Information on an organization called "December 22," particularly its activities and the treatment of its members by the government [ROM28247.E]

In telephone interviews on 5, 10 and 12 December 1997, the vice-president of the Romanian Helsinki Committee in Bucharest provided the following information, which represents her personal viewpoint.

The Jilava association was formed in late December 1989 or in early January 1990, and is an association of people who were incarcerated or mistreated in the Jilava penitentiary in Jilava (a town approximately 14 kilometres from Bucharest) on the night of 21 December 1989 and who were released on 22 December 1989. The Jilava organization is one of the numerous revolutionary organizations created shortly after the events of 1989, and legislation was passed in the early 1990s which gave these organizations certain rights and privileges in recognition of their contribution to the overthrow of Ceaucescu.

In the autumn of 1997, there were demonstrations by some of these revolutionary organizations, which were not initiated by Jilava but which included it, against the government which was debating in parliament whether to revoke the rights and privileges granted to these groups. The government decided not to revoke them, but did decide to initiate an investigation of the revolutionary organizations to determine whether their members were bona fide combatants in the events of December 1989. The government will decide later whether their rights and privileges will be revoked.

The Jilava association engaged in many demonstrations against the former Iliescu government; there were several instances during which they were prohibited from demonstrating in front of government buildings. The vice-president personally knows the Jilava vice-president, Adrian Nicolae, and added that under the Iliescu government, some Jilava members were threatened and harassed by the police. She has not heard of any cases of members being arrested during the Iliescu era but would not discount that possibility. The vice-president does not have information on the treatment of Jilava members and their activities since the formation of the new government led by Emil Constanescu, apart from their involvement in the October protests which were permitted by the police.

For information on a protest by the Jilava 21-22 December 1989 Revolutionary Association in October 1997, please see the 24 October 1997 Radio Romania Network attachment. For information on a meeting between the Jilava Association leader and the Speaker of the Senate, please consult the 29 October 1997 Radio Romania Network attachment.

Additional information on the December 22 organization could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Romanian Helsinki Committee, Bucharest. 12 December 1997. Telephone interview with vice-president.

_____. 10 December 1997. Telephone interview with vice-president.

_____. 5 December 1997. Telephone interview with vice-president.

Attachments


Radio Romania Network [Bucharest, in Romanian]. 29 October 1997. "Romania: Hunger Striker Sets Himself on Fire in Front of Senate."

(FBIS-EEU-97-302 29 Oct. 1997/WNC)

_____. 24 October 1997. "Romania: Revolutionary Groups Continue Hunger Strike, Protests." (FBIS-EEU-97-297 24 Oct. 1997/WNC)

Additional Sources Consulted


Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).

News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Transition [Prague]. Twice monthly.

Uncaptive Minds [Washington]. Quarterly.

The names of the president and secretary of the Iasi branch of the Asociatia Romilor in March 1997 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Sources Consulted


CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).

News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Roma Rights [Budapest]. Quarterly.

Transition [Prague]. Twice monthly.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.