Romanian dissidents - still feeling oppressed
This radio report showed how little had changed for ordinary people in Romania - twenty years after their revolution against Nicolae Ceausescu’s Communist Party. Complaints against endemic corruption persisted. Not like the organised criminality in neighbouring Bulgaria - but Romanians still talked about having to pay bribes or offer favours in return for everything : from decent attention for your child at school, to a building permit, or a government contract.
For a long time, the people in charge after the revolution were simply the less prominent Communists - just re-badged. So, for this family of persecuted dissidents I talked to in Bucharest, things seemed very familiar - even after two decades...
You’ll have to excuse the delivery. I went down with ‘flu for the whole trip - and introduced this report live from the middle of a snow-heaped Revolution Square - where the temperature had just fallen to minus 6!
(There may be a pause before audio plays)
For a long time, the people in charge after the revolution were simply the less prominent Communists - just re-badged. So, for this family of persecuted dissidents I talked to in Bucharest, things seemed very familiar - even after two decades...
You’ll have to excuse the delivery. I went down with ‘flu for the whole trip - and introduced this report live from the middle of a snow-heaped Revolution Square - where the temperature had just fallen to minus 6!
(There may be a pause before audio plays)