Press Release: On the Objectives and Activities of IICCMER
Regarding statements and public petitions recently presented in the mass media, which maintained that IICCMER’s new form of organization will cease the investigation of crimes perpetrated during the communist regime and in its immediate aftermath in Romania, we wish to emphasize that IICCMER’s essential purpose remains that of pursuing, independent of any political partisanship, scientific research of the historical period afore mentioned along with its consequences up to present times.
Without leading to the interruption and limitation of IICCMER’s previous institutional attributions, the new form of organization gives the institution the possibility to act on two fundamental directions: on the one side, the investigation of the communist period (institutions, methods, economy, repression, personalities, individual responsibilities etc) and the research of the Romanian exile; on the other side, the promotion, in partnership with other institutions of the state, of policies focused on education about and remembrance of the communist experience in our country.
In addition, IICCMER will continue, in strict correlation with the Governmental Decree on the basis of which its activity is regulated, to investigate human rights abuses committed by the communist regime from 1945 to 1989, and those perpetrated in the immediate aftermath of the regime’s collapse (e.g., the 1989 Revolution and the 1990 “Mineriade”). We wish to reassert the fact that one of IICCMER’s main objectives remains the identification of the relevant information necessary for a legal groundwork upon which those considered responsible for these crimes can be put on trial in conformity with the existing Romanian and international legislation. The Institute will give its full support to any initiative of integrating in the Romanian legislation of international accords and conventions relevant to these matters.
Moreover, IICCMER will endorse and pursue the incorporation within the Romanian legislation of all documents that declare communist crimes without status of limitation. IICCMER will promote legislative projects with the aim of broadening the possibility of an objective and non-partisan investigation of the tragic events and the abuses committed in the communist period and during its immediate aftermath (the 1989 Revolution and the “Mineriade” of 1990). IICCMER will promptly and consistently inform the public opinion regarding the status and results of these activities. For IICCMER, the permanent collaboration with and feedback from civil society is vital.
IICCMER is fundamentally committed to the development and strengthening of a democratic culture that honors the memory of the victims of the communist regime and it is founded on the knowledge and analysis of the mechanisms of its perpetuation. With all this in mind, we want to stress that, contrary to what some have argued, the activity of the Institute will not be limited, but expanded. The ongoing projects will continue and, in parallel, we will advance new ones. Last but not least, IICCMER will also begin a rigorous analysis of the tragic events in the years 1989 and 1990 (The Revolution and the “Mineriade”). We acknowledge that this last issue is indeed an urgent and legitimate request from the part of numerous representatives (individuals and organization) of the Romanian civil society.
President of the Scientific Board, Vladimir Tismaneanu
Executive President, Ioan Stanomir
3rd March 2010