Information on whether, before the 13 June 1990 attack on the demonstrators in University Square, the Square was cordoned-off, whether the demonstrators were guarded and information on the actions of police toward the demonstrators. [ROM9110]

A report by the Foreign Broadcast Information Service notes that "order-keeping cordons were placed in University Square" in Bucharest, Romania on 24 April 1990 (FBIS-EEU-90-094, 69). The report does not indicate whether these cordons were subsequently removed. On 9 May 1990, The Globe and Mail described University Square as "roped-off" and "watched closely by police" (The Globe and Mail 9 May 1990, A1). Other sources consulted do not mention whether or not the square was cordoned-off nor whether the square was monitored by police or other authorities from the beginning of the demonstrations in mid-April 1990 until the violence of mid-June 1990. Radio Free Europe notes that several attempts were made to clear the Square of demonstrators before mid-June (RFE 15 June 1990, 42). Please see the attached article for details.

Various reports from the Foreign Broadcast Information Service and other articles from the press indicate that the number of demonstrators in University Square varied between April and June, at times exceeding 10,000 participants (Helsinki Watch 1991, 27; FBIS-EEU-90-097, 46). However, details on police behaviour toward these demonstrators are not generally given with the exception of violence used by the authorities on 24 April 1990 (See RFE 15 June 1990, 42 and Helsinki Watch 1991, 26-27) and after 12 June 1990 (Helsinki Watch 1991, 27).

Further information specific to these topics is not currently available to the IRBDC.

Bibliography


FBIS-EEU-90-097. 18 May 1990. "10,000 Students Join" in AFP [Paris, in English], 17 May 1990.

FBIS-EEU-90-094. 15 May 1990. "Diamandescu on Disturbances in University Square" in Rompres [Bucharest, in English], 14 May 1990.

The Globe and Mail. 9 May 1990. Koring, Paul. "Romanian Protesters Vow to Stay Put..."

Helsinki Watch. March 1991. Since the Revolution: Human Rights in Romania. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Radio Free Europe. 15 June 1990. Vol. 1, No. 24. Report on Eastern Europe. Stefanescu, Crisula. "Marathon Demonstration in Bucharest's University Square."

Attachments

FBIS-EEU-90-097. 18 May 1990. "10,000 Students Join" in AFP [Paris, in English], 17 May 1990.

FBIS-EEU-90-094. 15 May 1990. "Diamandescu on Disturbances in University Square" in Rompres [Bucharest, in English], 14 May 1990.

The Globe and Mail. 9 May 1990. Koring, Paul. "Romanian Protesters Vow to Stay Put..."

Helsinki Watch. March 1991. Since the Revolution: Human Rights in Romania. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Radio Free Europe. 15 June 1990. Vol. 1, No. 24. Report on Eastern Europe. Stefanescu, Crisula. "Marathon Demonstration in Bucharest's University Square."