Silent protest - Arta la Matache

(Photo source: Mihaela Mihaila) 11am this morning saw 'Arta La Matache', a very unique demonstration opposing the demolition of Hala Matache, the historic indoor market (see post HERE dated 9th Feb) on str. Buzesti, central Bucharest. Gathered at Piata Matache, around 200 (the media stated around 70 whilst those at the demo reported approx. 200) Bucharest residents stood in silent protest, painting, drawing and taking photographs as the gendarmes looked on. In Roumania, the mayor must authorise a demonstration, but people showed up anyway. Bravo! Defenders of the market are pushing for its preservation whilst Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu seems determined to demolish it, thus making way for a highway, bringing heavy traffic straight through the heart of the city. A very logical solution for solving both traffic and pollution issues in the heart of Bucharest. Hala Matache is not the only historic monument to be wiped out. Two others have been illegally demolished already (the C.Radulescu House and the Hotel Marna). Legalities don't seem to matter to the mayor, who, impatient enough by a month and a half's delay, has threatened to sue any NGO who stands in his way. Stealthy, hasty mass destruction. And yes, to the people of Bucharest old enough to remember, they have seen this all before.

The North South Highway has been bitterly disputed by architects and representatives of civic organisations, and yet nothing and no one seem able to stop this continuous mutilation of a city. Several public figures have recently sent an open letter to the Minister of Culture, arguing the dire need to preserve and promote the city's identity through 'the harmonious integration of ancient monuments in line with the needs of contemporary life, urban tissue arrchitecture and historic integrity.' The full text of the letter is available here . Every form of protest so far has been blatantly ignored. The fact that Hala Matache is on a protected register doesn't seem to ruffle his feathers one bit. With historic status, any destruction or defacing of Hala Matache is deemed illegal. City Hall has asked the Ministry of Culture to simply remove it from the list of monuments but so far, no decision has been taken. The mayor's comment was simply that he didn't know why it was on the list at all... Enuff said. One solution suggested has been to move the market 500m up the road. To move such a structure built in 1887 would be as good as demolishing it. The land it would stand on, should it be moved and survive the experience, is privately owned and extremely costly. In the end, the result would come to much the same.

On Monday, reports Andrei Pippidi of Salvati Bucuresti for Dilema Veche, the roof of the building was attacked with pick-axes. Scrap metal thieves weren't far behind. So, you see, a demolition order isn't really necessary if one wants to rid the city of a building that hangs on a court order. Remove the roof, let the rain in, open the doors to thieves and pillagers and Bob's your uncle. Rain, damp and other natural elements do the job for the bulldozers... This is a common occurrence in Bucharest these days. Cheap demolition. Cruel, undignified and equally illegal. But less hassle. Watching a building languish and die that used to be so full of life and bustle,so central to the neighbourhood,is heart-breaking.

Salvati Bucuresti is having none of it this time. For Nicusor Dan, its President, this is just too much. He is a man with a mission, and thank goodness for him. With still no sign of a permit or other relevant paperwork to allow such an attack on Hala Matache in view, the association along with The Alliance for a Clean Romania have filed a criminal complaint. The whole demolition process so far carried out in the Buzesti area has been in contempt of the law. Salvati Bucuresti and The ACR accuse the commission of destruction of property of historical and artistic value, abuse against private interest, abuse of office against public interest, negligence, theft... the list goes on...and on. Kudos to Salvati Bucuresti and the ACR.

Please see this interview taken today by Geo Scripcariu with Mr Gheorghiu, Chairman of the Asociatie Negustorilor (Merchants' Association).

What Ceausescu didn't manage, today's goverment are finishing off with terrifying voracity. The historic centre of Bucharest has 18,000 buildings. Of those, 1500 are listed as monuments and over the last ten years, around 1000 have been demolished. How can this be possible? Can you see that happening in Paris? Prague? Berlin? So why then is it permitted in Bucharest? Hardly a week goes by without another liquidation, another mutilation, another scar appearing on the face of a city that was once known as 'Little Paris'. One of communisms most evident legacies was the wide-spread destruction of streets and neighbourhoods along with the architectural beauty (not to mention the historical value) of churches, villas, synagogues and houses. Nothing much has changed then, for so it goes on. No matter what anyone says or does, whether or not the courts have endorsed it, there is a permit for demolition, none of that is important. There is no debate, no dialogue and absolutely no democracy in what is happening today in the capital city of Roumania.

(Photo source: Mihaela Mihaila) What can one do to express outrage at such barefaced vandalism committed against history and patrimony by the very people who have been entrusted to protect it? Well, to begin with, you can join the group "Matake" on Facebook - show that you care. Oh, and bring new members, please. It has just reached 769 members at the time of writing and that's still far from enough. Spread the word, pass it on.  You can also send an e-mail of support to THIS address and you will be kept up to date with future gatherings. Whether authorised or not, they should be well attended for if there are no voices, there will be no protest. HERE is a site for all updates pertaining specifically to Piata Matache and yet another one HERE. Apart from that, you can leave a comment below on this post. This has gone on long enough. It must come to an end before there is nothing left in Bucharest to destroy...

Comments

[Cineva]

Thank you for your words and thank you because you cared enough to write about the endless abuses and illegalities of or dear mayor. I truly hope one day he will be convicted for what he did.

[Valeria]

and many don't even remember so don't bother to fight for it...

DLA has a point which would explain that arrogant blogpost on Bucharest Life - I see you read it, too. Turpitude! I like that. But I like turd better...

[horia]

dear DLS, i well understand your point!
the fact that you come from a "normal" world, makes you sometimes vulnerable in places of duplicity like Romania.
Andrei Plesu said once: "Normality is the utopia of the romanians"
So this about the "normal" world and Romania. :)

I love the citation of the Queen Mary of Romania, posted here in the header, reigning over all our comments here, and also over my complaints of our missing normality :)

Those words remind me of a time when Romania seemed to be nearer to that "firesc" (naturell) and normality that we romaninans miss today so much.

[sairj]

Hi Horia,

Thank you very much for the contact. yes, I am aware of Salvati Bucuresti of course and the very admirable Nicusor Dan, along with Artrad (Dan ghelase) and the Association of Architects. I will indeed contact Dna Marin and am very grateful to you for the piste!
Thank you very much :o)

[horia]

Dear Sairj, I am very glad to read such en enthusiast message, and I am glad that you work too, for our poor but poetical old bucharest!
You are right, there are always some exceptions. We are very unhappy that the positive exceptions are still rare in bucharest, regarding our Cause.
Yes, we'll keep you up to date! I recommend you also to contact the ATU group of urbanists and architects, Asociatia de tranzitie urbana, to be found at http://www.atu.org.ro - conducted by arch. Vera Marin. Also, the group Salvati Bucurestiul, led by Nicusor Dan, is very active (even if, a pity, they do not post anything on their old website).