The Trump Admin's "Secret Police" tactics are right out of the Authoritarian's playbook.
There are examples of these forces throughout history, but one of the most recent (and cruel) isn't well known in the West:
The Securitate.
Thread.
There are examples of these forces throughout history, but one of the most recent (and cruel) isn't well known in the West:
The Securitate.
Thread.
1/ From 1965 - 1989, Romania was ruled by a brutal dictator named Nicolae Ceaușescu.
He stole millions while people starved, demolished cultural buildings to build a gaudy palace, and maintained control through a cruel secret police force.
history.co.uk/article/the-fa…
He stole millions while people starved, demolished cultural buildings to build a gaudy palace, and maintained control through a cruel secret police force.
history.co.uk/article/the-fa…
2/ They weren't just a blunt instrument. The Securitate were designed to breed paranoia.
Every phone in the country was tapped. It was rumored that one in four were part of their vast network of secret informants.
The actual figure was closer to one in thirty.
Every phone in the country was tapped. It was rumored that one in four were part of their vast network of secret informants.
The actual figure was closer to one in thirty.
3/ They were notoriously cruel and given authority to carry out Ceaușescu's bidding by any means necessary.
To break-up a miner's strike, they had doctors repeatedly x-ray union leaders to try and give them cancer.
They also killed political enemies with radiation poisoning.
To break-up a miner's strike, they had doctors repeatedly x-ray union leaders to try and give them cancer.
They also killed political enemies with radiation poisoning.
4/ Ceaușescu built a massive palace in the middle of Bucharest. Some of Europe's oldest monasteries were demolished to make room.
Meanwhile, food lines were hours long and people froze to death right in their homes because of energy rationing.
Revolution was inevitable.
Meanwhile, food lines were hours long and people froze to death right in their homes because of energy rationing.
Revolution was inevitable.
5/ What started as a protest over a political eviction turned into a huge demonstration.
No fan of public dissent, Ceaușescu ordered the Securitate to open fire. Men, women, and children were killed in cold blood.
The final toll of the Timisoara Massacre is still debated.
No fan of public dissent, Ceaușescu ordered the Securitate to open fire. Men, women, and children were killed in cold blood.
The final toll of the Timisoara Massacre is still debated.
6/ As outrage about the massacre grew, Ceaușescu tried to shift the narrative.
He held a large rally in Bucharest and blamed anti-Romanian agitators for the escalation.
The crowd quickly turned against him. He ran inside as the country took to the streets.
He held a large rally in Bucharest and blamed anti-Romanian agitators for the escalation.
The crowd quickly turned against him. He ran inside as the country took to the streets.
7/ After a senior officer took his own life, rumors spread through the army that Ceaușescu was involved.
This caused the military to side with the protesters, and a last ditch helicopter escape was foiled.
A show trial was hastily arranged for the next day, Christmas 1989.
This caused the military to side with the protesters, and a last ditch helicopter escape was foiled.
A show trial was hastily arranged for the next day, Christmas 1989.
8/ The couple was charged with genocide, embezzling millions, and extensive damage to public property.
Throughout the one-hour trial, the Ceaușescus denied the legitimacy of the court.
The dictator and his wife were the last people to be executed by the Romanian state.
Throughout the one-hour trial, the Ceaușescus denied the legitimacy of the court.
The dictator and his wife were the last people to be executed by the Romanian state.
9/ The trial transcript is a fascinating read.
Even at the very end, the pair are adamant that they've done nothing wrong.
Zero remorse, zero acknowledgement of the suffering they caused.
A complete denial of reality.
en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Transcrip…
Even at the very end, the pair are adamant that they've done nothing wrong.
Zero remorse, zero acknowledgement of the suffering they caused.
A complete denial of reality.
en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Transcrip…
10/ In the end, the Ceaușescus call the Securitate terrorists, ever denying any responsibility.
After the prosecutor summarizes their atrocities, Elena is heard asking, "Whom are they talking about?"
It takes a chilling lack of empathy to be so blind to your own sins.
After the prosecutor summarizes their atrocities, Elena is heard asking, "Whom are they talking about?"
It takes a chilling lack of empathy to be so blind to your own sins.
