The Blame Game

So yesterday we heard there was some real violence in the protests. Since then we have seen and heard and been much dismayed by the actions of a contingent of the protesters. Ultimately, both the presidents palace and the parliament were attacked and even burned. So from the time of the violence Veronin has been seeking to lay blame on somebody for what happened. Initially the opposition leaders were accused of inciting the protesters to violence but it was clear that that was not their intention. Today for some reason the president chose to lay blame on Romania and declared the Romanian ambassador a 'persona non grata' who must leave the country. At the same time the border was closed to Romania and it was ruled that Romanians will be required to obtain a visa to enter Moldova. This raises a lot of questions and complications for many people who frequently come in and out of Moldova.

Stories are circulating about how the election was fraudulent, including rumours that over 1,000 dead people voted! That is, the mayors in the villages, it is purported, held off on completing paper work for individuals who had died recently. Therefore, officially on paper there was nothing to indicate their decease so those names somehow were used and votes were cast in their name, I suppose for the communist party. And of course the Orthodox priests were instructing their people to vote for communists but then, the Baptists were encouraging people how to vote as well.

News reports indicate that about 180 people were injured in yesterday's violence, 100 of whom were policemen. They also said that 200 people have been arrested and the news showed distraught parents at the police headquarters, trying to obtain information about their teenagers who never came home last night and whom they haven't heard from. Other reports imply that there has been beating of suspects by police.

So it's been an interesting day, and I suspect the saga isn't over yet. We certainly hope not. If this is a revolution, there's a long way to go! Communism is still alive in Moldova. But then, a revolution needs a leader and of all the political leaders I have been watching on TV these days, not one is the charismatic type who will really be able to win the trust and allegiance of the people. That's my take on all of this, anyway.