Protests today

At the moment of writing, protests are going on in central Sofia, and in Varna.

Of course there are many grievances behind the protest, and a general disenchantment with Bulgrian politics and politicians. The proposal that triggered the demonstrations was the proposal of a new law on demonstrations.

Bulgaria e nasha has posted a clarificance, why the students and bloggers protest against this law. Summary:

The problems with the law are:

• The extension of the demanded pre-announcement from 2 to 5 days. This will, obviously, hamper the possibility to mobilize quickly in acute moments.
• The ban on protests in front of buildings from where the state is run. Protesters will be envisaged to other places like parks. Nice place for a protest in deed, but when the aim of the protest is not present, the effect will likely be less.
• The mayor gets too wide mandate. Anumber of subjective motives, like fear of violent outbursts, suspicion that state security is endangered etc. gives the mayor the right to one-sidedly cancel protests.

The protest was announced by SROKSOS. Bulgaira e Nasha and Forthenature also stands behind it.

Source: Bulgaira e Nasha

Demonstration Saturday 11:00

On Wednesday 11:00, the student's organisation SROKSOS will arrange demonstrations in front of the parliament in Sofia, and in front of the main court in Varna.

The demonstration is a protest against the recent changes in the election laws, that SROKSOS sees as a game with the democracy. "In Bulgaria democracy is still nothing but a facade" Rymen Sahariev was quoted in Mediapool.

The protest is open for all free thinking citizens the article states. Unemployed workers from the Kremikovtzi plant are regularly holding protests at the same spot, and the two protests are likely to unite on Wednesday.

Source: Mediapool.bg

Is the crisis coming to Bulgaria?

The much talked about international economical crisis has so far been invisible in Bulgaria, at least in Sofia. During the weekend, however, I personally spoke to some persons that spoke about increasing unemployment. Many international observers fear the effects of a jobs crisis in eastern and central Europe, fearing that it will raise the spectre of populism and hatred against minorities.

In Romanian Cotidianul I also read about an alarming increase in kidnappings in Bulgaria. Romanian media tend to be quick to report about whatever is not rigght in Bulgaria, but it does for sure not sound nice.

Hungary is on the front page of the New York Times today, in a feature article of violence against Roma people. And this film from slovakia, showing policemen humiliating roma boys has caused some outcry.


I hope the Bulgarians can keep it together. We're all in this together.

New opinionpoll show strength for liberals

On his blog, the leader of liberal SDS martin Dimitrov, published a new opinion poll, conducted by the Open Society Institute.

The interesting thing with the poll is that it compares the general population (the first number) with those that actually plan to vote (the second number).

GERB (Right wing populists)	20.5	33.3
Socialists	12.5	20.3
Атака (Extreme nationalists)	8.6	14
DPS (Turkish minority party)	7.2	11.7
SDS+DSB (liberals)	6.6	10.7

On Forthenature.org, you can now find more pictures, from the celebrastion of the Earth Day in Plovdiv.

Afternoon 23/3 09 - Restrictions of protests?

• The Bulgarian Governement prepares a law to restrict protests
• SROKSOS calls for protest against this law 29/4
• Meeting to discuss business development in Studenski Grad
  

During the spring movement in central Sofia has often been blocked by numerous protests - except for students and environmentalists, unemployed workers, farmers and others have increasingly taken to the streets.
From the government a law is now being prepared that would restrict the right to protests, and maybe more important - make the protests dependent on the consent of the very people they protest against. The law would prescribes that The Ministry of Interior and the local authorities in commune mark certain areas as forbidden. These areas would be around military installations, and, of course, in front of the presidency and the parliament.
The law would also ban the use of animals or vehicles. The protesting farmers have made use of French style protests with tractors and cows. These would not any more be allowed.
After critique from the Europan Council a possibility to appeal to the administrative court has been added to the proposal. This process would take time. Also, any proposal to demonstrate would have to be handed over to authorities at least five working days in advance, which would exclude flash mobs in central Sofia.

Sources: Dnevnik, dnes.bg, Bulgaria e Nasha

In the protest blogs of SROK SOS and Bugaria e nahsa, the proposal is highly unwelcome. SROK SOS calls for a demonstration agianst the right to demonstrate on Wednesday 29/4, 11:00 in front of the Parliament.

Source: SROKSOS

SROKSOS also announces a meeting including students and theh main architect in Sofia, Peter Dikov 22/4. The meeting will discuss commercial deveolpment in Studentski Grad. Studentski Grad is an area with dormitories that also hosts a Wild West like Night Club life.

Source: SROKSOS

Headlines 23/3 09 - Earth Day in Bulgaria

• Earth day was celebrated in different places in Bulgaria
• Austria probes export of garbage to Bulgaria
• Citizens protest against the Bourgas - Alexandropolous pipeline
• Bulgaria e Nasha invites to protest for justice in the case Martin Borilski

Earth Day was celebrated around Bulgaria, with information and cultural events like concerts. On Forthenature.org you find reports, with pictures from the following Bulgarian cities: Sofia, Stara Zagora , Kardzhali . In Veliko Tarnovo the day was cemlebrated with an exhibiton of school children's paintings.

Source: Forthenature.org

Austrian authorities is currently investigating illegal exports of garbage to Bulgaria and other countries. Bulgaria is currently in a crisis with dealing with it's own waste disposal. The import of illegaly branded Austrian garbage is hardly beneficial.

Illegal garbage trade is big business, and one of the main financing means of organized crime. In his widely discussed book Gomorrah, Roberto Saviano showcases how the Camorra in Naples dump toxic waste, devastating health and environment. God knows where in Bulgaria the Austrian garbage ends up, and not even he knows what's in it since the branding is faked...

Source: Bluelink


Citizens from Bourgas and Pomorie at the southern Bulgarian Black Sea cosat protest against the Alexandropolous - Bourgas pipeline project. Citizens in Pomorie, where the pipeline is projected to run, will be asked about their opinion in a referendum 16/5.
Pomorie also hosts one of Bulgarias foremost rockbands, The Pomorians.

Source: Dnevnik

Bulgaria e nasha annouces that a demonstration will be held according to plans 28 April 09.00-12.00 in front of the main court in Sofia. Martin Borilski was killed in Paris in 2000. French police found lots of evidence and handed the case over to a Bulgarian court. Since then nothing has happened.
Details can be followed (in Bulgarian) in this Facebook group.

Source: Bulgaria e nasha

Earth day in Sofia - Corrected

Today is Earth Day, and the ecologists in Sofia take the chance to bring their message across to the public. I was in the center my self around lunch time and saw several banners with ecological messages.

There are several events in the town today. Find more info on Forthenature.org .

If you, like me will miss them, I reccomend Aleksander Ivanovs online photo exhibition .

Today the Bulgarian parliament approved changes in the electoral legislation. The entrance level to the parliament is increased to 8 % for coalitions, and 4 % for single parties. This will make it more difficult for smaller political alternatives (did someone say Zelenite?)

According to many analysts, the only political forces with a reasonable chance to enter the parliament will be the Current governement parties, the liberal parties IF they are in a coalition, GERB and Ataka.

Bulgaria e nasha have good reasons to protest against the decision, that was apporved against the president's veto, and after most of the opposition had walked out of the plenary hall.

Opinion poll among Bulgarian students

Martin Dimitrov publishes an opinion poll conducted by Nov Bulgarski Universitet, showing suprisingly high numbers for the liberal coalition SDS-DSB.

The population are 347 students in their first and second year of studies, foremost in political science. My guess is that this group is among the core electorate of the liberal parties in Bulgaria. Anyway, here are the results. I have rearranged them according to the percentage.



ГЕРБ GERB - Populist Right Wing 36%

Синята коалиция СДС-ДСБ The liberal coalition SDS-DSB 16%

Не симпатизират Sypathize with no one 13%

Неотговорили Did not answer 12%

БСП Bulgarian Socialist Party 5.2%

Атака Ataka - extreme nationalist 4.6%

Друга Other political party 4.4%

НДСВ NDSV - Conservative, currently in government 4.3%

„Напред” Лидер + ВМРО Napred Lider + VMRO, moderately nationalist 2.8%

РЗС Law and Order, conservative 1.7%

Open Letter from Commitee for Free Elections in Moldova

This is an open letter from The Commitee for Free Elections in Moldova, based in Bucharest, Romania. Romanian original text follows below.

Source: Santeustacio

Open Letter
The committee for free elections in the Republic of Moldova to:

Embassadors of the United States and European Union member states in Bucharest
The European parliament
The European commission
The European Counsel

The committee for free elections in the Republic of Moldova, founded in Bucharest, 8th of April 2009, propose a coordinated campaign for the internationalization of the grave situation created by the communist regime in Chisinau.

To reach our aims we propose:

1. We ask for the liberation of all arrested individuals and adequate medical treatment to everybody with physical injuries. We ask for the support from Mass media in this campaign for defending Human Rights in the Republic of Moldova.
2. We ask for the cancellation of the the results of the elections 5th of April, stolen by the communist authorities in Chisinau.
3. We ask for a renewed probe into the electoral lists, monitored by the European Council, The European Union, the USA, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria.
4. We ask for the organization of a electoral protest, guaranteed free, that lasts at least 30 days.
5. We ask for the television and radio in Chisinau to be put under public control through the set up of a administrative council whose members are scientific or cultural profiles without political affiliation, under the protection of national and international observers.
6. We ask for the citizen Vladimir Voronin to no longer make statements as a president, since his 4 years mandate ran out 7th April, and already stands in conflict with the penal code of the Republic of Moldova.
7. We ask the central election committee to investigate the claimed evidence for a big electoral fraud.
8. We ask for the general prosecutor to begin the investigation in electoral fraud, in a professional an transparent mode in front of internal and international observers.
9. We ask for the European Commission to support the young Moldovans that demonstrate for a state of justice baed on free elections, freedom and democracy in the Piata Marii Asunari Nationale. (my comment: the central square in Chisinau)
10. We will appoint lawyers from the European Union to support our legitimate claims.
11. We ask all public authorities to act i support of and for the promotion of democratic norms and values in the Republic of Moldova.
12. We ask the political leaders in Chisinau to take up our message and to support it publicly. We declare our legal seat to be at: Comitetului Pentru Alegeri Libere în Republica Moldova, în Bucureşti str. Batiştei, nr. 24 A. Telefax: +40-21 – 311-20-75 – Asociatia 21 Decembrie 1989comitetulpentruchisinau@gmail.com
Accepted at the meetings at Piaţa Universităţii, Bucharest, 08-11th April 2009. Support commity:: Organizaţia Studenţilor Basarabeni din Bucureşti, Corina Ciobanu Liga Studenţilor Basarabeni din Bucureşti, Tudor Cojocaru Asociaţia Studenţilor şi Elevilor Basarabeni din Bucureşti, Veaceslav Saramet Grupul de Exprimare Socială a Tinerilor Basarabia, Natalia Porunbin Oficiul pentru Comunicare Internaţională şi Drepturile Omului, reprezentant pentru Republica Moldova, Iacob Buga Grupul Noii Golani, George Simion Asociaţia 21 Decembrie 1989, Teodor Mărieş Seniorii Ligii Studenţilor din România, Romeo Moşoiu Semnatari: FEDERAŢIA EDUCAŢIEI NAŢIONALE ALIANŢA NAŢIONALĂ A ORGANIZAŢIILOR STUDENŢEŞTI DIN ROMÂNIA UNIUNEA NAŢIONALĂ A STUDENŢILOR DIN ROMÂNIA UNIUNEA STUDENŢILOR DIN ROMÂNIA ORGANIZAŢIA STUDENŢILOR BASARABENI DIN CONSTANŢA ORGANIZAŢIA STUDENŢILOR BASARABENI ŞI BUCOVINENI DIN BRAŞOV ASOCIAŢIA STUDENŢILOR ŞI ELEVILOR BASARABENI DIN ORADEA ASOCIAŢIA TINERILOR BASARABENI DIN IAŞI GRUPUL DE INIŢIATIVĂ A ROMÂNILOR BASARABENI DIN SUCEAVA ORGANIZAŢIA STUDENTILOR BASARABENI DIN TIMIŞOARA LIGA STUDENŢILOR BASARABENI DIN TIMIŞOARA (G.I.) CLUBUL STUDENŢILOR BASARABENI ŞI BUCOVINENI “ŞTEFAN CEL MARE ŞI SFÂNT” LIGA STUDENŢILOR BASARABENI DIN GALAŢI (G.I.) GRUPUL DE INIŢIATIVĂ BASARABEANĂ DIN CLUJ ASOCIAŢIA STUDENŢILOR BASARABENI DIN CRAIOVA LIGA STUDENŢILOR ROMÂNI DIN STRĂINĂTATE ASOCIAŢIA TINERILOR ROMÂNI DIN AFARA GRANIŢELOR DIN IAŞI SOCIETATEA TIMIŞOARA ORGANIZAŢIA STUDENŢILOR DIN UNIVERSITATEA TIMIŞOARA LIGA STUDENŢILOR DIN FACULTATEA DE MECANICĂ TIMIŞOARA CONSILIUL MONDIAL ROMÂN ASOCIAŢIA FOŞTILOR DEŢINUŢI POLITICI DIN ROMÂNIA - organizaţia Bucureşti BLOCUL NAŢIONAL AL REVOLUŢIONARILOR 1989 FUNDAŢIA „TIMIŞOARA ’89” FUNDAŢIA MEMORIA - filiala Argeş [Experimentul Piteşti] FUNDAŢIA CORNELIU COPOSU FUNDAŢIA CULTURALĂ TIMPUL ASOCIAŢIA CIVES FUNDATIA NAŢIONALĂ PENTRU ROMÂNII DE PRETUTINDENI ASOCIAŢIA ROMÂNILOR DIN AUSTRALIA ORGANIZAŢIA INTERNAŢIONALĂ A LUPTĂTORILOR PENTRU APĂRAREA DREPTURILOR OMULUI SINDICATUL NAŢIONAL AL ŢĂRANILOR ŞI AL PROPRIETARILOR ROMÂNI, ASOCIAŢIA EUROPEANĂ A CADRELOR DIDACTICE ASOCIAŢIA SCRIITORILOR ROMÂNI ŞI GERMANI DIN BAVARIA ASSOCIATION CULTURELLE ET AMICALE ROUMAINE L’ALLIANCE BELGO-ROUMAINE MIŞCAREA ARĂDEANĂ ORGANIZAŢIA NEGUVERNAMENTALĂ ECOMONDIA CONSILIUL ROMÂN AMERICAN ASOCIAŢIA COPIILOR REVOLUŢIEI ASOCIAŢIA ADEVĂR ŞI DREPTATE ASOCIAŢIA APOLITICĂ “SOCIETATEA TÂRGOVIŞTE” FUNDAŢIA REDAREA ISTORIEI FUNDAŢIA IOAN BĂRBUŞ FEDERAŢIA NAŢIONALĂ OMENIA A PENSIONARILOR FEDERAŢIA SINDICALĂ “SOLIDARITATEA – VIRGIL SĂHLEANU” A SIDERURGIŞTILOR DIN ROMÂNIA FUNDAŢIA NAŢIONALĂ A REVOLUŢIEI DIN DECEMBRIE 1989 – TIMIŞOARA, SINDICATUL SOLIDARITATEA AL SIDERURGIŞTILOR GALAŢI SINDICATUL ALRO SLATINA INSTITUTUL FRAŢII GOLESCU PENTRU ROMÂNII DIN STRĂINĂTATE ASOCIAŢIA GRUPUL CONTRA ASOCIAŢIA TYMOS ORADEA MANECOGNITIVA GRUPUL DE CERCETARE ŞI VALORIFICAREA CAPITALULUI INTELECTUAL FUNDAŢIA CULTURALĂ ROMÂNĂ ASOCIAŢIA GENERALĂ A ÎNVĂŢĂTORILOR DIN ROMÂNIA FUNDAŢIA CULTURALĂ APOSTROF FUNDAŢIA ACADEMIA CIVICĂ

Moldova - A letter to Obama

The situation in Moldova has entered a different stage. The police was successful in stopping further protests, but not in stopping further violence. Officially, four young Moldovans have died form police violence in connection with the protests. I hereby publish a common letter to Barack Obama, from True Moldova blog.
Follow the instructions if you want to urge American interest for Moldova

A letter to Obama

You can help Moldova in 3 easy steps:
Step 1: Click on http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Step 2: Fill out the form with your information
Step 3: Copy and paste the following letter (the more people do it, the higher our chances):

Mr. President,

I have been following recent events in Moldova and was distressed by the lukewarm response and low coverage they received in the United States. I write to urge you and your administration to act and in no uncertain terms denounce the human right abuses of the Communist government in Moldova.

For the past two weeks hundreds of young Moldovans have gathered in the capital of Chisinau to peacefully demonstrate the irregular and corrupt elections held in the country on April 5. These demonstrators are protesting ongoing suppression, censorship of the press and media, infringement of basic rights to move freely. The Moldovan government, however, engaged in arbitrary retaliation against some young protesters, as recorded by the UN.

Demonstrations against anti-democractic abuses have therefore spurred more serious, unacceptable infringement of human rights, as reported by Financial Times and other leading newspapers. International observers denounced serious breaches of human and constitutional rights committed by the police. The latter arrested at least 400 students, many of whom were peaceful protesters.

These young men were beaten at police stations, imprisoned without access to lawyers, exposed to inhumane and degrading treatment, and forced into confessions. Video reports denounce significant abuses and ongoing violent police behavior. One young man was found dead after having been tortured by the police. Journalists, NGO leaders, and members of the opposition have been harassed and intimidated as well. Citizens are denied access to information as local and international media channels and internet access is being restricted and shut down.

Moldova is on the verge of losing the democratic achievements it made since independence and the international community is doing little to prevent this disaster. I sincerely urge you to make a public statement about the situation in Moldova and denounce human rights violations. In doing so, I ask you to reinforce the credibility of the United States in its commitment to democracy and universal respect for human rights.

Update: officially 4 young men beaten to death.

FirstName LastName

I will from now on disrupt my reporting fomr Moldova, since I don't live there, and there are many better sources for you who are interested. Personally I can reccomend:

www.curaj.net
www.unimedia.info


Regarding the US, an official statement is avalible here:

Moldova: Aftermath of Protests

Robert Wood

Acting Department Spokesman

Washington, DC

April 16, 2009

The United States is concerned about the situation in Moldova following the violence on April 7. Although order has been restored and subsequent demonstrations have been peaceful, we have received reports from civil society and international observers of mistreatment of those detained by Moldovan authorities. We are also troubled by reports that students and journalists have been intimidated by government officials. President Voronin’s announcement of an amnesty for many of those detained is an encouraging step toward reconciliation.
We urge the government to act in accordance with Moldovan law and its international obligations when dealing with the opposition, protesters, and the media. All parties need to conduct themselves responsibly. It is also important that the government reach out to opposition parties and address their concerns about the April 5 election in a cooperative and transparent manner. We stress that there is no excuse for violence, such as took place on April 7. The United States remains committed to working closely with Moldova and its people as the country continues down the path of European integration. Respect for the rule of law and human rights are key elements in our relationship.

Repression in Moldova

Thanks God, also major media outlits like Al Jazeera now have information from inside Moldova. We do not longer need to rely on Twitter and internet connections at the mercy of Vladimir Voronin.

Except for the fact that we learn about the totalitarian repression currently going on, there is not much positive at the moment.

Political opponents are put under house arrest for the fact that they organized the protests. N.B. the protests were legally announced according to Moldovan law, and later turned into riots. What use could a democratic state have for house arrest?

Anyway, let's forget any mumbo jumbo about Moldova being a democratic state...

The information below comes from Cotidianul.ro. ON this arrest there are som very nasty pictures of maltreated youth.

The following is a letter that reched me through the facebook group Defend Moldova Pride

Elena Gordon translated the Romanian better than me, and gives a good sum up of the situation:

Dear Friends,

I apologise for messaging you three times in 2 days but Moldova is having a tough time right now and that can only impact badly on LGBT people.

Basically the communists won the vote which seemed to be a fair vote but after weeks of misinformation. To make things more interesting the Communist President Voronin is about to get to the end of his term but doesn't really want to stand down (the Putin scenario).

What is being called a "Twitter" revolution happened with mainly young people mobilising via the internet and going onto the streets. The "communists" are blaming unrest on Romania with backing from Russia and this revolves around the whole issue of whether Moldova will integrate within Romania (Romanian is the language of Moldova).

I barely understand the ins and outs of this myself but I urge non-Moldovans if you can spare the time, to contact your Foreign Ministry expressing grave concerns about the situation in post election Moldova to ensure that politicians in the west can't get away with the idea that "nobody cares about this tiny country".

If you can't spare the time, spare them a thought...as people seem to be being stopped in the streets by Police, especially at night, to be asked how they voted. Many of the demonstrators are in jail, many of them injured by beatings by the Police according to....

"Edwin Berry, Human Rights Adviser to the UN in Moldova has managed to visit the prison nr.13 on Saturday and talk to at least 40 of the young people arrested during the protests. «I have never seen anything like this», said Berry.

UN adviser claims he has seen at least 40 youngsters who are detained in various cells. «They all have traces of beatings and injuries,» Berry said, adding that practically all the prisoners are aged between 18 and 24.

The prisoners complained they were beaten in the different police sections or at the headquarters of the Commissioner General of Police. They claimed that between 25 and 28 people were held in small cells of 8 square meters. They were given very little water, and virtually no food. Also, most of them complained about the fact that they were not allowed to see a lawyer.

«I have seen doctors in the Penitentiary, but the prisoners say they do not receive all appropriate medical assistance», said the UN representative. He told the press that he had taken photographs of the signs of torture which these young people bear on their bodies. He also requested to set up a meeting with the Moldovan Ministry of Interior Affairs. Also, the data that he collected during his visit will be used to document the cases and to inform the international community about what is happening.

«From what I saw and heard from those 40 young people, I can say that there are serious human rights violations, namely the practices of inhuman and degrading treatment and preventing the right to legal advice, fair court proceedings and appropriate conditions of detention, «said the UN official.

Berry believes it is important there is the "Committee for complaints" in Moldova, which made it possible for him to visit the prison.

source: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://garda.com.md%2Fstiri%2Freprezentantul-onu-in-moldovacate-28-de-tineri-batuti-intr-o-celula-de-8-metri

Other sources:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://blogs.euobserver.com%2Fpopescu%2F2009%2F04%2F07%2Fan-eu-response-to-moldova%25E2%2580%2599s-%25E2%2580%2598twitter-revolution%25E2%2580%2599%2F

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://news.bbc.co.uk%2F1%2Fhi%2Fworld%2Feurope%2F7989360.stm
--------------------

I just finished reading the first book in Solzjenitsyns GULAG archipelago. It is really spooky to read almost the same phasing used in Berry's report. No doubt were the Moldovian Police were educated...


Vladimir Voronin has also accused Serbia for helping Romania organising a Coupe d'Etat in Moldova... Take it as a compliment of the Serbian government. I don't know anything about Serbian politics, but to think that they would be involved in the Chisinau uprising is bizarre, to say the least.

Bulgaria has not yet been accused by mr. Voronin. I wonder why...


Moscovici reccomends this site for russian readers. I am not one of them, so I can't judge it, but I trust Moscovici's judgement.

Joint Press Release by the Czech, French and Swedish Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the situation in Moldova

This is the Official EU statement on the situation,I have been informed from the Swedish foereign ministry

The EU Presidency Trio during their meeting in Sarajevo reiterated the messages contained in the previous EU Presidency statements on the situation in Moldova issued on April 7 and 8.

The EU remains ready to work with Moldova in accordance with European values and principles and is committed to further strengthen mutual relations between EU and Moldova. In this regard, the role of the EUSR for Moldova is essential.

For the EU it is essential to enjoy good relations with its neighbours. While understanding the complexity of the Moldovan-Romanian relations, we call on the Government of Moldova to resume normal relations with Romania.

We call on the Moldovan authorities to respect all constitutional freedoms and on all parties to refrain from any violence.

Appeal against violence an terror in Moldova from Mayor of Chisinau.

The following is an open letter from the mayor of Chisinau going out to the world. Hwlp spreading it!

Dear Mr/Mrs,

The Republic of Moldova encounters severe violations of human rights. Following the manifestations on 7th of April 2009, when the presidential and parliament buildings were seized by the protesters, the Moldovan police unleashed a wave of mass terror and intimidation against the citizens. Youth, including minors, has been particularly targeted. Journalists who did not participate in the protests were arrested along with protesters, both violent and peaceful.

The police acted in full force and have been arresting people on the street, students in high schools, universities and youth hostels, but also church attendants returning from the Easter mass. The arrest procedure is not followed through. Those apprehended, men or women, are beaten with cruelty and subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment. There are reports of torture and one death. Not all arrests have been reported. There are still parents in search of their missing children to whom access to their children’s’ whereabouts is denied.

Those released contend that the arrested are kept in dreadful conditions (15-20 people in a 10 m2 cell), beaten with brutality and compelled to sign under false statements. Spot trials are held in police premises with no or limited access to defense. The access to detention facilities is denied including to lawyers and human rights organizations. The repeated requests of the mayor of Chisinau to access the detention facilities were irrefutably turned down.

According to the police, 200 citizens remain under arrest. However, the Moldovan media compiled a list of some 800 missing people believed to be in police’s arrest. Over 50 people were hospitalized in Chisinau after having been beaten by police. There is information that in order to hide the abuses, the detained citizens are transported in other municipalities like Taraclia, Vulcanesti.

We therefore request your immediate involvement to:
• Secure the observance of human rights;
• Stop the inhuman and degrading treatment, torture in places of detention;
• Cessation of terror, the abduction of persons, threats and intimidation;
• Demand access to defence attorneys and fair trial;
• Ensure access the NGOs and media in places of detention;
• Guarantee the rights of the detent, primarily in defense;
• End the illegal arrests;
• Punish the guilty people of committing abuses and release the innocent one.

Evidence and Pictures:
Herein are the brief information and audio/video testimonies of those people who were arrested, abused and kidnapped.

Sergiu Cretu –bone fracture of humerus (arm): 23 years old, peaceful protester, beaten at the police station. For his own secure,
refused to be photographed.

A young person, who request anonymity – bone fracture of humerus (arm), cerebral concussion, muscles contusions/bruises: 23 years old, peaceful protester, beaten in the Park by the police which were civilian-dressed and in uniform.


A young person, who request anonymity – torture, cerebral concussion, muscles contusions/bruises: 19 years old, did not participate in any protests, insulted, humiliated and beaten at the police station.


Popa Andrei – cerebral concussion, facial contusion/bruises: 18 years old, did not participate in any protest, beaten at the police station, received no food and water during 24 hours, were arrested 22 people in 12 m2 .


Roscot Denis - cerebral concussion, nasal bones fracture, facial contusion: 20 years old, student, peaceful protester, beaten at the police station, forced to sign a false statement, handcuffed to the hospital bed for one night.


Damian Hancu – torture, cerebral concussion, fracture of the arm fingers, muscle contusions/bruises: student at the Faculty of Law in Lyon, France. 23 years old, peaceful protester, did not participate in violent actions. Was held by the civilian-dressed state police, on April 7, in the center of Chisinau, as a result of discussions with Swedish journalists. After being tortured, by the policemen during several hours, he was forced to sign a false statement - guilty for instigation and bribed by the opposition to participate in protests. Herein you can find attached the audio/video testimony of Damian Hancu in English, the medical certificate and the request to the prosecutor.



Valeriu Boboc - dead, broken ribs as a result of strikes, a plague on the head as a result of blows with blunt objects: 23 years old, workman, married, father of a 1.5 year old child; peaceful participant at the protest . Arrived in the Square after 5.00 p.m., when the presidential and parliament buildings were ravaged. Killed as a result of the massive police attack on protesters in the night of 7 to April 8. According to the police - found dead in the Great National Assembly Square. Cause of death according to the certificate of death (hereof attached) - unknown toxic poisoning.




Yours sincerely,

Dorin Chirtoaca,
General Mayor of Chisinau


Source: facebook

The Moldovan state blames political opponents for riots

This is a statement from the Office of The General Prosecuter in the Republic of Moldova. It is not translated into English on their site for some reason...

Synopsis: The prosecutor names the leaders of the opposition parties as legally responsible for the violent acts commited 6th of April. This statement do not mention any "Coup de etat", but material destruction, creation of disorder etc.

Original Romanian text below

The procecutor considers the actions of the organizers and participants in the meeting 6th of April called "Day of pain" inadmissible and outright illegal.

Thus, the current 6th of April, between 16:00 -23:00 Ghenadie Brega has organized a meeting with hundreds of participants, assisted by the leaders of some political parties (V. Filat, A. Tănase, V. Ungureanu, V. Pavlicenco, O. Cernei, V. Nagacevschi etc.)

The aim of the meeting was to manifestate the protest against the results of the parliamentary elections current 5th of April.

In the unfolding of the event the law concerning the organisation of meetings was broken on a number of different points ( art.6, 16, 18, 19), according to which:

• Meetings shall be conducted peacefully only
• The organizer has the right to conduct to protest only on the spot and in the way announced before hand.
• Participants are obliged to respect legislation and public order

In reality, however, a number of the legal principles shave been broken, and the organizers have allowed:

• the blocking of the main lines of communications
• attempts at vandalizing and turning over means of public transport
• encouraging minors to violent acts
• participating in the state of intoxication
• the smearing of physical persons

In contrast to the article 18, the organizers have not respected the responsibilities, they have shown irresponsibility that resulted in breaks of public order, they have not assured the maintanence of a just order, as a result of these actions the meeting ended in a large scale disorder.

In fact organizwers and participants in a large scale disorder, followed by the disorganisation of transport activities and attempts at vandalizing acts agaist it, and the smearing of physical persons, encouraging people not to obey the legitimate instructions from represents of authority and to large scale disorders, today the procecutor has initiated the criminal investigation according to article 285 CP.

The prosecutor will undertake all necessary legally available measures in safeguarding the legal order and the the public order, and urge the population to focus on these ambitions.

The press service of the General Prosecutor


Romanian text

Procuratura califică drept ilegale şi inadmisibile acţiunile organizatorilor şi participanţilor la întrunirea din 6 aprilie 2009 sub genericul „zi de doliu”.

Astfel, la 6 aprilie curent între orele 16:00 – 23:20 în Piaţa Marii Adunări Naţionale a fost organizată de către Ghenadie Brega cu participarea activă a liderilor unor partide politice (V. Filat, A. Tănase, V. Ungureanu, V. Pavlicenco, O. Cernei, V. Nagacevschi etc.) o întrunire la care au participat cîteva sute de oameni.

Scopul mitingului constînd în a manifesta protestul faţă de rezultatele alegerilor parlamentare din 5 aprilie curent.

În procesul desfăşurării lui au fost încălcate prevederile Legii privind întrunirile (art.6, 16, 18, 19), conform cărora:
- întrunirile se desfăşoară numai în mod paşnic;
- organizatorul are dreptul de a desfăşura doar în forma, locul şi termenul indicat în declaraţia prealabilă;
- participanţii au obligaţia de a respecta legislaţia şi ordinea publică

În realitate însă, au fost constatate un şir de încălcări flagrante ale prevederilor legale, şi anume, organizatori şi participanţii au admis:
- blocarea arterelor principale de transport
- tentative de deteriorare si răsturnare a mijloacelor de transport public,
- antrenarea minorilor.
- participarea în starea de ebrietate
- batjocorirea persoanelor.

Contrar prevederilor art.18, organizatorii nu au respectat obligaţiunile asumate, au manifestat iresponsabilitate soldate cu încălcarea ordinii publice, nu au asigurat menţinerea ordinii de drept, în rezultatul acestor acţiuni întrunirea transformîndu-se într-o dezordine în masă.

Pe faptul organizării şi participării active la dezordini în masă, însoţite de dezorganizarea activităţilor transportului şi tentativelor de răsturnare şi deteriorare a lui cu violenţa şi batjocura altor persoane, cu chemări la nesupunere cerinţelor legitime ale reprezentanţilor autorităţilor şi la dezordine în masă, astăzi, Procuratura a iniţiat urmărirea penală conform art.285 CP.

Procuratura va întreprinde toate măsurile prevăzute de lege întru asigurarea ordinii de drept şi ordinii publice şi focalizează atenţia populaţiei asupra necesităţii respectării ei.
Serviciul de presă al Procuraturii Generale

Don't believe anything!

There is a massive wave of desinformation, possibly released to scare people away from participating in protests. Don't take anything you read as more than a rumour than can be true or false. The Moldovan government do everything they can to interrupt a free exchange of information, and might well spread lies. The folowing text is from Elena Zgardan's blog.

I don't know why Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs declared that the organisers of the protests have been arrested, and one of them Natalia Morari!!! That is not true. Natalia is not arrested and is safe. Yes three man visited her house but she was not there.

As well the press wrote that the business man Gabriel Stati was arrested in Ukraine. False!!! He is not arrested and apparently he is in Moldova. Nor Romania nor Ukraine or Russia!!

As I previously said in Moldova came huge amounts of arms from Russia. Now I know that Russian forces are coming to Moldova. They are in Transnistria right now!!

They are ready for tomorrow!! And there will be challenges again from communists' side!! That is what they expect.

We were told to switch off our phones because they are listened. As well we are followed.

Exhausted!

Friday 10:00, Piata Marii Adunarii Nationale, Chisianu

A friend sent me this email, stating the demonstrators plan for tomorrow. Original Romanian text below.


Please spread this message to everyone ready to protest in a different way "original and peacefully"!!!

Tomorrow, 10th of April, from 10 a clock at PMAN we will organize a non-violent protest.
We want to express our ideas peacefully.
We don't believe that the acts of violence that were massively provocated have to lock us in at home.
We are not youth in track'n'field suite pants that chew sunflower seeds. We need to show that there is another way, without losing the essence of the ideas we began with already 6th of March.
Anyone can comment and give ideas about what we will do in the square.
Games, songs, dances, slogans, banderoles, all ideas are welcome as long as it doesn infringe on other people's right or provoke violence.
Here are some ideas we have received so far:

Let's bring som red balls and play football with them on the square
Let's give flowers to the police
Let's bring one book each, and sit down on the asphalt or an a blanket and calmly discuss
Let's dance a rinbg dance around the Government building
"Face painting" of peacefull protesters
Drawing (e.g. the country we want) with crayon on the ground
Let's play games in the streets. “Класики”, ice breakers, pantomimes, etc;
Let's listen to live music from guitars, accordeon, flutes (Those that can play this kindof instruments bring them) etc.
We recite pacifistic poetry/prose Vieru, Puskin, Blaga, Mayacokski, Dostoevski etc
We bring blankets and read books
We watch some films at laptop computers
We listen to music in headphones on ipot's
We print flags with nice messages: "We don't destroy - we construct!", “We love Moldova","The system kils my creativity", "I've had enough of communism", "Creativity willl save Moldova", "Communism - persoana non-grata in Moldova", "My vote was stolen",

"5 April - day of the stupid/jokes", "I want my choice to be respected",

"Policia exists to defend me" “We protest PEACEFULLY, We are against violence",

“We fight for Democracy”, “We are peaceful and do not let ourselves be provoked!”

similar slogans can also be written in Russian! the list can be continued etc.
We dress very colourfully
We release printed emoticons at the Piata Marii Adunarii Nationale

Simultaneously we ask the police to defend us against provocateurs



Romanian original text:

Va rog expediati mesajul la toti cei care sunt gata sa protesteze altfel "original si pasnic"!!!

Maine, 10 aprilie incepind cu ora 10.00 in PMAN o sa organizam un protest nonviolent.

Vrem sa ne exprimam ideile pasnic.

Nu credem ca actele de violenta la care s-a provocat masiv trebuie sa ne inchida in casa.

Noi nu suntem tinerii in pantaloni sportivi care mananca seminte. Trebuie sa aratam ca se poate si altfel, fara a pierde firul ideilor pe care l-am inceput inca din 6 martie.

Fiecare persoana poate sa comenteze si sa dea idei despre ce sa facem in piata.

Jocuri, cantece, dansuri, lozinci, slogane, pancarde, orice idee este binevenita atata timp cat nu incalca drepturile altor oameni si nu provoaca la violenta!

Iata cateva din ideile care le-am primit pana acum:

Sa aducem cateva mingi rosii cu care sa jucam fotbal in PMAN;
Sa le daruim flori politistilor;
• Sa ne luam cate o carte si sa ne asezam in cerc, pe asfalt, pe o patura la o discutie calma;
• Sa dansam Ciuleadra in jurul Guvernului;
“Face painting”a protestatarilor care protesteaza pasnic;
Desene (ex: tara pe care ne-o dorim, flori, mesaje pacifiste) cu creta pe asfalt;
Ne jucam in jocuri de strada: “Класики”, ice breakers, pantomima, etc;
• Ascultam musica live la guitara, acordeon, fluier, (Cine poate cinta la astfel de instrumente veniti cu elel)etc;
Recitam poezii/proza pacifiste: Vieru, Puskin, Blaga, Mayacokski, Dostoevski etc;
Aducem paturi si citim carti;
Privim niste filme la laptop;
• Ascultam musica in casti la ipot;
• Tiparim fluturase cu mesaje frumoase: "Noi nu distrugem - noi construim!", “Noi iubim Moldova”,"Sitemul imi omoara creativitatea", "Ma timpesc cu comunism", "Creativitatea va salva Moldova", "Comunism - persoana non-grata in Moldova", "Votul meu a fost furat",

  "5 aprilie - Ziua prostilor/glumelor", "Vreau alegerea mea sa fie respectata",
  "Politia exita pentru a ma apara " “Noi protestem PASNIC, Noi suntem contra violentei”,
  “Luptam pasnic pentru Democratie”, “Suntem pasnici si nu ne lasam provocati!”
  la fel sloganele pot fi si in rusa! lista poate continua etc;
• Ne imbracam foarte colorat;
• Eliberam emoticoane tiparite in PAMN;

Totodata rugam politia sa ne protejeze de eventuali provocatori.

Statement from Reporters without borders

The following statement is to be found on Reporters without borders homepage.

In “unfair and dangerous” move, Moldova denies entry to 18 Romanian journalists

A total of 18 Romanian reporters and photographers working for Romanian and international news media were denied entry to Moldova yesterday as violent demonstrations were taking place in protest against the official results of the 5 April parliamentary elections, according to which the ruling Communist Party won 50 per cent of the votes.

“We condemn this unfair and dangerous decision by the Moldovan authorities,” Reporters Without Borders said. “It not only hampers proper media coverage of what is taking place but it also exacerbates the tension between Moldova and Romania, fuelling a nationalistic and aggressive discourse that could destabilise the situation even further.”

The international media whose journalists were denied entry included Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, EPA and Reuters. Among the Romanian media to be affected were Evenimentul Zilei, Jurnalu National, Ziua and Realitatea TV. The journalists were repeatedly turned back at various border crossings including Galati and Oancea on administrative pretexts although the real reason was probably their Romanian nationality. Journalists from other countries were allowed into Moldova from Ukraine.

Telephone communication with Moldova, especially by mobile, is currently very difficult and Internet connections within the country are still very unstable since Internet access via the national telecommunications company Moldtelecom was interrupted yesterday. Access to several independent news websites is blocked.

Meanwhile, the state-owned broadcast media have mainly been putting out entertainment programmes and cartoons, with very little coverage of the protests in the capital, Chisinau.

According to a so far unverified report, at least one journalist was the victim of police violence while another was prevented from filming in Balti (150 km northeast of Chisinau). Journalist Natalia Morar was meanwhile reported to be the target of legal proceedings by the prosecutor’s office. Legal proceedings were also reportedly being brought against several of the organisers of lightning demonstrations in which thousands of protesters took part.

The already very tense relations between Moldova and Romania have worsened in recent days. Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin accused Romania of being behind the protests in an interview for the Russian news agency Interfax and Romania’s ambassador has been declared persona non grata. Today President Voronin threatened to use force if the anti-communist rioting continued in the capital.

A former Soviet republic that has been independent since 1991, Moldova is Europe’s poorest country. The OSCE said that overall the 5 April elections met international standards but several individual OSCE members questioned this evaluation. The opposition is demanding a recount.

A landlocked country between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova has had an unresolved territorial dispute since 1992, when the easternmost region of Transnistria, with an area of some 4,000 sq km, declared independence with support from Russia. The election result has revived tension between Moldova’s pro-Russian and pro-Western factions, between those nostalgic for the Soviet past and those who want to join the European Union.

Repression in Chisinau

New protests are announced and today around 200 people are protesting in the center, Moscovici says.

Lots of people have been arrested today, not in connection with any rpotests. Police are reported to have taken students out of the lecture halls. In this clip the protesters ask where the police have taken a number of school kids, without answer. (See the twitter channel)

Among the arrested are also foreign citizens (most likely Romanians) and journalists. Reporters claim not to have been let into the coutry, and this Moldovan journalist explains that he has been beaten by policemen without uniforms.

Among the arrested are the businessman Gabriel Stati, accused of financing the "attempt to coup de etat" and journalist Natalia Moraru.

Declaration from the protesters

A decalaration from the protesters is available online, I translate it here, and put up the picture in case something happens with unimedia.info



Declaration FAM
(Moldovan Anticommunist Forum)
"We have no political colour - we are pure and transparent!
The first official declaration from the protesters in the Moldovan capital.

We are many, we are young, we are united. We are going until the end
You can not control us any longer!
We're tired to endure a totalitarian regime, maintained by fear and terror!
Communism is guilty of the biggest genocide in history!
We don't want to be ruled by those that killed and abducted our parents and grandparents.
We ask for the resignation of President Voronin, and the legal ban of the communist party.
We do not want extrem solutions -
we want the president to be sentenced according to the constitution!
We don't forward anyones politics and noone is paying us!
We have no political colour - we are pure and transparent!
Down with the communist magnates who sent us to work illegaly
and take our money even through Western Union!
The luxury furniture and the parquetry in the presidency and in the parliament
are bought from the fees for exchanging foreign currency!
We do not want to go to Italy, Portugal, Spain!
We do not want to go to Canada or Moscow!
We want to work and to be paied in our own country!
We want a state based on respec and confidence, not on fear and blackmailing (My comment: word ending invisible)

Good blogs

For further updates read

Moscovici (English)

Lars Bokander rapporterar (Swedish)

Chisinau protests 17:53

It is unclear to me how the state is at the moment in Chisinau. Clear is that:

Protesters are gathered. Less than yesterday, but eyewitnesses on the twitterchannel speak about thousands.

No clashes seem have appeared at the moment writing. Most tweets during the day said that protests were calm. In the afternoon tweets mention a more tense situation.

Baroness Emma Nicholsson, part of the OSCE commission tells BBC that she is suspicious about the election results. Many talk about dead people "voting", prisoners getting shortened punishment if they votes communist etc.

School kids were not allowed to leave the schools during the day. A high school pupil has been relegated, apperantly to state an example.

Moldovan government accuses Romania for organising the protests, and Romanian citizens are now required VISA to enter Moldova.

The government is also using a hard language against the opposition, that might be held responsible.

Liberals and Liberal democrats have blamed youngsters from the pretty far right Christ Democratic party for causing problems yesterday.

Lots and lots of posts say that the violence was instigated by police provocateurs.



No reactions so far from western or other governments. Personally i look forward to a Swedish as well as Bulgarian comment...

Calm in Chisinau

I am currently listening to Deutsche Welle online (A great source of news in Romanian as well as Bulgarian) interviewing an eyewitness, that was at the cetnral square 30 min ago. He says that everything is calm, lots of policemen around the central buildings.

People in town are working, of course talking about last nights event, but currently peace is reigning.

Good news

Finally some good news:

• No violence reported today
• Borders, at least at Sculeni are re-opened
• Noone seem to have been killed yesterday. Neither policemen, nor protesters.

Voronin appearantly blames Romania, and also from Moscow there are rumoiurs like these. The twitter channel is eagerly awaiting a Romanian response. I don't expect it, and think it would be a huge mistake.

This is a struggle for human rights in Moldova, not for a Great Romania. Anyone involved, make sure to include also Russians!

Source: Twitter

Chisinau protests 11:38

In the morning around 1000 people are said the have gathered in central Chisinau to continue protests. Police are ready fro action, but no clashes are reported.

Twitters try to wake CNN up, and ask for international support.

Adevarul writes that opposition politician Sergiu Mocanu has been arrested.

I can now open stireazilei.md Don't know if it means that the internet is back. Borders of Moldova and Chisinau are still closed.

Source Twitter, Adevarul

Swedish blog

There is a well written blog post online in Swedish describing the events.

Lars writes that the police were surprisingly passive, compared to western europe protests, that there is a risk that the Communists will use the events in their propaganda, and that there is a touch of Romanian nationalism to the protests.

Chisinau protests 09:59

Lots of youtube videos are now up where shots can be heard in the background, taken aroun 01.00 tonight when the police cleared the square. At this time only a small aprt of the original 30 00 protesters were there, running amoc in central Chisniau.

Police says to control downtown Chisinau and also the entrances to the country and the capital, to prevent further protests.

In Moldovan TV the blame is put on the opposition. At the meetings yesterday however, they deliberatley asked everyone to abstain from violence and illegal actions.

Around 200 people are said to be protested. To me it suggests that the police did not have any control at all - at the 14 january protests in Sofia I have heard that around 164 people were arrested, out of 5000 protesters. It's also visible on all pictures how poorly equiped the policemen are, which I think make the situation even worse. Polcemen that fear for their own life are dangerous.

Sorces: antena3 twitter

Night developments

The police have taken control over building in central Chisinau, BBC and other report.

Antena3.ro says that there has been shots fired tonight, as police claim they were preventing the devastation of magazines. Deaths are not reported. Reuter apperantly has a reporter in Chisinau, that is quoted saying this morning there is not a single person in the big square.

On unimedia.info there are pictures from around 23:00 yesterday night. No violence is shown on these pictures.



Tomorrow (Wednesday) the protesters have promised to come back at 10:00

Yesterday solidarity demonstrations were held in cities in Romania. Also Bulgaria e Nasha have expressed their support for a change in Moldova i two posts here and here.

Police charges protesters

The police have charged and attack the around 10 000 protesters that stick around on the square. The official demonstrations are planned to be taken up on Wednesday 10.00.

In the twitter channel there is lots of fear of what will happen in the darkness of the night. There are rumours about tanks rolling into town, and many sources say that policemen, dressed in civilian clothes attack people in the streets. There is also dissapointment with the coverage in western media like CNN and BBC.

Source: twitter

Protests continue 20:19

The situation remains out of anyone's control in Chisinau. A number of the protesters, have followed the opposition leaders advice to go home. Up to 20 000 are waiting at the central square for the net police charge.

A number of persons are dead, I can not now say how many, and hundereds, both policemen and demonstrators have been hurt.

The government and the liberal opposition have agreed to re-count the votes from the elections 5th of April. But what is hapening seem to be out of their control.

Romania officially abstains from anything than urging everyone to maintain constitutional and human rights, but from a Russian offical Romania has been singled out for trying to overthrow the Moldovan overnment.

Demonstrations are reported also from smaller Moldovan towns like Ungheni and Balti. In Balti protesters have been arrested,In major Romanian cities solidarity demonstrations are also being held.

President Voronins latest speech was held in Russian, where he named the protests an attemt to coup de etat. In Romanian media and Moldovan tweets there are speculations about the Russian 14th Army, situated 30 min from Chisinau will bring down the protests.

Sources: hotnews.ro twitter

Body count

Killed: 2 policemen, one protesters

Hurt: At least 100 policemen, at least 50 protesters

Source: antena3.ro

Fights continue

Fights in the streets of Chisinau continue. The parliament is burning. At least 50 protesters are hurt.

A romanian reporter has been hurt by some sort of missile in the action.

Source: Miscovici antena3.ro

Police prepare to storm parliament

Protesters have gathered at the big cetnral square, listening to the opposition leaders.

The police is preparing to storm the parliament.

Sources: Moscovici , unimedia.info (In English!)

Deutsche Welle reports

that police have been shooting with rubber bullets, whitout hurting anyone with them.

At least 30 persons have been hurt, 20 had to stay in hospital.

Opposition leaders claim that the acts of violence originate from provocateurs. They ask parents too keep their kids at home tonight.

The communists call what has happened "an attempt to Coup de etat".

Given that OSCE yesterday stated that Moldovas elections "met many international standards and commitments, but further improvements are required" and "The people of Moldova are to be congratulated on a relaxed, mainly well-run and democratic polling day. Now the new parliament needs to make the necessary improvements to Moldova's legal framework and electoral code," said David Wilshire, head of the delegation of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly."

The Moldovan border is now closed. Romanians have been prevented from entering the country.

there is a twitter tag #pman , where tweets about the events are happened. It's by far the best source of news now, and I as well as western newspapers depend on it. many of them are in English.

I am very confused about any possible outcome of this...

Sources: Deutsche Welle, OSCE

Demonstrators head for national TV

The demonstrators are now heading for the national TV, trying to take it over.

In the night there will be a curfew, guarded by Military, shooting anyone that moves.

Source: antena3.ro

At least thwo dead in Chisinau

Anntenna 3, reporting live from Chisinau reports that one young girl has been shot by the polics.

At least two policemen are dead.

Information is not confirmed. All internet connection with Moldova is cut.

Source: http://antena3.ro/

Information

The Romanian Foreign Ministery has complained that the information from Moldova is severely hampered.

NIT, the second largest tv channel have had Voronin on air, blaming the opposition leaders for the chaos.

The internet is down in Moldova, unabling access to sites that end with .md


Twitter seems to work still. From Moscovici we learn that the police are using grenades to disperse protesters.

The protesters have raised the Romanian flag next to the EU flag on top of the Moldovan presidential building.


There is a live online stream here: http://live.stirileprotv.ro/stream3/

Sources Hotnews.ro Moscovici

Police charge protesters

The police (not military) have charged protesters brutally. The EU and Russia both claim that they are deeply worried about the development and ask both sides to abstain from power.

Russian press differ on the interpretation, between blaming Romanian nationalists to calling the event a well directed spectacle from the Moldovan authorities.

It doesn't seem well directed to me...

Moldovan authorities say that they will make opposition leaders resposible for the happenings in court.


Sources Hotnews.ro Moscovici

Army opens fire at protesters

Reports say that the army has opened fire at the protesters in Chisinau



More pictures are here: http://garda.com.md/ Anyone who can open the page, download the pictures and spread them!

Protests begin around Moldova

Source Moscovici

Soldiers and protesters in contact

Moscovici claims that "protesters talk to soldiers trying to convince them not to attack the crowd"

Appearantly the military is ready for action.

Street protests in Chisinau Updated 15:30

The opposition leaders are currently speaking in front of the protesters. Leader Pavlicenco urge them to take over the public TV.

The protesters have left official buildings that have been taken over by the polcie.

Source: Moscovici

I am still unable to open websites from Moldova.

20 protesters in hospital after Chisinau protests

At least 20 protesters ar severly injured and in hospital, according to Moscivici

Military intervention in Chisinau?

The battle between protesters and policemen seem to have seised. The more than 30.000 protesters are in control of the presidential building.

Troops have been seen in chisinau, and might be deployed against the protesters.

Source http://twitter.com/Moscovici

Street battles in Chisinau Unknown results

Everything is still very unclear.

Regarding hurt humans - a huge number of ambulances have been seen at the spots of the battles. Both protesters and policemen are hurt.

Regarding the outcome - Protesters have been celebrating singin "Ole! Ole! Ole! Voronin (Moldovas president) nu mai e! (Meaning he is no more)

Source: Hotnews RO

Street battles in Chisinau Updated 14:31

The protest is taking on bigger proportions. After entering the parliament and devastating the interior, demonstrators head for the government building.

More prtotestors were going to Chisinau to take part in the protests, but the authorities have blocked all roads to the capital.

The police seems powerless. there are rumours that military will be set in.

Leaders of the political opposition pledge for a peaceful solution, and that the elections should be remade, under international supervision.

I can not access Moldovan internet sources.



Source: Hotnews.ro

Street battles in Chisinau Updated 13:28

After the Communists declared vicotry in the Moldovan elections, protesters, most whom wee young took to the street in protests. They managed to destroy windows in the presidential palace, around 12.30 (GMT +2) and since then the battle has raged between police and young protesters. More than ten protesters are said to be hurt, while hurling stones at policemen. The police and firefighters try to disperse the crowd with water cannons.

The demonstrators have entered the parliamentary building and hurl out computers through the windows.

Publicera inlägg

The video is taken from outside the presidential building.


Souces: Hotnews Unimedia.md

What is liberalism?

My relationship to liberalism has changed a lot during the years. Regarding myself as some sort of free thinking left wing, I am sincerely worried that it looks like the communists might win the elections in Moldova. I probably feel stronger for the liberals because I have grown up. But also because the liberalism I meet in Southeastern have flavour of ideological thinking that I appreciate in J.S. Mill's texts, but lack in Swedish Folkpartiet 's politics.

Liberalism as I remember it from home was the right to sell absolute everything if the price was right. The right price should was high when private enterprises sold, and low when public enterprises sold. Bulgarian liberals on the on the hand, talk much about values that can not be bought or sold, an creating a fair, not only commercial society. Free like in freedom, not like in free beer.

Bogomil Shopov has a very nice post about net neutrality on his blog. Just look at this picture:

(The picture is taken from Bogomil Shopov's blog post)

Is this the kind of internet we want? I would say it's more likely than not that this will be the internet five years from now, but as Bogomil points out: Net neutrality can be said in two words: without discrimination. It is an internet where information is available for anyone anytime anywhere. An internet that thus can become a strong source of democratic power.

For all vices that might hide in the quarters of MVR... I don't think that any Bulgarian government is able to stop the free debate on the internet, even if they try. But Verizon and AT&T can. They own the cables, and are currently preparing a business class internet. What democracy will there be for those who can't afford to travel business class, not even online?

By the way... It's pathetic to hear the british police trying to explain why a man died at the G 20 protests. If they had had any idea about what happened here they would have tried to piick another excuse than the Bulgarian police picked for Metodi Marinov death in custody after the protests 14/1. Allegedly from health problems...

!!! Urgent demonstration against the lifts at Rila

Today the lift on the Rila mountain will start running, in spite of being built without the probe of ecological impact prescribed by the law.

For the Nature calls everyone to an urgent demonstration tonight at 17,30, Macedonia Square, Sofia, in front of DNSK (The Department of National Building Control).

The announcement (in Bulgarian) to be found here.

Source: For the nature

Citizens for Rila publish bulletin in English

Yesterday I wrote about the building process in Stranzha national park, that has been declared illegal by the Supreme Administrative court on the ground that no survey of the ecological impact has been undertaking.

On the same ground Citizens for Rila, one of the organizations in the coalition For the Nature would like to see the building of a lift up to the famous seven lakes in the Rila mountains declared illegal. Ths case will however not be taken up in court.

(Picture of the seven Rila lakes. Picture taken from Wikimedia commons)

In order to gather European support, Citizens for Rila publish a bulletin, with texts in Bulgarian, French and English.

Read it, don't print it.

Source: For the nature | mediapool.bg

The saga continues

With a slim majority, 81 against 76 votes and one abstaining, the parliament decided to postpone the vote for ratification for the law about elecronical informations. The proposal to postpone the session came from Atanas Shterev, from BND, Bulgarian New Democracy.

The next voting session is likely to take place next week.

Sources: Dnevnik, M

Surveillance back in the plenary hall

One week and one day after the proposal for ZEC (Zakon za Elektronnite Suobshtenija - The law aboutelektronical information), proposed by the ministery of interior (MVR) was stopped in the parliament, the government give it another try.

The proposal is not a new law, but an extensions of the ministery of interior's (i.e. the Police) legal room of action.The ministery already have the right to demand data about who has been talking to whom on the internet or on phones, to get information from the phone companies about which phones have exchanged signals etc. The new proposal, want to remove the clause that the information can only be asked for in cases of grave criminality. It also wants to give the ministery of interior right to store the data, and access will be granted or denied by MVR internally, etc.

In short, it's rather a matter of removing legal restricitons of the MVR.

Today the parliament goes to vote again, after the debated text has been turned two times. Since the extreme right wing party Ataka left the parliament after the protests 14th of January, the two parties behind the text - BSP and DPS have a one man majority in the parliament.


Source: Bulgaria e nasha

Bulgaria, EU, Europe, Moldova

Nicolae Popescu, Research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in London and blogging for EUobserver critzises the Bulgarian president Purvanov's lack of commitment to the European Union and European standards in his last post.

What angers Popescu is Purvanov's defence of the totalitarian Azerbadjanian regimes right to mess with the electoral laws without European involvment. Purvanov has also chosen to make a state visit to my previous home land Republic of Moldova, the fact that drew my interest to Popescus high quality blog.

Moldova's president Vladimir Voronin not only calls himself communist but uses some good old tricks from 1989 when they seem fit. I wouldn't say that Moldova is a totalitarian country now, and it's definitely not communist in any sense of the word. Politicians give and take dirty tricks, but Voronins' tricks go well beyond most European standards. For example Voronin has arbitrarilly expelled 245 romanian citizens from Moldova, in fear that they might support his liberal opponents. In Voronin's mind Romanian and Liberal seem to be synonymes. I'm sure neither romanian liberals or their adversaries would agree on this...


One could point ut that the presidents job is to keep good relations with friends and foes, no matter where they stand politically. The time of Purvanovs state visit could have been picked more carefully though... Moldova is going to elections on 5th of April, and Purvanov's cosy handshakes with the communist president might seem like support of his political party. Likewise might the visit to the Bulgarian minority living in Moldova seem as a way to convince them to vote for Voronin.

Things just might be interpreted this way... Popescu interprets them this way any way. I am convinced he is not alone.

Purvanov's orientation towards the EU has been quite a hot topic in Bulgaria lately. When the country was freezing form the lack of Russian gas in January, Purvanov boldly declared his support for opening all Bulgarian nuclear reactors, no matter what Bruxelles would say. Two years before, the closing of one of the reactors was a compromise Bulgaria had to do to join the EU.

The EU-question is rather complex in Bulgarian politics. All parties pay lip service to European ideal, but the absence of a well defined European ideal gives room for very many opinions under this umbrella. There is also strand of nationalistic anti-EU thinking that not is limited to a certain parties, even if the ruling Trojka might be closer to this strand than the SDS-DSB opposition.

Purvanov is the most EU critical politician in public discussion. Bojko Borisov has chosen the EU stars as symbol for his party GERB. Prime minister Stanishev takes a lot of beating from Bruxelles, but he seems more than happy to take part in EU politics...

I don't think this hesitant attitude towards Europe is very unique for Bulgaria, but rather a Europan phenomenon.There is another great post on Euobserver about this, noting the ironic fact that the only truly european party is Declan Glaney's party Libertas, working to prevent the Eu from getting more influence over national states.

Read Popescus post
here
(English original)
or here
(Bulgarian translation)

Legal support for Strandja National park

The Bulgarian high supreme court has finally declared that the hotel-building project "Zlatna Perla" (golden pearl) in Strandzha Natural Park is illegal, a decision the environmentalists have long been awaiting.

This is a temporary victory, but the struggle for the future of Bulgaria's natural parks continue. On the one side we now have the environmentalists around the For the nature coalition, the supreme administrative court and the directors of the national parks, that of course old key positions in monitoring what is happening on the ground.

Local politicians in the two affected counties Tsarevo and Malko Turnovo try to claim their rights to decide over the parks. The ecologist's fears are well grounded that they might use this power to enable land for development for business partners they've been dealing with before. Behind them stand politicians in the government. The ministry of environment and water is currently working for a new development plan for the area, where due environmental concerns have not been taken, according to For the nature.

Source: For the nature