By
Laura Chiriac
BUCHAREST—The haunting faces stare from the walls
of bus shelters, reminding Romanians that this is the last
chance to denounce Nazi war criminals responsible for the
murder of Jews in World War II.
Romania’s role in the Holocaust was swept under the
carpet during 42 years of communism and played down by the
government as recently as a year ago. Now it is hard to miss.
In launching a “last chance” campaign, and offering
rewards up to $10,000 (8,300 euros) for information about
war criminals, the Simon Wiesenthal Center is seeking to
tell Romanians about their ignored history.
One poster recalling the fate of the thousands of Jews killed
in a pogrom in the northern town of Iasi in June 1941 shows
a baby in the arms of his father. The caption reads: “Gustav
Segal died thinking of his family. His history is that of
all the Jews massacred at Iasi in 1941.”
“
I had no idea that such massacres were carried out in Romania,” said
Anca, a 16-year-old student. “At school, in the history
books, there is not a single chapter that makes any reference
to the pogrom at Iasi.”
A middle-aged woman, Iliana Rodica, said such a publicity
campaign would have been impossible a few years ago.
“
The time has at last come for this country to reconcile itself
with a past that it has long been denied,” she said.
“
I don’t know if this campaign will have any results,
but at least it will wake up consciences because terrible
crimes have been perpetrated against the Jews and young people
don’t even know about it.”
The last chance campaign was launched last September after
the government and President Ion Iliescu caused an uproar
by rejecting Romania’s responsibility for the annihilation
of the Jews during World War II and by minimizing the Holocaust.
After Israel demanded clarification, the government acknowledged
the responsibility of the wartime regime led by Ion Antonescu
for the deaths of some 250,000 Jews between 1940 and 1944.
The government has set up an international expert commission
under Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel to study the history
of the Holocaust as it occurred in Romania.
It has also established an annual national day of commemoration
on October 9, and at last requires schools to teach about
the Holocaust.
Sebastian Iancu, a 40-year-old engineer, said hunting down
surviving Nazis was all very well, but the task should have
been started years ago.
“
It was communism, by seeking to hide everything, that distorted
reality,” he said. “But certainly, it is never
too later too late to do justice.”
Manila Times
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