After the members of the Romanian Parliament voted on December 10,
2013, to have super-immunity, becoming nearly impossible for authorities
to investigate them for corruption, the US Embassy to Romania
called the vote a "step backward for Romania" and a violation of "a
basic tenet of democracy […] that all people are equal under the law".
After this reaction, the Romanian Prime-minister Victor Ponta attacked the US Embassy, stating that they should not be “lectured” by the Embassy.
As
a result, leaders and members of the Romanian-American community sent
the following letter to the Romanian Prime-Minister Victor Ponta taking
the side of the US Embassy and also condemning that vote in the Romanian
Parliament.
Romanian Americans express support for the American Embassy in
Romania and demand the resignation of those responsible for voting on
the "Black Tuesday": Open letter to Ponta
December 17, 2013
Mr. Victor Ponta,
Prime Minister of the Romanian Government and President of the Social Democratic Party
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
We
write in the name of several Romanians and Association of Romanians
from the United States concerned about the direction of Romania and
scandalized by the vote in the Chamber of Deputies on December 10th,
when Social Liberal Union deputies voted for their own benefit a set of
laws that give them a free pass to steal without the possibility of
being held accountable.
The Embassies in Romania, the European
Commission and the President of the Socialist Group in the European
Parliament have rightly condemned this vote, saying that Romania has
made a step backward. Such critical reactions toward Romania were made
only on the occasion of the social unrest caused by the miners called by
Mr. Iliescu.
You have to be concerned about the international
reactions, because Romania has committed to comply with a set of rules
specific to democratic states, and the vote in the Chamber of Deputies
that took place on December 10th was a flagrant violation of those
rules.
Nobody "challenges the right of the Parliament to make
laws", as you stated in response to the reactions from the Embassies;
everybody, instead, is challenging the laws made by the Parliament to
protect the lawlessness of politicians. Through the vote on December
10th, the Parliament – the institution which should make just laws for
everyone – has become an enclave of lawlessness and the villainous.
While
the representatives of the National Liberal Party have expressed their
regret for the vote, and the Democratic Liberal Party has suspended the
three MPs present in Parliament who did not vote against those laws, we
have not heard any Social Democratic Party leaders condemning the vote
that protects the corrupt politicians.
Furthermore, from your
position you have accused the US Embassy, saying: “I informed the Chargé
d'Affaires that he should never reprimand us about anything, that at
the moment it’s not the case to reprimand us. It is every good to
consult with each other, but in regards to reprimandation nobody is
reprimanding us anymore, not Moscow nor anybody else.”
Consultations
take place between partners, and it is hard to believe that, for
legalizing in Parliament the corruption of the politicians, Romania
would find a civilized country whom to “consult” with.
The
accusations that you’ve made against the United States Embassy in
Bucharest, because it condemned in categorical terms the vote in the
Parliament, disqualify you in the eyes of the Western partners and bring
serious disadvantages to Romania.
We hope that you realize that
the vote on December 10th and your statements have diminished the
chances of Romania to be included soon in the Visa Waiver program, so
that Romanians could travel to the United States without a visa.
The
inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver program is done by Congress, and
in light of what happened recently in Romania and of the statements
you’ve made it is hard to believe that there will be enough members of
Congress who believe that Romania will fulfill its commitments so it can
be included in this program.
The US Embassy in Bucharest also
represents us, the Romanian-Americans, and we totally subscribe with the
criticism that the Embassy made regarding the laws voted on December
10th. We encourage the US Embassy as well as the other embassies and
representatives of the civil society in Romania to condemn publicly any
deviation from the rule of law in Romania.
We hope that the
reaction you had in support of these laws was a slip, and from your
position you will get involved to restore Romania’s position in the
world after the fatidic vote on December 10th. Therefore, we demand from
you:
1. The dismissal or resignation from leading positions in the
Chamber of Deputies of all Social Democratic Party leaders who are
responsible for the lack of transparency in which the laws from December
10th were voted on.
2. A new vote that will waive the immunity of
all lawmakers under investigation by National Anti-Corruption
Directorate or other prosecuting units. It is inadmissible that the
lawmakers vote that the law does not apply in their case, thus covering
each other.
3. The withdrawal of support for these controversial bills so they can be voted down.
It
is unfortunate that, 24 years after the Romanians were mourning the
dead killed by the bullets of the Communist tyrant because they wanted
to live free, Romania is confronted now with the initiative of some
politicians who want to make laws that will give them a free pass to
steal and plunder. We do not believe that for such "ideals" so many
people died in 1989.
For the memory and sacrifice of the heroes of
the Revolution, you have a duty to restore the political decency in the
Parliament and to correct the injustice act from December 10th.
"Unjust Laws are the worst form of tyranny." (Edmund Burke)
Father Chris Terhes – President of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Association
“St. John the Baptist” Greek Catholic Mission, Tustin, California
Father Calin Tamiian – “Saint Mary” Greek Catholic Church, Los Angeles
Father Dr. Petru Stinea – Greek Catholic community in Cleveland, Ohio
Father Gabriel Didita – Newburgh, Indiana
Radu Luchian – Director of Clipa Magazine, Anaheim, California
Vera Luchian – Clipa Magazine
Viorel Nicula – Director of “Miorita” Newspaper, Sacramento, California
President of the Cultural Association "Miorita", Sacramento, California
Simona Botezan – Journalist, Washington, D.C.
Ady Simion – “Romani in Los Angeles” Organization
Dan Lupuleasa – President of the Romanian American Council
Neculai Popa – President of the Romanian World Council
Prof. Nicolae Dima, PhD – Arizona
Attorney Robert Cristea – Downey, California
Vasile Bouleanu – Chicago, Illinois
Alin Buna – Anaheim, California
Demostene Buna – Anaheim, California
Georgeta Buna – Anaheim, California
Georgiana Coman – Houston, Texas
Lore Giurgiu – Laguna Hills, California
Georgeta Bostean – Los Angeles, California
Mircea Bodea – Villa Park, California
Ioana Ciupe – Yorba Linda, California
Florin Mocan – Yorba Linda, California
Anca Longodor – Placentia, California
Ana Pop – Los Angeles, California
Nicolae Sirca – Reseda, California
Cristina Sirca – Reseda, California
Elvira Opran – Anaheim, California
Delia Coman – Los Angeles, California
Doina Pintea – Los Angeles, California
Diana Deac – Orange, California
Iuliana C. – Los Angeles, California
Ruxandra Cartianu – San Diego, California
Mihai Jurcau – Denver, Colorado
The list of signatures is open here: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/romaniamericanicer