Since I definitely still see continuing the hunger strike as a terrible idea, considering the fact that it doesn’t gain the desired attention and therefore simply wastes the energy of some of the most dedicated activists, who risk their health and also the possibility of taking part in other potential future events for little to no real gain, I’m paying less and less attention to the posts dealing with this issue and lately I’m making a point of not even glancing at the related daily events or the profiles of the activists who are most involved in supporting those who are on hunger strike. As such, I have very little information about what happened in front of the Bucharest National Theater during this period, with the exception of Sunday, January 12, when I actually went there as well, since Sandu announced ending his hunger strike, after 22 days.
Some posts written by some of the most involved activists did appear Saturday evening, stating that Sandu’s condition is worsening significantly and he needs to be persuaded to end his hunger strike before it’s too late, but those who were actually creating those events continued to say that he needs to make that decision on his own, without being pressured into it. As a result, the description of the event calling people to once again gather there from 3 PM Sunday afternoon still mentioned only showing solidarity with the strikers and it was rather surprising, albeit pleasantly so, when Claudia posted in the morning that Sandu told her he realizes he needs to end the hunger strike and intends to do so around 4 PM that day.
Though the people who were to drive him back home were there on time and an increasing number of others were trying to gently nudge him to leave while telling him how much they respected him, shaking his hand or hugging him, he didn’t quite keep that word, only finally making his way to the car around 5:20 PM and being driven away a few minutes later. At least a few dozen people left before him, so the peak was reached before that time, my highest count being 175, though I couldn’t exactly say what that meant when compared to other days.
Otherwise, some people were gathering signatures for something, probably a petition, but somehow none of them approached me and I obviously didn’t go up to any of them to ask what it was about, and a call was made for people who wanted to take turns to continue the hunger strike in that location, even if only for 24 hours each, to give their names and contact information, so a schedule may be created to ensure that at least one person, and preferably more than that, will remain there even after those who had already joined Sandu will end their strike as well. In addition, though a message posted on-line asked people to head towards Antena 3, which is the most watched news television station and, having strong ties with the current ruling coalition, can be said to be openly “at war” with the protesters, after Sandu’ll leave, some of the activists who were present asked those who wished to do so to head towards state-owned TVR instead. Seeing as, unlike a private television station, TVR can actually be asked to cover any topic that may be relevant, not to mention that there were some complaints to file against some employees who were particularly rude to those who had already called in order to do just that, that definitely seemed like the right choice to me.
The announced plan was to leave later, some saying at 6:30 PM, because there were a few people who announced that they won’t be able to get there earlier. However, seeing as, as I already mentioned, our numbers were already dropping by the time Sandu left, a decision was made to leave then instead, and not in a march because the gendarmes apparently weren’t going to allow that and we definitely didn’t have the numbers to try to push through. What that meant was that, around 5:30 PM, some 20 or 25 of us simply headed towards the metro station and reached the entrance of TVR at 5:55 PM, where those who decided to walk joined us later, so we were around 40 gathered there at the peak. A few did leave earlier, however, so we were around 30, someone was saying 32, when we cleared away, at 7:55 PM.
During those two hours, a few activists went inside to make our request known, we got word from those left in front of the Theater that a crew from TVR did arrive there to film a short news piece, a reporter and a cameraman also came outside to ask us to state our reasons for being there on camera, I took the last few pictures of the day, and eventually the interim director-general of TVR, Stelian Tanase, made a surprising appearance, saying that, though he was at home when our protest started, he simply wanted to talk to us directly after hearing that we were there. That talk started somewhat roughly, largely due to the open hostility displayed by Alex, but after those few moments it went rather well as far as I’m concerned, Stelian Tanase being quite polite and reasonably accommodating, considering his position. He didn’t necessarily have immediate answers for all of our questions or the firm promises that some were demanding, but he did agree that, knowing that Sandu’ll end his hunger strike that day, a news crew should have been there earlier, to cover the story while he was still there. He also said he’ll ask for a report to be able to tell us the exact date and time when each news piece covering the hunger strike was aired by TVR, insisting that they existed even though we could find none, that he’ll do all he can to ensure that TVR will air proper debates on the issue of fracking as soon as possible, and also promised to come in front of the Theater when Sandu’ll return, after recovering at home for a few days, to talk to him and to the other hunger strikers personally.
After we eventually cleared away, followed by the gendarmes who, on Stelian Tanase’s request, had kept themselves out of sight while he was there, there was an idea to stop by former president Ion Iliescu’s home, after the attempts some activists had made around Christmas to get there in order to sing some creative new versions of certain carols failed, but that decision seemed forgotten no more than a few minutes after apparently being reached and we simply headed back to the metro station. Once inside the train, we tried to stage something of a flash mob, briefly clapping and chanting before the guards asked us to stop, and then I for one switched trains at the next stop, to go home. As such, I don’t know how many others returned to the Theater or what else they did later that evening.
To also mention the related events that took place during the following days before moving on to something else, I’ll say that George also announced ending his hunger strike on Monday, after I believe nine days, so another event was created for 5 PM that afternoon, calling those who wanted to take turns continuing the hunger strike in that location to attend and work on the schedule. A document was created on-line as well, so those who won’t be able to attend at that time will still be able to offer their contact information and list the dates when they’d be available.
Also Monday, two activists wasted most of the day simply waiting in the TVR lobby after filing the formal complaint regarding the way they were treated when they called to ask why wasn’t the hunger strike being covered. The post I see doesn’t specify exactly how much time they wasted there, but it does say that even after three hours they continued to wait and call every 15, 30 or 40 minutes, each time being told to call back in three minutes, so it certainly seems to have been a matter of several hours. Eventually, an employee finally arrived and served them some boring, prepared speech devoid of any real content that made even one of the guards roll his eyes behind his back.
Then, since Stelian Tanase did confirm that he will keep his word and be in front of the Theater on Friday, when Sandu was to return in order to show solidarity with the remaining hunger strikers, a call was made asking people to gather there starting at 2 PM. Few activists shared it in time, however, yet at the same time he only arrived much later as well. Still, after he did arrive, he spent about an hour taking to the hunger strikers, if largely to try to persuade them to end their strike and move on to other methods of protest that may prove more efficient without sacrificing their strength and health to such an extent. Some were definitely bothered by that, but I’ll say once again that I completely agree with that stance, and either way his presence and interest are to be appreciated.
To finally move on to other issues, Vlad’s band had a concert starting at 9 PM on Saturday, January 11, and he obviously took the opportunity to make plenty of protest-related comments. Then, the second debate regarding certain controversial city development plans took place on Monday and, according to reports, it’d have been funny if it wouldn’t have been so sad, the officials not even showing any accurate plans of the building that is to be built, simply stating that it’ll be beautiful and fit with the scenery and treating those present as if they were only there because they had nothing better to do and simply enjoy challenging any “development” plans, which is actually a view that they have directly stated before. Friday, on the other hand, though no known activists asked people to attend, the movement’s “official” page reported after the fact that a group of women protested in front of the Spanish embassy against the law banning abortions unless the pregnancy is a result of rape or the mother’s life is at risk, which was recently put forward in Spain.
Returning to events that are directly related to this movement, some of the known activists received an invitation to a gala organized by a magazine and meant to recognize the people who bring positive change to Romania, which took place Tuesday evening. While at first they didn’t mean to attend, stating that they didn’t protest to earn any prizes, they changed their minds and a message posted on Monday asked any other protesters who’d be available at the time to join them. As a result, about 20 people, all wearing masks with the faces of the politicians we’re protesting against, climbed on stage, chanted briefly, read a statement, ironically thanked the politicians who managed to bring us together and persuade us to act, and then refused the prize, stating that they have no right to take that which belongs to all those who took to the streets. They did take the flowers, however, saying they don’t want them to wither and die needlessly.
Last but definitely not least, the week’s most interesting protest took place Thursday afternoon, when six activists arrived in front of the Government building, carrying two banners, two chairs, a table and a chess board. As the other four displayed the banners, the remaining two sat down and started to play chess, one taking the role of the protesters and the institutions that still defend the rule of law and the other that of the Government, Parliament, Presidency and corporations. Some 20 minutes later, a significantly larger group of gendarmes appeared, warned them that their action was illegal, ignored them when they pointed out that what they’re doing is both a sport and a cultural activity and is therefore entirely legal in any location open to the public, and took them away, along with the chess board. They were released after a short amount of time, receiving only a warning.
