea Mondialu' were a serious attack on the independence of the Justice system. Shortly afterwards, CSM chairman Adrian Bordea asked the Judicial Inspecting Body to carry out checks on judiciary independence following the media statements that threatened the rule of law.

I wonder if there are any more 'secret recordings' about to hit the air.

What a mess. Talk about 'dangerous liaisons'...

See more in Deutsche Welle, Euronews, US News, Washington Post, English Hotnews, Global Post, ABC News, Romanian Insider and Guardian News Website,

UPDATE 25th June: Laura Codruta Kovesi, head of the DNA, has announced that she is suing Antena 3, Mihai Gadea (its director) and journalists Mugur Ciuvica, Tudor Radu, Razvan Savaliuc and Bianca Nae for 1 million lei (250,000 euros). The decision was taken following the broadcasting of allegations that she had received an alleged amount of money from the family of Bercea Mondialu', along with other claims relating to her personal life. She has said that if she wins the suit, she will donate the money to humanitarian and charitable causes.

She also filed a complaint to the National Audiovisual Council for alleged violation of the Broadcasting Code (aired June 19, 2014) by Antena 3 and Gadea. See HERE.

Statements highlighted by Kovesi from the broadcast of June 19 at 21:30 as having "no factual basis" and being "doubtful they were made for defamatory purposes only" include the following:

"- Laura Codruţa Kovesi gave personal protection to Mr Traian Băsescu and his family ...;

- Kovesi should be arrested  for having covered up this file for several days (...) ... Kovesi tried to hide this file, close it, bury it...

- Laura Kovesi, head of the DNA must stop lying (...).

- She is accused of taking bribes to intervene in favour of Sandu Anghel

- .... last November, she had a mysterious meeting with a judge of the High Court. The judge in question was none other than Valentine Horia Şelaru her former adviser .... the parking lot ... a mobsters' meeting between punks, mobsters, possibly from the Securitate exchanging information, but in no case was it a meeting between representatives of the highest independent judiciary in Romania."

If this IS all an effort on the part of Voiculescu and his media channels to discredit and undermine both her and the DNA, then good for her. If there's any truth in it however, then may she not be above the law.

Looks like Mircea Basescu's arrest has opened an even larger can of worms than anyone could have possibly imagined...

More news as it happens.

Let the truth be told: Ondine Gherguț

The news of the court's intial ruling against journalist Ondine Gherguț Tuesday in favour of a former prosecutor accused of corruption is so outlandish when it comes to truth and freedom of the press that it could have come from Putin's Russia rather than Romania.

Ondine Gherguț, one of Romania's most talented, decent and valiant investigative journalists (Romania Libera), has been ordered by the courts to pay a whopping 300,000 euros in damages because... wait for it... she dared wrinkle the image of a crooked former prosecutor, Marcel Sâmpetru.

The sentence is NOT final and can be appealed, but it says a lot about how justice works in Romania when a journalist is courageous enough to sound the alarm by digging up proof on the dirty dealings of an 'honourable' magistrate with a so-called 'unblemished' CV.

For those who don't know, Sâmpetru is a former General Prosecutor of Romania (along with a long string of other impressive titles) and was, at one time, plotting with another attorney and member of the CSM, George Balan, for two extremely powerful positions. Both Sâmpetru and Balan were indicted by the DNA (Romania's National Anti-corruption Agency), but later acquitted by the High Court. An appeal is in progress.

Bref, for exposing such 'sensitive' information and tainting the reputation of this upstanding member of society, Ondine Gherguț has been ordered by the District Court (Sector 3) in a first ruling to pay damages on a ludicrously massive scale... A sign to other journalists to shut up, perhaps?

(Photo source: Ondine Gherguț at the American Embassy, Bucharest) In April of this year, Ms Gherguț was received at the US Embassy, alongside Laura Codruta Kovesi (DNA chief) and poet Ana Blandiana, and awarded for her enormous courage in exposing criminal networks in politics, government, and the intelligence services. Back in the early '90s, she revealed the Ministry of the Interior's involvement in the mineriade and through investigations carried out between 2000-4, she exposed former Securitate officers working for the SRI who had stolen from state-owned oil refineries. During the 2012 referendum on the president's impeachment, her work uncovered conflicting documents that had been sent to the Constitutional Court on the census count  of eligible voters. Ms Gherguț and her daughter have been victim of numerous death threats, mentioned in the State Department's Report on Human Rights. She is, in short, the Anna Politkovskaya meets Joan of Arc of Romania...

Here is my own paraphrasing of Ms Gherguț's explanation on FB:

"A foundation that I do not know has offered to defend me against Marcel Sâmpetru, the former General Prosecutor accused of corruption. I lost in the first ruling and the damages are immense. His claim, accepted by the courts, would cost me almost 300 000 euros. The court has asked me to pay 10 000 lei in moral damages because I have tainted his image, and 5 000 lei for his legal expenses. They have also ruled that I must publish the 24-page court decision in 4 other newspapers - not as publicity, but on the page where articles are printed. This which will cost me about 300 000 euros. I do not have a contract for authors' rights and so the responibility falls on me, making me liable to pay. (...)

(Photo source: Marcel Sâmpetru) I have been sued by Marcel Sâmpetru because I wrote about him being named advisor for the CSM in December 2011 despite being mentioned in corruption scandals. I am being sued for press crimes. The main accusation is that I reported on registered interceptions when he was being investigated for corruption. I published excerpts from the file of the SRI officers (who in the meantime had all been definitively sentenced). I also wrote about the role of Marcel Sâmpetru in the liberation of Omar Hayssam (who fled the country after being released from temporary arrest but was later sentenced to 20 years for his involvement in the kidnapping of Romanian journalists in Iraq) as initially related by prosecutor, Ciprian Nastasiu. Seven months after the publication of my three articles in RL about Sâmpetru, ie July 2012, the DNA 'caught' him (then CSM advisor), and his boss, George Balan (the former VP of CSM). From the interceptions I published, one could see the methods through which they tried to get their assignments from PM Ponta - positions of General Prosecutor for one and Chief of DNA for the other. The DNA also discovered that Sâmpetru was asking his former employee, the director of DGIPI Ilfov, Mihai Vlad, for secret and compromising information on the former Minister of Transport, Ovidiu Silaghi. In other words, my warning as a journalist, as a watchdog for society from Nov. 2011-Jan 2012, came to pass in July 2012 (the year of the coup d'état) with the prosecution of Sâmpetru, Balan, Vlad and the high court judge, Georgeta Barbalata - all sued by the DNA. In the first high court session, only Judge Barbalata was charged.

(Photo source: Sâmpetru, Balan, Vlad, Barbalata) It is likely that this coming autumn, the final sentencing in the DNA file will be ruled at the Supreme Court, decided upon by five judges. I, however, was judged and sentenced in the first court session for damaging the image of an 'unblemished prosecutor' with 'an exceptional professional background', as Sâmpetru mentioned in his complaint (as if he had never been accused by the DNA of anything). Sâmpetru forgot to mention that in 2006, Monica Macovei, former justice minister, asked for his dismissal as deputy general prosecutor of Romania. (...) He was careful to keep his 'unblemished' CV immaculate by resigning immediately, thus avoiding dismissal. 

Sâmpetru also resigned in 2012 after the DNA started their case for corruption against him and his office at CSM had been searched. (...) He was unlucky, though, since Balan (his boss at CSM) did NOT resign. The legal investigation examined both of them because they were co-conspirators in the same DNA file.

With all the evidence I submitted, I was ruled against. Sâmpetru's main evidence was the deposition of Balan, who was himself indicted in the same corruption case. (..) Normally, the courts should NOT have accepted this testimony. In my file, there are other strange peculiarities. (...)

What have I got? A delay. The next hearing is on 20th October 2014. Until then, I hope that I can prepare my defence better. Who knows. Maybe in the meantime, others will come to join me."

[Just a little side-step: You may be interested in reading more HERE about Marcel Sâmpetru's wife, Mirela Plăpcianu, who is recorded in interceptions published by Ondine Ghergut. She is quite a character...]

The desire for truth and the freedom of the press were both trampled underfoot in Romania yesterday with the ruling against this exceptional journalist. She is being punished for daring to speak out against those in authority, by people whose job it is to uphold justice. It is pure intimidation for Sâmpetru has NO case against Ms Ghergut - except in a kangaroo court. Influence CANNOT be permitted to have the last word over truth unless we really are back to pre-89. This is a travesty in a country that calls itself democratic and supposedly out to fight corruption.

For more: see THIS from Hotnews, THIS from Romania Libera (both July 2012) and HERE is a publication of a pretty astounding interception between Vlad, Sâmpetru, Balan and Marian Petrarche (President of CJ Ilfov, and candidate for President of the Ilfov Town Council - he won the local elections on 10.06.2012) from 16th March 2012. Uff. After reading that last one, there should be NO doubt in your minds.

Should you want further insight into this nest of money-grabbing vipers, see HERE for the ruling on Georgeta Barbalata, and THIS on Mihai Vlad spilling beans on Sâmpetru (EVZ).

There is a petition online HERE in support of Ms Ghergut (initiated by Koles Attila) should you wish to sign it.

The Patriarch, the paint-roller and the offense

(Photo source) After my initial howls of helpless laughter, the news of Patriarhul Daniel and his holy roller-on-a-pole blessing technique (zic BBC) used to inaugurate the studios of church-owned Trinitas Radio and Television has left me with a terribly dismal feeling in the pit of my stomach. The whole silly charade has become a viral internet sensation both at home and abroad, leading to finger-pointing and lots of guffawing on an international scale - see the BBC, Gawker, Business Review, The Daily Mail, The Daily Star and VICE News to name but a few - and check out the comments for the full effect. 

The Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) has responded (for once) to the mocking press coverage:

"It’s not the first time Patriarch Daniel has used the 'sanctification rod', one of a number of tools of his trade, as it helps anoint rooms with higher walls and ceilings which would otherwise be difficult to reach", Basilica.ro (the Church’s press agency) specifies in an article entitled 'Sensationalism through liturgical ignorance'.

Yes, yes - and when it comes to tools of the trade, hands up all those who remember the Phillips screwdriver.

The Daily Mail, who clearly couldn't pass up such an opportunity, quotes Patriarch Daniel himself: "It might get people talking about faith and maybe move some to come to church more regularly. Then they can see my sanctification rod up close and I can explain to them how God moves in mysterious ways.’ Um...yes.

Sorry, but really, I am not convinced. It's a paint-roller. It may well be holy, but it is definitely a paint-roller.

(Image source) It's one thing to believe in the powers and miracles of moaste (holy relics), but this is something else entirely. It is such ridiculous fraud it's grotesque. If the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church thinks that his people are that gullible (some are, I grant you) to believe a paint-roller on a stick is in fact a 'sanctification rod', then either he is profiting from their naïvety, or he has no respect for them. Or both. And that is profoundly disturbing.

Such obvious guff is nothing short of insulting to a people continually bludgeoned by corruption, lies and injustice on a daily basis, disappointments raining down upon them more often than not. Everybody expects to be ripped off and disrespected by arrogant politicians and officials these days. But shouldn't the Patriarch have at least a modicum of decency?

Romania's reputation abroad is riddled with negative opinion whether true or not: The prime minister is a fraud, the hospitals are third world, the diplomas are fake, all Romanians are gypsies, the justice system is a joke and the corrupt politics are best avoided in general. Now there's a new opinion bullet point for the list - BOR is represented by stupidity and medieval wizardry, followed by impressionable idiots, and a reason to have a huge belly laugh. Marvellous. Why don't we just rip the stomach and heart out of an entire people, stamp on the mess and roar with mirth as we do it?

(Image source) This is all about one supremely rich, arrogant businessman in a position of enormous power who is as manipulative, as condescending and as lacking in respect as the politicians are towards his own people. And of course, he's answerable to nobody... To quote a friend of mine (who is Romanian Orthodox, incidentally), "if Dante were alive and writing the Inferno now, this caricature and travesty of "patriarch" would be placed where it belongs." Enough said.

For readers with a soft spot for the BOR, please forgive my bluntness.

There must be hoards of Romanians out there feeling deeply hurt/angered/humiliated/saddened and a host of other adjectives by this whole embarrassing episode. Thank God it is a people blessed with a sense of humour.

Who is Simona Halep?

(Photo source) Simona Halep, the first Romanian woman to have made it to a tennis Grand Slam singles final since Virginia Ruzici (today Halep's manager) in 1978, has given her compatriots a good and worthy reason to be proud of one of their own. It comes at a time when unearthing a contemporary national figure to look up to is more than just a struggle (check out the politicians for proof of that), and the love and support poured out for Simona is all over the social networks. I have seen 'proud to be Romanian' again and again... I understand. I really do. But the 'baseline' is this: 'pride' should NOT be due to Simona being Romanian, but due to the fact that she is a talented, hard-working sportswoman who has slogged her guts out since she was four years old to get to where she is today. Atât. THAT is what is admirable and worth cheering for. THAT is what merits the pride. Simona's rise in tennis has indeed been fast and brilliant. Ranked n° 47 at the end of 2012 and n° 11 at the end of 2013, she is now n° 3 behind Serena Williams and Li Na. Incredible or what! Raaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! 

But who actually is she? Apart from a sensational, inspiring tennis player, I mean. I've no idea. She must be an immensely private person since I've had trouble finding anything about her (apart from her tennis career and the one thing she doesn't want to discuss) online. She is surely right to keep the 'private Simona' under wraps.

Simona, aged 22, was born in Constanta on 27th September, 1991 to an Aromanian family. Her father, Stere (ex-footballer at Săgeata Stejaru playing in the lower leagues), owns a dairy products factory. At home, she speaks Aromanian and, according to her father, loves Aromanian music and plăcintele cu ștevie and urzici. His daughter is shy, he says, and hates to be the centre of attention.

All the more reason then, to admire her for all that she has achieved in such a short time - and to be a little sensitive to the nervousness she faces at the beginning of every one of her matches. How she must be feeling before the finals at Roland Garros tomorrow, one can only imagine.

In this little interview for Outside the Ball, Simona says she likes Gerard Butler, Richard Gere and 'Pretty Woman', though she doesn't have much time for films. When she isn't playing tennis, she loves shopping and going into town with her friends. A normal 22-year-old. And yet not.

She is one of the most modest sports stars I have ever seen. There is no hype, no tra-la-la around Simona. She just seems to go in, do her fabulous stuff and leave. No shassy diva stuff, no noise, no scandal, no fuss. Just nice, well brought-up, respectful modesty. One thing puzzles me, though. She is, of course, well-known at home in Romania and now also in France. But before her success so far at Roland Garros this week, who else had heard of Simona Halep?

The Bleacher Report gives five reasons why Simona seems to be under-marketed. I'm not sure I agree with any of them, but still, it is food for thought. The very fact, though, that she upset Li Na at the U.S. Open in 2011 whilst playing on a sprained ankle should have been enough to earn her some stardom across the pond.  But anyway, whatever the reasons for being less well-known than she deserves to be, it looks as though she's putting that right as we speak!

(Image source) Crossing fingers with all our hearts for Simona and her match here in Paris tomorrow against Maria Sharapova, and wishing her a peaceful night, only 'good' nerves and another phenomenal performance. Whatever the results, she has been incredible. I would SO love to see her knock their socks off at Wimbledon which begins on 23rd June.

If you are in Bucharest tomorrow, you can see the match aired 'live' in Parcul Herastrau from 4pm. Go! Be proud! But be proud of Simona's talent, dedication and brilliance - not because she just happens to be Romanian. That would be sadly displaced pride and overshadows everything else...

HAI SIMONAAAAA!!!!!!!

For more, please see these two excellent articles (in Romanian) by Vlad Mixich for Hotnews and Andrei Manolescu for Dilema Veche.

Gabriel plans to bash Romanian government for billions

(Image: source - VN) Canadian company Gabriel Resources is planning to bash the Romanian government in a Vienna court for billions over the blocked arbitration of its highly controversial gold mining project in Rosia Montana. This probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to anybody since Ponta predicted the possibility of such a lawsuit even before Gabriel threatened to sue for "multiple breaches of international investment treaties" last autumn.

The Romanian parliament’s chamber of deputies is to vote on a bill (PL-x 520/2013) on May 7th that would give special legal status to the $1.5-billion (U.S.) project permitting it to continue. However, the result is not expected to lean in Gabriel's favour, largely due to overwhelming public opposition to both the mine and its cyanide-based extraction technology. And rightly so. It's an abomination on just about every level.

Here is the whole story from The Globe and Mail by Eric Reguly, dated April 30th:

Gabriel may seek billions in arbitration over stalled Romanian mine

'The Toronto mining company whose 15-year effort to open Europe’s biggest gold project has gone nowhere is preparing an international arbitration case against the Romanian government that would seek billions of dollars in damages.

Gabriel Resources is making plans for the case, which probably would be heard in Vienna in the second half of the year, as it starts to wind down its activities in Romania’s Transylvania region to conserve cash. About 400 employees, or 80 per cent, of Gabriel’s Romanian subsidiary, Rosia Montana Gold Corp. (RMGC), have been suspended at three-quarters pay. The company has said it may fire them in May “if there is no progress in the advancement of the project.”

Gabriel, which is listed on the Toronto stock exchange but run from London, is not expecting a breakthrough any time soon. The Romanian parliament’s chamber of deputies is scheduled to vote on a bill that would give special legal status to the $1.5-billion (U.S.) project, allowing it to go ahead, on May 7.

But the company does not expect the vote to go in its favour, partly because public opposition to the mine and its cyanide-based extraction technology remains strong. Timing is also an issue. Since it’s the last item on that day’s agenda, there is a good chance the parliamentary session will end before reaching the RMGC vote.

Gabriel threatened to sue the Romanian government last September for up to $4-billion “for multiple breaches of investment treaties.” At the same time, Gabriel’s Irish CEO, Jonathan Henry, the company’s sixth boss since the mid-1990s, warned that the government’s failure to approve the project would damage all of Romania. “Our case is very strong and we will make it very public that Romania’s effort to attract foreign investment will suffer greatly,” he said.

His comments triggered an anti-Gabriel backlash across Romania, after which Gabriel appeared to tone down its threats to go after the government. In a statement issued on Sept. 11, Gabriel chairman Keith Hulley said, “We will acknowledge any decision taken by the Romanian government or Parliament concerning Rosia Montana.”

The preparations for the arbitration case indicate that Gabriel’s threat is still very much alive. The company will give no details of its strategy, however, and has not said which investment treaties it would use to support its case. “We cannot comment on any aspects of any international arbitration case we might take against Romania,” Gabriel spokesman Bobby Morse said on Wednesday.

International commercial arbitration in general, and arbitration cases against governments in particular, are becoming increasingly popular, to the point they are gaining favour over traditional courtroom litigation. The rise of bilateral investment treaties has triggered a surge in arbitration case against governments, which are handled through the World Bank’s arbitration court, known as ICSID – International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

International commercial arbitration cases are adjudicated behind closed doors, tend to be shorter than courtroom litigation and produce final decisions that cannot be appealed, though they are not necessarily cheaper.

Khan Resources is one Canadian company using international arbitration. It is using arbitration in Paris to try to regain control of a Mongolian uranium project that it claims was illegally expropriated by the Mongolian government.

The Rosia Montana project has been held up by well-organized and well-funded protesters, ranging from local farmers who do not want their properties seized to make way for the enormous mine, to billionaires such as George Soros and celebrities such as Vanessa Redgrave, since the 1990s. Gabriel has spend $550-million on project development and legal work with nothing to show for it, and has gone through five CEOs in 20 years, each of who was convinced the project was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Mr. Henry is the sixth CEO. His efforts to engage the community and highlight the economic benefits of the mine have failed to break the deadlock. In November, the Romanian senate rejected the draft law that would have declared that the project was of “extraordinary public interest.”

The project has gold reserves of 17.1-million ounces and 81.1-million ounces of silver.

Environmental and farming groups have attacked it for its use of cyanide and its enormous size. The four-pit mine would blow up two mountainsides, displace about 2,000 villagers and fill an entire valley with waste-rock and cyanide-laced sludge. The tailing pond alone would cover nearly 300 hectares and would rise from an initial height of 70 metres to 180 metres.'

(The Globe and Mail)

(Image source - VN) Incidentally, it would have been reeeeally good if Romanian press sites had managed to actually spell the name of the source from which they had quoted and translated agogo all day Thursday correctly. It is The GLOBE and Mail, guys, not GLODE as seen in THESE spectacular examples of journalistic professionalism. Not a difficult word, surely. Goagăl it. GLOBE. G-L-O-B-E. And not uncommon either. Jeez... Bravo.

Saving Casa Enescu, Mihăileni - Give a leu for Enescu!

(Photo source) Pianist Raluca Stirbat is forever tireless in her love and determination to save George Enescu's mother's house in Mihăileni, Botoșani. Its deplorable state has further degenerated since THIS post in January 2013 - scandalous in a country that professes to hold its national composer so dear, along with the endless promises from authorities and the house's inclusion (finally, after much faffing about) on the list of historic monuments last November. I won't even mention the huge success of the George Enescu Festival originally held every three years in Bucharest, and now taking place every two, with performances by some of the greatest orchestras, musicians and conductors the world over... (oops, I just did).

Now Raluca is pushing her project to save the house yet further still. Please help if you can. The very idea that such a symbol of immeasurable historic and cultural value could be lost due to sheer, unbridled negligence and je m'en foutism is nothing short of repugnant:

(Photo source)

Dear friends of Enescu and Romanian culture,

George Enescu's house in Mihăileni, Botoșani, officially became a historic monument on 29th November 2013 after a year-long press campaign. Despite repeated promises made by the authorities expressed numerous times from that December, nothing concrete has been done and the house's situation is disastrous. Urgent purchase of the house from the present owners is vital to enable reconstruction work to begin.

With your help - no sum is too small! - you can contribute to saving and restoring this monument of history and meaning; a house to which George Enescu was deeply attached and never, ever renounced.

Each one of us may buy a brick (our own!) for the foundations of this house, breathing life back into it and thus saving not only a building from oblivion, but also part of the era that belonged to an exceptional composer and, above all, a great Romanian who devoted his life, health and creations to his country and the people he so loved.

We thank you. Enescu thanks you.

(Photo source)

Dragi prieteni ai lui Enescu și ai culturii române,

Casa lui George Enescu din Mihăileni, jud. Botoșani, a devenit oficial monument istoric pe 29 noiembrie 2013, în urma unei campanii de presă susținute de un an de zile. În ciuda promisiunilor repetate ale autorităților, exprimate în numeroase rânduri din decembrie încoace, nu s-a făcut nimic concret, iar situația casei este în continuare dezastruoasă. Ea trebuie achiziționată urgent de la actualii proprietari, pentru a se putea demara lucrările de reconstrucție.

Prin ajutorul Dvs. – nicio sumă nu este prea mică! – aveți ocazia concretă de a contribui la salvarea și restaurarea acestui monument încărcat de istorie și semnificații, o casă la care George Enescu a ținut enorm și la care nu a renunțat niciodată.

Fiecare din noi poate așeza o piatră (la propriu!) la temelia acestei case, readucând la viață și salvând de la uitare nu numai o clădire, ci o întreagă epocă din existența celui care a fost nu doar un compozitor de geniu, dar, înainte de toate, un mare român care și-a pus toată creația, viața și sănătatea, fără urmă de menajament, în slujba țării și poporului pe care l-a iubit atât de mult.

Vă mulțumim! Enescu vă mulțumește!

If you would like to help, donations for Casa Enescu in Mihaileni can be sent to BRD Iasi in RON, euros and US$:

IBAN: RO92BRDE240SV48538862400
SWIFT: BRDEROBU

Photo source

Photo source

For up to the minute news, please see FB page Save Enescu's House in Mihaileni, set up and managed by Raluca.

Hristos a înviat! Simplicity, passion and joy!

(Image source: Viorica Ana Farkas)

Hristos a înviat! Paste fericit tuturor alaturi de cei dragi!

What better day for a post bursting with joy than this? I have always adored Naïve Art, particularly from Romania. This post is therefore dedicated to all those who love it too, along with the artists who have filled and continue to fill our hearts with such energy and unbridled exuberance.

According to Wikipedia, Naïve art is often characterised by a childlike simplicity in subject matter and technique. While many naïve artists appear to have little or no formal art training, this is not always true. It may well have been accurate before the twentieth century, but today, there are academies for Naïve art all over the world and it is now recognised as a genre in its own right, represented in galleries and museums across the globe. Being neither artist nor art critic, I do not wish to get bogged down with debates and jargon. Far better to share some of my favourite artists and their works with you. The technicalities are really not important, but the results, however, are simply glorious!

(Photo source) My first choice is Gheorghe Ciobanu, born in Baltati, in April 1944. For Gheorghe Ciobanu, creating is quite simply a part of who he is. He is an autodidact with an innate talent fed with the beauty of the places in which he grew up - a magical environment where time takes on a whole different dimension. Perhaps if he had studied at an academy, he would have lost his natural ingenuity so specific to his work. For Mr. Ciobanu "painting is a chance to show God".

(Primavara in copac) His debut in the local art community came in 1979 when he presented his first works at the Army House in Ploiesti. Spotted by critics, he was invited to other similar events. Outside Romania, he held his first exhibition in Limoges, France in 1996. Switzerland, Germany and Austria then followed. Everywhere he went, both he and his works brought admiration. Collectors were quick to enrich their collections with his beautiful tableaux that can now be found in USA, Canada, Austria, France, Italy and Germany.

(Margine in sat) "God has put so much beauty in this world to enjoy that there shouldn’t be sadness, worry or meanness", he says. "Of course, life has its limitations and challenges, but we have to make time to open our eyes and take in the beauty of the world, the perfection of God’s creation. “Be happy! Love each other!” Christ told us, but many of us live encompassed by hate and anger. We need so little to be happy! When I sit on my knees and paint, I pray to God to give me a little beauty to put in my paintings from all that he has created. And when the painting starts to take shape under my brush, I feel such joy that it heals me of all problems and makes me happy. And I know it all comes from God!"

How can one not love him?!

(Image source) My next favourite is Mihai Dascalu from Oradea, Bihor. Born on 1st May, 1960, Mihai is an engineer by profession and works at the Bihor County Offices as a civil servant by day. He also has an MA in Law and Public Administration.

His first exhibition was held in Resita in 1984 and since then there has been a whirlwind of events in France, Italy, Portugal, Israel, Estonia, Canada and the US to name but a few, as well as endless exhibitions at home in Romania.       

(La ciuperci) Born in the countryside, he loves the mountains, the forests, fishing and mushroom picking - all of which are very present in his beautiful, honest artwork.

A prolific prize-winner of an array of awards, Mihai is well-published both as an artist and an author, his books including "Adventures in Naive Island" and "Under the umbrella of Naive art" in partnership with Gustav Hlinka and Costel Iftinchi.

For more of his inspiring paintings, please see HERE and HERE.

Next on my list of favourite Naïve painters come Doina and Gustav Hlinka. I can only imagine how marvellously bright and colourful their home must be, if their personalities are anything like their paintings!

(Image source) I can't find much online pertaining to a biography for Doina Marita Hlinka (if anyone out there can tell me more, please leave a comment below this post!), born in Maglavit, Dolj in 1961. However, her Facebook page info states that she studied at Liceul de Matematica-Fizica in Resita and today works at the town's municipal library where she held her first solo exhibition in 1990.

For such a delightful artist, it is a pity there is no personal website for us to revel in. I adore her sense of fun and perspective. Enchanting!

Doina Hlinka's exhibitions are largely in Romania, though she has had several abroad in France, Hungary and Austria. Her works have been bought by collectors in France, Germany, Austria as well as at home in Romania. She has won a variety of awards in Iasi, Pitesti, Bacau and Timisoara.

For more of Doina Hlinka's wonderfully uplifting paintings, please see HERE.

(Image source) Her husband, Gustav Ioan Hlinka, is more widely known and can be found all over the net. Just as well, for if he were as modest as his wife, we'd have suffered a double loss!

Born in Steirdorf-Anina, Caras-Severin in 1947, his talent for art and design was remarked upon by an astute art teacher at school. Between 1969-72, he studied at the School of Art in Resita where he showed particular talent for landscapes, graphics, watercolour, naïve painting and modern art.

He began his artistic career in 1971 and had his first major solo exhibition in Resita in 1980. Since then, he has exhibited all over Romania as well as Germany, Austria and France.

(Colonia Ciuperceni) His works are overflowing with the 'merry-tragic' tradition so typical of this genre, and focus, for the most part, on Banat mountain and village life. Many can be seen in the Museum of Naïve Art in Pitesti, Forchtenstein Castle House Europe, The Karl Brunner Museum in Austria, The Banat Mountain Museum in Resita and others besides.

Gustav Hlinka has always been an extremely active member of cultural associations and foundations including The Romanian Numismatic Society, The Philatelic Association of Caras-Severin and The County Association of Amateur Artists (1976-1988). He was a founder member of the Nicolae Popescu Circle in Resita (1988) and was vice president from 1991-1995. In addition, he is member of the Universal Naïve Art Foundation, has been President of The Ethnic German Painters Group of Resita since 1996 and is a founder member and vice president of the Vintilă Arplana Naïve Art Foundation. Uff! What a busy chap!

Gustav Hlinka has won a vast array of prestigious honours and awards including the Eminescu title of Knight of the Order of Culture in 2006.

(Image source) Finally, I'd like to present Viorica Ana Farkas. I fell upon her totally par hazard on my Facebook newsfeed the other day (just in time for Easter!) - and what a happy discovery it was! Her work is so utterly sparkling that it really does blow the cobwebs away, bringing the sun right in to kiss your nose!

Born on 27th February, 1950, Viorica Farkas is a mathematics professor (BSc from the University of Timisoara and a post-grad from the Eotvos Lorandh Academy in Budapest) who grew up in Timisoara. Today, she lives in Resita.

Between 1960-9, she attended painting classes at the Falusy Zoltan Studio and recently studied Naïve Art under Gustav Hlinka (2007-8). She is a member of the "Art Cultural Resita" Democratic Forum of Germans in Caras-Severin.

(Image source: Pe sub castani) Viorica Farkas retired in 2008 and presumably, this has given her more time for her art. Hurrah!! Tant mieux pour nous! Her expressions of effervescent praise to life and creation are exhibited permanently at the Museum of Pitesti and Cercul Militar in Timisoara, exhibitions are held both at home and abroad (she is in Barcelona until 4th May) and they can also be found amongst personal collections in Germany, USA and Austria. In France too one of these days, I hope!!! Oh goodness, I just LOVE her work! For more, please see HERE.

I could go on ad infinitum. There are so many more I haven't mentioned: Petru, Mariana and Voicu Mihut, Paula Iacob, Valeria Tofan, Vasile Popovici, Rodica Nicodin, Mihai Vintila... The list of wonderful Naïve Romanian artists is lengthy and will take another post at least, so consider this Part I!

Arethia Tătărescu - the lady and the bust

(Photo source) Too busty. Too voluptuous. Too suggestive. Doesn't correspond to reality. It must go! According to the Ministry of Culture, this sums up the bust of Arethia Tătărescu by Paul Popescu erected in Targu-Jiu and inaugurated last October in the park named after her.

The nearby bust of her husband (also rather voluptuous) Gheorghe Tătărescu, who served twice as Prime Minister (1934–1937; 1939–1940), three times as Minister of Foreign Affairs (interim 1934 and 1938; appointed 1945-1947) and once as Minister of War (1934) is also to be removed because local authorities never asked permission from the Ministry of Culture to erect it in the first place.

So, to summarise: one bust (excuse the pun) is aesthetically unrepresentative whilst the other is just plain illegal.

(Photo source) All this hullabaloo got me goagăling Arethia Tătărescu, since I knew nothing about her. Not only was she beautiful, she was also an incredibly influential personality in terms of art and culture, particularly in the county of Gorj.

Born on 16th September, 1889 into a well-to-do family of landowners, she lost her father Gheorghe Piteşteanu at a young age. Accompanied by her grandmother, little Arethia and her two brothers, Gheorghe and Alexandru left for Belgium where she studied painting and piano.

She returned home in 1916 and met Gheorghe Tătărescu, who came from a wealthy family in Vlăduleni, Gorj county. The couple married the same year in Craiova.

World War I spelled the departure of her husband to the front. Arethia finally followed him to Moldova, joining him in Botosani (1919) where he was serving as aide to the commander of the officers' school of infantry. After the war, the Tătărescus returned to Bucharest.

Following a trip to the Punjab, Gheorghe and Arethia Tătărescu bought land near Poiana Rovinari, where they built a mansion. Arethia carried out extensive activities to popularise traditions of the region.

In a sign of appreciation for work done to highlight the heritage of Gorj, Arethia Tătărescu was elected President of the National League of Romanian Women - Section Gorj. In this role, she worked tirelessly for the cultural and social development of Targu-Jiu.

Although her husband was devoted to his political career, Arethia remained distant from it. An aristocrat in thought and sensitivity, her beauty and discretion earned her great respect and gratitude in Gorj.

(Photo source: Arethia Tătărescu [centre] with Constantin Brancusi) In 1935, she asked sculptor Constantin Brancusi (born in Hobita, Gorj) to fulfil his dream in building a memorial in Targu-Jiu for the heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the country in World War I. In May 1936, the city was ranked a tourist attraction, thus able to draw funds from the ministries for building the monument. Known as The Monumental Sculptural Ensemble in Targu- Jiu, Arethia Tătărescu's initiative and constant support earned her the name of Great Lady of Gorj. The Ensemble is today one of Romania's great cultural highlights.

For her countless social, cultural and humanitarian contributions, Arethia Tătărescu was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Targu-Jiu on 13 September 1936. 

I wonder what she would have thought of Paul Popescu's sculptural depiction. Would she have been terribly embarrassed? Perhaps. Though vaguely clothed, it does not portray a lady of such elegance and dedication. For once, the MC's decision gets my vote.

Prahova: A child dead, a father beaten, compunction absent...

(Photo source) I've just read THIS article (in French) dated 22nd March and am staggered. This is 'old news' now in Romania, but 'new news' to me, and I can only say WTF???! WHY isn't the death of this child in Ariceştii Rahtivani, Prahova being yelled from the rooftops and internationally condemned on a massive scale?? WHY aren't officials being removed from their positions, brought to book and thrown in jail?? Here is my translation with links added where possible and (my) notes in square brackets:

A child dead, a father beaten: support for the Furcelea family

(Photo source: Frack Off Romania - the unprotected rig on the day of Marian's funeral)

During the night of 27-28 February, Marian Furcelea aged 9 was found dead near an unprotected OMV-Petrom rig situated between his home and school. Cause of death: poisoning by toxic gas inhalation. [Just for the record, OMV-Petrom is a Romanian oil company, the largest corporation in the country and the largest gas and oil producer in E. Europe] 

A week after Marian died, OMV-Petrom had a fence erected around the previously open site. [Too little, too late]

It was when the family decided to launch proceedings to sue Petrom for negligence that their problems really began...

Marian's father, Cristian, was grilled by police for taking photos of the fence being put up after his son died. He was also threatened by the mayor [Alexandru Cristea].

Petrom filed a complaint against Mr. Furcelea with the help of the senior management of child protection, laying responsibility for Marian's death at the feet of his parents because they had not accompanied him on his route home from school.

Not long afterwards [on 21st March], an anti-riot police van drew up in front of the Furcelea family's home and took Marian's father off to the child protection centre [the article doesn't say why, but I'm presuming it was on the pretext of a hearing]. On arrival, the anti-riot police in the van laid into him (on order?), kicking, punching him and spraying him in the face with some kind of paralysis substance. If he talked or posted [on internet?] anything, they told him, he'd be 'taken care of'.

As if that wasn't enough, they hacked into his mobile phone and told him, "from now on, we'll know everything you say and to whom". This is how anti-riot police work in Romania - on the orders of high-ranking officials under the influence of petroleum companies. 

Even the doctors who refused to provide Mr. Furcelea with a legal document pertaining to his injuries admitted he had been beaten up. He is still in hospital and can barely speak. Such intimidation gave Cristian Furcelea cause to consider dropping the whole affair in fear for his life, but he has decided to press on for his son.

Marian's father was not only brutalised because he is trying to obtain some kind of justice for Marian, but because he spoke out to the press about what is happening in his village.

(Photo source - candles lit for Marian in Constanta) I saw this story on my FB newsfeed last week, but was unsure of the sources so ignored it - mea culpa. Concerned that I was being lead down the garden path and into the toolshed so to speak (it wouldn't be the first time, after all), I started googling this morning spotting more posts on my newsfeed. HERE is an article from Gândul which has been used by other news sites (couldn't journalists be bothered to come up with an original text? Seriously?!), THIS from Romania Libera, THIS (with video) from Digi24 and THIS from Hotnews. There is also plenty on line via sites and blogs. HERE is a good, concise article from The Epoch Times (in Romanian).

So where is the international press, then? Marian's death has lead to an outcry from ecological activists, support from people all over Romania and the funeral itself became a mass protest attended by activists and environmentalists from towns all over the country. A demonstration took place at Piata Universitatii in Bucharest on 23rd March to show solidarity with the Furcelea family. Not only have they had their grief dragged through the mud, but Mr. Furcelea has been severely beaten, threatened, intimidated and humiliated.

A small chapter missing from the above article is mentioned HERE. Apparently, soon after Marian died, Cristian went to the spot where his son had been found to lay flowers. When he arrived, he was surprised to find Petrom employees putting up the afore-mentioned perimetre fence. They called the police on grounds that he was trespassing on private property. "I was arrested and fined," said Cristian Furcelea. "They said I had trespassed on private property. Shouldn't that fence have been there before my son died?" At the time this article was written (March 10th), ie. two weeks following Marian's death, the family still had not received any message of condolence from Petrom....

According to Gândul, Georgian Drăgan, spokesman for the Prahova County Police Inspectorate, confirmed that a criminal investigation had been launched for possible manslaughter. When contacted by AFP, OMV-Petrom representatives said: "The investigation is ongoing. We are working closely with the authorities." Yes, I'm sure. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Considering that it was the 'authorities' who had the bejeezers beaten out of poor Cristian Furcelea resulting in a week of hospitalisation, I personally don't hold out much hope.

Hope becomes increasingly more fragile when you read THIS update (21st March) from Nasul TV in which Leonard Dragomirescu, another spokesman for Prahova County Police, states that he checked the necessary documentation and had come to the conclusion that Mr Furcelea had NOT been taken anywhere by jandarmi of Prahova. Huh?! Furthermore, Major Mitrea (another spokesman, this time Gruparii Mobile de Jandarmi Ploiesti) says that no agent from his station in Ploiesti went to the Furcelea house either. He too had looked into the matter (they're all so hard-working, bless them) and no team had ever been sent there. So, what happened? If it really wasn't the police from Prahova or Ploiesti, then who beat up and intimidated Mr Furcelea?

(Photo source) Whether or not some of you may be thinking that the Furcelea family's awful string of suffering is being used/manipulated for certain ends, there are three main issues here that can be neither denied nor ignored: 1) a dead child and a grieving family; 2) the incomprehensible lack of security, competence and decency from OMV-Petrom that ought to know better (bearing in mind this is a Romanian company with Romanian employees on Romanian land with a Romanian child who has died and a Romanian family in mourning); 3) the unscrupulous bully-boy treatment by puppets acting on orders of their unscrupulous bully-boy bosses (mayors, police chiefs, managers, etc) who are under the thumbs of unscrupulous bully-boy politicians not wanting to upset (read 'lose face and money from') these giant companies. And those three points all converge to the one destructive, lethal cancer that has metastasised throughout Romania's political class post-'89: GREED.

Marian's death has not only highlighted the unfathomable levels of corruption along with a shocking lack of compunction, but also the gaping void where humanity should be.

(Photo source: Spot the difference)

I'll end this sad yet indignant post with a message from Frack off Romania on what we can do next. Please take the time to read it, for there are many different ways something can be done on small and larger scales. This cannot be allowed to happen again. Unless there is international media attention to shame those responsible and get something done, it will. Again and again. Thank you.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT URGENTLY NEEDED!

Please help!!! Here's how:

1. Spread the word!!! (media, NGOs for human rights, environmental protection and citizens' groups fighting fossil fuels and extractivism)

2. Help us find international lawyers (specialised in human rights) to work pro bono. There are hardly any Romanian lawyers who would stand up against this giant company.

3. Write letters of complaint to the Romanian Minister of Interior in charge of the Riot Police and the OMV Petrom headquarters in Vienna.

Emails:

Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs – petitii@mai.gov.ro

OMV HQ Vienna – info.ep@omv.com

Petrom HQ Bucharest – office@petrom.com

4. Financial aid is needed for this family to bear the cost of legal fees. We have already sent 110 euros collected from donations. Further donations will be withdrawn from paypal on Monday.

Donations can be sent:
a) in RON: Peacocks Razvan Marius IBAN: RO85BACX0000000679700000, SWIFT: BACXROBU
b) in Euros: Peacocks Razvan Marius IBAN: RO31BACX0000000679700002, SWIFT: BACXROBU, with Tiriac Bank
c) via paypal : razvan.paune@yahoo.com
d) by MoneyGram or Western: Hettie Benedek, Romania (Please let her know by writing to: hetti.benedek@yandex.com)

All info as to how donations are being managed and used is posted HERE.

For anyone wanting further details, please write to hetti.benedek@yandex.com

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT!

For more in Romanian (except where indicated), please see Digi24, Digi24 again, EVZ, PRO TV, Realitatea, Nasul TV, Gândul, Romania Libera, Hotnews, Basta!Gaz (in French), InfoIinsider.ro, Epoch Times, activist Hetti Benedek's FB page,  Frack off Romania (in English) and Observatorulph.ro

1st April UPDATE: Info from Hetti Benedek's FB wall: Hetti spoke to Cristian Furcelea yesterday. First off, he has managed to get the necessary discharge papers from the hospital, which (I guess) prove he was there and why, and, more importantly, the treatment he received. They are currently with his nephew, but once Cristian has them, they can be added to his file against the county police.

Also yesterday, Hetti sent the family 750 RON (approx. 170 euros) towards legal fees in their case against OMV-Petrom. The search for a pro bono lawyer continues, so if anyone has any connections for that, please contact Hetti either via FB or at hetti.benedek@yandex.com.

Further news is that a formal complaint filed by activists from Ploiesti to the county police on behalf of Cristian Furcelea has been answered. Signed by George Dinica at Prahova County Police Inspectorate, the response repeats that they were not responsible for Cristian's arrest, subsequent beating, etc., but does not 'exclude' the possibility that the police team could have been sent from another area or county. There will be a full police investigation. Let's hope they will do what needs to be done without bias, and those found to have carried out such a brutal act dealt with appropriately.

2nd April UPDATE: Activist Hetti Benedek received the hospital discharge papers for Cristian Furcelea today, where you can read in black and white that he had been beaten up. Great, right? Wrong. This is Absurdistan, after all. It seems that the hospital discharge document is invalid. Why? Because it has been replaced by a NEW discharge document. This is the OLD one that hasn't been in administrative circulation for 4 years. Cristian must be in possession of a document called HIPOCRATE which is used on a national scale these days. Absolutely insane. WHY would a hospital give a document to a patient proving his admission, discharge, diagnosis and treatment that is no longer valid throughout the entire country, so useless, unless that was the plan. A nice sowing of obstacles... Does Mr Furcelea now have to take on the health service as well as the police and OVM-Petrom? Come on. Give the guy a break.

In this latest update, Hetti also adds that she has sent donations that cover half the lawyer's fees in the case against the county police so far. The family DESPERATELY need a pro bono lawyer, so if anyone has any connections, please contact Hetti.

More news as it happens (and bravo Hetti!).

2nd April, 23h:  Hetti (not only activist now, but super-sleuth extraordinaire) found out earlier today that if the 'old' papers from the hospital are signed by a doctor, they are accepted in a court of law. Amazingly enough, they ARE signed by a doctor, so thank goodness for that!

Happy Birthday, dear Ana Blandiana!

(Photo source) How difficult it is to write about Ana Blandiana, one of Romania's most outstanding contemporary poets (and my favourite), for I cannot find the words deep enough nor rich enough to describe her. With every bit of the country of my heart that gets destroyed and abused, my faith in humanity dies a little. People like Ana Blandiana, Doina Cornea, Ion Varlam, the not-long deceased Vasile Paraschiv, the much-mourned Cicerone Ionescu and others like them bring that faith back to life again....

I must admit to having become something of an 'Ana-groupie' over the last fourteen years. Sighetu Marmatiei, Bucharest, Paris... Buying her (translated) books, getting them signed and meeting her is always a joy, for wherever she is, that incredible warmth and that lovely smile simply overwhelm everyone and everything else within a two mile radius. Her humanity and her goodness are so enveloping that she lights up an entire room. Her courage through such unthinkable times, her tableaux of honesty, decency and fate painted through the words of her poetry and her constant battling for freedom make her a rarity. The world needs more Ana Blandianas. Far more.

If the name 'Ana Blandiana' draws a blank for anyone out there, let's nip that in the bud at once!

(Photo source) Otilia Valeria Coman was born on 25th March, 1942 in Timisoara. When she was fifteen, she and a group of school friends who would read poetry to each other decided to have a contest on who could come up with the best pseudonym. Otilia put Ana together with Blandiana (the name of her mother's village near Vintu de Jos in Alba County) to rhyme and ended up winning the contest. Sending two poems to a magazine in Cluj (Tribunal) under the newly found pen-name, they were both published. However, afraid of getting into trouble for using a false name, Otilia wrote to the magazine admitting it was a nom de plume. One of the editors, obviously recognising her talent, replied: "Your name is staying as it is. From now on, you are Ana Blandiana." And that, as they say, was that. Ana Blandiana was born.

She described what happened next in an interview in 2003 with Naomi Frandzen of Georgetown University (Washington DC):

"Unfortunately, within two weeks, the authorities of Oradea had found out who I was (remember I was just a child of 15 or 16) and sent a memo to all literary publications across the country. After ‘89, this very memo was published in a collection of documents that I read only recently in the archives of Iasi stating, "We call your attention to the fact that the daughter of the enemy of the people, Gheorghe Coman, currently in prison, is hiding under the name Ana Blandiana and should not be published." This was my first ban. After '89, I remember saying in an interview (which later became famous) that the paradox of my destiny was that I was known as a banned writer before I was even known as a writer. No one knew who I was, I had only published two poems and yet the whole literary community knew that there was a little girl who was censored..."

Her father, Gheorghe (1915-1964) was originally a high school teacher who became a priest when he was forbidden to teach, and spent many years in communist prisons. He died in an accident a couple of days after his release through a general amnesty. Her father's influence is not only seen in her intrinsically spiritual vision of existence, but also in her dissidence and independence of thought.

Marrying essayist Romulus Rusan in 1960, Ana studied at the Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj from 1963-7. After graduation, she settled in Bucharest and worked as a literary magazine editor and fine arts librarian. Ten years later, she was able to write full-time - not only poetry and prose fiction but also regular columns for cultural newspapers. From 1974-91, she wrote for the major weekly Revista Literara, with a number of gaps during which the Ceausescu government censored the publication of her work. 

(Image source) In 1984, Ana Blandiana's unforgettable poem 'Totul' ('Everything' - see HERE in English with explanations) was briefly published in the literary magazine Amfiteatru. 'Totul' was a list of elements of daily life in Bucharest at the time, contrasting the 'official' view of life in Romania with the peoples' perception of its monotonous drabness and gloom. The upshot was the withdrawal of Amfiteatru's edition within hours of publication and the firing of all editors. Nevertheless, the poem appeared in translation in Western media and also had limited underground circulation in Romania.

In 1988, she was denounced to the authorities as being the author of "Motanul Arpagic", a thinly disguised fable which ridiculed the Conducator, represented by a tomcat (hers, in fact!). Although she was not arrested, she became a virtual prisoner in her own home. Her post was restricted, her phone cut off, she was put under constant Securitate surveillance and her visitors were intimidated. These conditions would probably have gone on for a great deal longer had Ceausescu not been overthrown in December 1989. Restrictions were then lifted and the Securitate surveillance car parked in front of her house finally disappeared.

(from The Hour of Sand, Selected Poems 1969-1989, p.58, translated by Peter Jay and Anca Cristofovici)

David Croitor - 'dor' on canvas

(Image source: David Croitor - Acoperisuri in Bucurestiul vechi) Not long ago and quite by chance, I fell upon the work of artist David Croitor on my Facebook newsfeed. Instantly charmed by his style, colours and subjects, I rushed off to find out more. Befriending him on FB, I discovered not only a deeply sensitive artist, but a very nice chap holding the brush.

Member of the Writers' and Artists' Association in Vatra Dornei (his home), the "Nicolae Tonitza" Art Association in Suceava and the Artists' Association in Mures, David Croitor was born in Suceava in 1958. He studied under artist Dimitrie Loghin (1910-1982) from 1978 and then Aurel Aniţei in Bucharest from 1981 before going on to graduate at the capital's Geology Faculty. His first solo exhibition was held at the University of Bucharest in 1986, which lead to many more. Since then, he has participated in many collective and personal exhibitions and, today, his work can be found in private collections in the UK, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Canada and the US. 

(Image source: David Croitor) Favouring oil, there's definitely something of the Van Gogh in David's work. From villages to landscapes, still life to portraits, it is impossible to look away until you have soaked up the vibrance, the tenderness, that are present in each and every one.

David's inspiration is deeply rooted in his native Bucovina. The smell of newly stacked hay is almost overwhelming, the clip-clop of horses as clear as day and the old houses so touching in their colourful lopsidedness that they utterly melt your heart. From each deserted street, each neglected or abandoned home, each ricketty roof, hidden poetry is born.

(Image source: David Croitor) To Balcic, the rooves of Bucharest, a garden step, a field of sunflowers, the boats of Sozopol, wherever they take you, they are all a cry for home... Dor.

Beautiful. Passionate. Without exception.

For more of David's work, please visit his website HERE and/or his Facebook page HERE.

(Image source: David Croitor - Bucurestiul vechi , cartierul Uranus [demolat] u/p , 72/65 cm, 2010)

(Image source: David Croitor - Ponoarele, Mehedinti)

(Image source: David Croitor - Casa Veche)

(Image source: David Croitor)

(Image source: David Croitor - Balcic, poarta spre mare)

All images published with the kind permission of David Croitor. Thank you!

Book launch: 'Ultimul Nud' by Ellis Avery

(Image source) The launching of Ultimul Nud (The Last Nude) by Ellis Avery, translated into Romanian by translator and journalist (ex-Reuters) Roxana Dascalu at Libraria Humanitas near Cismigiu on April 1st at 19h promises to be full of surprises. A translator of prose and poetry for Lettre Internationale, the Romanian Writers' Union and Cultura magazine, this is Roxana's literary 'book' debut.

Hosted by Denisa Comănescu (poet and director of Humanitas Fiction since 2007), the evening will include an eight minute reading by promising young actress Ada Condeescu, a presentation by the head of the book's translation editors, another speaker yet to be divulged and a speech by Roxana herself on the 'pangs' of translation. If I know anything at all about Roxana, it'll be full of wit and honesty, so don't miss it! Also invited: Ioana Avădani, director of the Centre for Independent Journalism in Romania; journalist for AP Alison Mutler and Pavel Șușară, journalist, author, critic and art historian.

In what is still considered a pretty homophobic country, this is a brave debut for Roxana. As is the case in a number of other Eastern European countries, Romania remains socially conservative with regard to the rights of its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens. In June last year, an amendment to Romania's new constitution backed by MPs and the Orthodox Church defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman uniquely, and only last week, the bill on same sex civil partnerships was unanimously ruled against by a parliamentary committee. Proposed by Green MP Remus Cernea, it met with staunch opposition from all parties in the Senate with just 2 votes in favour and 105 against, before being overwhelmingly rejected by the judicial Commission of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies. Cernea hopes to reintroduce the bill at a later date, although given the stiff resistence, it is unlikely to fare much better for some time yet.

Despite that, Romania has made progress in LGBT rights legislation since 2000. Over the last ten years, it has fully decriminalised homosexuality, introduced and enforced wide-ranging anti-discrimination laws (though how much they are upheld, I cannot say), equalised the age of consent and introduced laws against homophobic hate crimes. Furthermore, LGBT communities have become more visible in recent years, as a result of events such as Bucharest's annual GayFest Pride Parade and Cluj-Napoca's Gay Film Nights festival. In 2006, Romania was named by Human Rights Watch as one of five countries in the world that had made "exemplary progress in combating rights abuses based on sexual orientation or gender identity."

Having said that, The National Council for Combating Discrimination released a report, "Perceptions and Attitudes Regarding Discrimination in Romania" in April 2012. The results were pretty shocking and show there is still a long way to go:

• 18% felt that homosexuals were discriminated very little.
• 17% believed sexual minorities were badly discriminated.
• 31% responded that they would not feel comfortable at all around a homosexual person and 30% would feel only slightly comfortable.
• 63% stated they would be very much bothered if a same-sex person would try to make advances toward them.
• 54% stated they would never have a meal with a homosexual.
• 48% stated they would be very disturbed if they found out that a family member was gay.
• 40% would be equally disturbed if their children had a gay teacher.

On 7 November 2012, the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy released a three part study. In part II, the study notes the following level of tolerance toward homosexuals:

• 79.7% of those questioned would not want a homosexual neighbor
• 53% preferred that homosexuality be outlawed (compared to 62% in 2006)

(Photo source) Books by known gay and lesbian authors have been selling in Romania for years - Anais Nin, Edith Wharton, Alice Walker and Maya Angelou spring to mind. I won't even bother to mention Oscar Wilde, DH Lawrence and Virginia Woolf (whose works don't come under the LGBT flag, but were either gay or bisexual in any case). Carturesti bookstores have had LGBT book sections since last summer. The arrival of Ultimul Nud in Romanian will, I hope, lead to a little more understanding, an opening of minds and an increase in tolerance that was so lacking in the 2012 reports. Either that, or it'll go completely the other way and cause an utter scandal... Whichever way it goes, it will hit the press, get people talking, lead to debate and that can only be for the greater good, right? The days of taboo, single-minded ignorance and the refusal to accept those different from oneself when it comes to sexuality should be well and truly over at this point in time, as countries all over the world and various states in the US (excluding the bible-bashing belt) welcome same sex unions.

But back to the book, winner of the 2013 American Library Association, Stonewall Book and Barbara Gittings Literature Awards, and an excellent review from The Historical Novel Society:

In this stunningly intimate reimagining of an important year in the life of Tamara de Lempicka, we follow the young woman who was her muse for several famous paintings, in particular La Belle Rafaela. On her way from the United States to Italy, Rafaela Fano stole away to France to escape an arranged marriage. Destitute and nearing desperation, a chance meeting with Tamara turned into a lucrative job, and eventually a relationship between the two women.

Once La Belle Rafaela was finished and set to appear at the Salon, selling even before the event, two mysterious art enthusiasts begin to vie for Tamara’s remaining works – especially the ones featuring Rafaela. Mostly told through Rafaela’s perspective, we find in her an honest protagonist, sympathetically portrayed and easily liked. Tamara’s character, however, is an intriguing mix of credulous wonder and grudging admiration that has the reader questioning her motives.

Free April 1st at 19h? Then get thee to Humanitas near Cismigiu!

For more on this event, please see Adevarul, Ziarul de duminica, DiaCaf, Bookuria, Catchy, Hotnews and Herald.

The neighbours, the cats and the dog-catchers... :( :(

There is horrific news this evening of an attack on 16 cats in Bucharest - attacks by animals of the two-legged variety I hasten to add. For now, it all still remains rather vague, but here is what happened as I understand it:

Once upon a time, an elderly lady who lived in an apartment block at str. Arad nr. 49 in Bucharest looked after 16 pussycats. Some stayed with her indoors whilst others were fed in the courtyard. Unfortunately, the lady became very ill and is currently in hospital. Her nephew either moved into the flat or was going backwards and forwards in any case, and let the cats all out into the street. Apparently, he's not much of a cat fan.

It is not clear how long the cats were out there, but the neighbours started to complain. And SOMEONE contacted the dog-catchers. Dog-catchers? For cats? Or maybe the person simply didn't know the difference between the two. You'd think the dog-catcher would know. In any case, the dog-catchers showed up and... oh God... shot the cats with tranquilisers, threw poison (furadan) over them, chucked them all in a cage next to a bunch of dogs and took them off to a dog shelter.

Fourteen of the sixteen cats died, either from the tranquilisers, the poison or from shock.

The two little darlings that survived were rescued from the shelter by a lady after the story broke, and taken to the vets. One of them, a Burmese (a BURMESE!!!) was soaked in furadan.

Apart from the initial horror of such heinous brutality (both on the part of the neighbours AND on the part of the dog-catchers), this raises some VERY worrying questions:

1) Is it legal for dog-catchers to concern themselves with CATS?

2) Is it legal for CATS to be taken by dog-catchers to shelters for DOGS?!

3) The lady who rescued the cats from the dog shelter was apparently asked to sign an adoption paper. Whaaaat?!? They were cats NOT dogs. Since when did dog shelters have contracts for adopting cats?!

Law 258 /26-09-2013 stipulates management for homeless dogs. Nowhere does it mention cats.

Now, the director of the Politia Comunitara in sector 1, Andrei Mihail, is asking for the two surviving cats to be returned to the shelter for adoptions are not permitted until 7 days have passed. Mais...je rêve... ou quoi?! It's one irregularity after another resulting in one grotesque aberration.

This is not the first time such a story has shocked animal-lovers (and even those who aren't). Not that long ago, an elderly blind man in Bucharest was forced by 'authorities' to take his cats into a field on the outskirts of the city and LEAVE THEM THERE. He couldn't see, but he HEARD them being mauled apart by dogs.

What is happening in the city of my heart? What has caused individuals from such a warm and generous nation to do such evil things? Were they beaten as children? Denied dolls and teddybears? Forced to play soldiers? Or are they just weak, pathetic people who have no other way to get their kicks? Empty beer cans where their hearts should be? For the last few years, we have constantly read about the appalling abuse piled on the long-suffering street dogs. And as if that's not bad enough, now it's cats. Cats!

This is a story that needs distributing and more info is required. What happened to those 14 little souls certainly doesn't seem to have been legal, no matter which way you chew on it. Heads should roll. The nephew, the neighbours, the dog-catchers, the local police, City Hall - whoever has a gramme of responsibility should feel the pain of furadon splashed all over them and the powerless terror of a tranquiliser-overdose whilst lying in a cage left to die. It is too late for the 14 angels murdered today. The 2 who miraculously survived, I hope, will be allowed to remain with their kind rescuer for the rest of their days. And I hope to God that the poor old lady lying in hospital NEVER gets to know what an idiot she has for a nephew (if she hasn't already twigged), nor, above all, what happened to the cats she loved and fed.

Today I wanted to write a nostalgic blog about 1 Martie, the first day of spring. Instead, I end up writing a horror story. A shameful story. A story that shows a mentality so cruel, so warped, that it is beyond description.

I look at my own cats and thank the powers that be that they live in a civilised country...

Farewell to Cicerone Ionitoiu

(Photo source) Oh, how sad... I have just seen a post on the Facebook page of La Maison Roumaine by its president Alexandre Herlea on the recent death of writer, resistance fighter and political prisoner under the communist regime Cicerone Ionitoiu. Here is a translation of Mr Herlea's words:

'Cicerone Aristotel Traian Ionitoiu, the great Romanian anti-communist resistant, died in Paris today, 26th January 2014.

La Maison Roumaine announces the death of one of the most representative of Romanian anti-communist resistance fighters at Hôpital St Antoine with immense sadness.

Born on 8th May 1924 in Craiova, he joined in the fight against soviet occupiers and their allies immediately after the Second World War. From a modest peasant family, he was a student of history and part of the youth leaders of the PNT (Parti National Paysan Roumain) - the largest democratic party in the country. With a courage and determination that seemed to have no bounds, Ionitoiu tirelessly lead the fight for the freedom, democracy and dignity of the Romanian people.

Arrested by the communists, he was sentenced to a total of 26 years - he did 10. Released in 1964 when pressure from the West opened up the political prisons, he continued his fight first in Romania and then, after 1979, in France where he sought refuge following intervention from President Président Valérie Giscard d'Estaing.

(Photo source) In Paris, he continued to be extremely active. After the death of Nicolas Penesco (1982) he took over the position of leader of the PNT in exile, organising an "Association des Anciens Détenus Politiques Roumains" together with Remus Radina, and above all, developing an extraordinary activity for the denunciation of crimes committed by the communists in Romania. Ionitoiu wrote a number of highly impressive works, amongst them: "Tombes sans croix" (Graves without crosses), the "Dictionnaire des victimes du communisme" (Dictionary of the victims of communism), "La persécution de l'Eglise en Roumanie" (The persecution of the church in Romania), "La résistance armée des Roumains dans la montagne" (The armed Romanian resistance of the mountains) (1944 - 1960). His last book, "Figures de légende" (Faces of legend) appeared in Decembre 2014.

After 1989, he took an active role in the rebirth of the PNT, helped its president Corneliu Coposu and denounced the acts of those who were really in power in Romania: the political police and the nomenklatura. With firmness and lucidity, he refused any form of collaboration with either.

Cicerone Ionitoiu was a credit to Romania and to his generation. May he rest in peace. La Maison Roumaine sends its sincere condolences to his loved ones.'

(Photo source) Almost more upsetting than his death (to me) was that had I not seen Mr Herlea's post, I would not have known he had left us. The Romanian press hardly batted an eyelid except for Adevarul who published a good piece by Alex Stefanescu. Surely, the passing of such a man could not have gone unnoticed. Someone who remained faithful to his conscience and moral values in such an unequal struggle that resulted in exile, suffered such inhumane brutality at the hands of the communists, lived (and survived) the horrors of just about every jail in Romania including Jilava, Râmnicu Sărat (article by Ionitoiu) and Pitesti, and then devoted his entire life to documenting their heinous crimes, surely deserves better. Could it be that he really is simply unknown in his native homeland? If so, then for shame.

Eye on Romania says that it was mentioned in "three small newspapers - all of them just reprinting a press release from the PNTCD party. No additional research or background material was provided as the “journalists” literally just printed the press release word for word." How disgusting. Please do read Sam's excellent post on Ionitoiu - it's absolutely overflowing with information.

What a travesty that the loss of this incredible man was not given more importance in the very country for which he waged such a courageous war against the evils of an oppressive, insane regime for liberty and the future of our children. Instead, I learn of it from the president of an association here in Paris and an American living in Cluj... Thank you, Romanian press for your absence of respect, effort and  embarrassing indifference.

May Cicerone Ionitoiu rest in peace at last - and may all those like him who tirelessly fought for the freedom and dignity of the Romanian people not get too dizzy turning in their graves as they see what has become of the population for whom they so relentlessly battled...

For more, please see Contributors, Revista 22 (very brief), Adevarul, IICMER (the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile) and Război întru Cuvânt. Hotnews and Mediafax, what happened to you?

Gabriela Moga Lazar

I have just received an e-mail from Simina Lazar who is currently organising an exhibition in Angers of some of the wonderful tapestries created by her mother, artist Gabriela Moga Lazar. She writes,

"Moi, je continue avec l’organisation des  expositions de tapisseries de  ma mère, Gabriela Moga Lazar. Maintenant  j’organise une exposition à Angers (la cité de la renaissance de la tapisserie). 

Il y a quelques années,  elle a eu déjà une exposition aux environs d’Angers. A l’époque, la conseillère de la région pour le Patrimoine avait beaucoup aimé ses tapisseries et c’est elle qui les a proposé maintenant à la Mairie d’Angers..   

La Mairie d’Angers m’a accordé l’espace d’exposition de la Tour Saint Aubin pour la période 21 février - 3 mars. Le vernissage est un jour avant : jeudi 20 février.

Je t’envoie l’invitation pour le cas où, par hasard, tu arrives dans la région d’Angers…  (Viens – c’est une très belle ville !)  Ou si jamais tu connais quelqu’un qui pourrait être intéressé par la tapisserie, invite-le !  Je serai reconnaissante pour une éventuelle relation.  Et je serais très heureuse, si tu mettais une annonce de l’exposition sur ton blog…"

And so, here it is! Unfortunately, I cannot seem to add the invitation here, but if you'd like one, please do contact me by e-mail, and I'll send it to you.

Please see THIS article (in French) written by Gabriela Moga Lazar herself and published in 2013 about the moment when craftsmanship becomes art.

(Image source - Les Quatres Saisons) For the Romanian community of Paris the works of Mme Lazar should be familiar, for exhibitions are certainly not a rarity. THIS one took place only last June at ICR along with others at the Cité Internationale des Arts (2013) and the Grand Palais (2012) to name but a few. Time for the non-Romanian to share in the beauty of her talent and savoir-faire. With elements full of floral, sometimes zoomorphic and often geometric symbols, her compositions are usually vertical, respecting a lovely axis of symmetry and parallelism. There is, though, a clear evolution also towards the abstract in her work remarkable in its freshness.

Gabriela Moga Lazar (1926-2012) was born in Transylvania. She studied in Cluj and specialised in the art of tapestry. She went on to work in Iasi where her profession as teacher and partnership with the ethnographer Emilia Pavel of the Ethnography Museum of Moldova lead her to develop a new trend in the art of Romanian tapestry, with creations that juxtaposed modern art with folk art. Professor at the Pedagogical School and the School of Folk Art, she taught generations of students, training them to appreciate the true values of traditional Romanian artwork.

(Image source: Fleur dans le temps) Her prize-winning work, both professionally and artistically, has been the subject of a host of articles. Newspapers have called her "the messenger of the Romanian soul".

If that doesn't tempt you, I don't know what will!

Meanwhile, here in Paris at Montrouge, the Town Hall is busy organising another collective exhibition themed "La Sagesse" to run from 7-16 February, with a vernissage on the first evening which looks fascinating.

Enjoy!

For more on Gabriela Moga Lazar and exhibitions both current and future, please see Simina's website (in French) HERE.

Further interesting articles can be found in Revista Luceafarul (Romanian) written by ethnographer Emilia Pavel (2011), Rasunetul (Romanian) by Olga Lucuţa (2010) and Art-Contemporain.com (French). Check out this video too, showing some of Mme Lazar's beautiful compositions.

(Image source - Ombre de fleurs)

(Image source - Reine de la Nuit)

(Image source - Fête)

(Image source - Fleur du jardin)

(Image source - Arbre de la Moldavie)

13th February: The exhibition in Angers from 21 Feb - 3 March has been postponed for a later date due to illness. Wishing Simina a gentle and stress-free recovery from us all.

SOS!! Bucharest's Jewish State Theatre in tatters

(Photo source) It was a tragedy waiting to happen that could so easily have been avoided - and another example of 'merge si asa' from mayor oprescu... City Hall has been well aware of the urgent work required at the theatre for quite some time but did they move? Don't be daft. As recently as last year, the theatre accountant was informed that City Hall would prioritise renovation in 2013. But 2013 has been and gone and nothing has been done. Voilà, the result.

(Photo source) On Saturday night, severe snowstorms destroyed 80m, ie 30%, of roof at Bucharest's Jewish State Theatre directly above the stage, causing untold damage - see photos HERE. Firefighters spent several hours securing the area. Passers-by and parked cars in the street below were also at risk from falling debris along with a kindergarten next door. Continuous blizzard conditions haven't helped matters. Today, the stage is immersed in water, the theatre itself soaked, the basement flooded and hundreds of sets completely destroyed. The freezing elements typical of the season threaten to further damage all that lies within. The building itself is now isolated and all access forbidden due to danger of electrocution.

(Photo source) Needless to say, all performances have had to be cancelled, including an entire event in memory of those who perished in the Holocaust due to have opened on 25th January. Anyone who bought tickets will find them valid for future performances, says the official page on FaceBook.

(Photo source) The prestigious Jewish State Theatre, a historic monument, was built as a clinic by Dr. Iuliu Barasch towards the end of the XIXc. The theatre building (Teatru Baraşeum or Sala Baraşeum) was used from the early 1930s as a Yiddish-language theatre, originally under private management.

The theatre continued to operate during the early years of the Second World War, during which time it became a  shelter for Jewish actors and playwrights from Eastern Europe who had been banned from other cultural institutions. During the war years, the Baraşeum Jewish Theatre premiered over thirty productions, about half of them directed by Sandru Eliad. Although officially exclusively Jewish, at times various Gentile intellectuals helped the company illegally, especially with translations; this was well enough known to provoke indignation from at least one anti-semitic newspaper. Some Gentiles, mostly intellectuals, showed support for the theatre by coming to performances. (Wikipedia) 

(Photo source) The theatre was established as the State Jewish Theatre (Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat, TES) in 1948 and has operated in the former Baraşeum building almost continually since then. It was the first state-operated Yiddish theatre in the world; a second Romanian State Jewish Theatre was established in Iaşi in 1949, but disappeared in 1964. 

No investment has been made in the building since 1955. With historic monument status, the STATE is responsible for it (legea 422). Gigel has promised to resolve the situation as rapidly as possible. "The building of the State Jewish Theatre is not administered by the ministry but as it hosts a very important cultural institution, I will not hesitate to be involved in finding a solution," he told Mediafax news agency. It seems that the theatre falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism - why, I cannot begin to fathom.

(Photo source) It is an incredibly successful theatre and has seen some of Romania's greatest actors including Alexandru Finti, Beate Fredanov, Willy Ronea, M. Bradu, Jeny Shmilovici, Agnia Bogoslava, the Gamberto sisters, Moni Ghelerter, Nicolae Stroe and Mircea Crisan at its footlights. See THIS from Romania Libera on a documentary by Radu Gabrea, "Si s-au dus ca vântul..." The potential loss whether one is Jewish or not is simply unimaginable, for it is a cultural heart for history, memory and patrimony alike. It is one of the few living remnants of the once vibrant Yiddish culture in Eastern Europe and still performs plays in the Yiddish language.

Here are some more recent performances: 'Tragedie dentara', 'Exil în pamântul uitarii', 'Papasarul', 'Yentl' and 'Hoţii de frumuseţe'. Please also take a look at THIS wonderful interview given by the theatre's director since 2012, international award-winning actress Maia Morgenstern.

(Photo source) Ms. Morgenstern, desperately trying to protect the building from yet further damage, has said that no 'concrete' response of the whens and hows has yet been forthcoming from City Hall. The Inspectorate for Construction visited to establish a 'strategy' for what is to be done, but it all takes time - and time is something that the structurally ailing theatre clearly doesn't have...

In the meantime, please sign THIS petition initiated by Oana Monica Nae addressed to mayor oprescu demanding that the theatre be saved from ruin. The more signatures there are, the more pressure is put upon the authorities.

Here is an article from today's Jerusalem Post:

Roof collapses on Romania’s Jewish theater

By JTA, 01/30/2014 10:49

BUCHAREST — Heavy snows caused the partial collapse of the roof of the State Jewish Theater, paralyzing one of Romanian Jewry’s foremost cultural institutions.

A snowstorm on Jan. 25 devastated about a third of the roof of the 19th century building that houses the theater, the institution’s director, Maia Morgenstern, told JTA.

“Unfortunately, the part of the roof that collapsed was directly over the stage area, so performances cannot go on,” she said. No one was hurt in the collapse, but now “the water keeps pouring and pouring into the building and part of it is completely flooded.”

According to Morgenstern, “City officials have already pledged to provide resources for fixing the situation, but this building has been neglected for so long, it needs to be reconstructed, not just renovated.”

She was not sure when and even if the theater would be operational again.

Between 100 and 200 people attend the theater’s performances four nights a week, Morgenstern said.

“I think it is one of the most important if not the most important institutions of Romanian Jewry,” she said.

See more from the international press here: Washington Post, Jewish Business News, News Channel 6, GlobalPost, Daily Motion and USA Today. 

More news as it comes...