Mancila Lacramioara, Spe 3

The leader of the student protests from 1989 and 1990- Marian Munteanu

Key moments that define him: 1989 Revolution, Students League 89, University Square

90
He was the most important figure of the 89 student protests being at that time student at
Facultatea de Litere, Bucharest University, with a specialization in Romanian and

portugese languages.
He was influenced by thinker Petre Tutea, who was as a mentor for him.
In the last years of the communist regime, he initiates dissident activities such as
organizing students groups with the aim of spreading cultural Romanian values which

were forbidden during the regime.

He organizes debates discussing the views of banned or censored authors during the
communist regime: Nicolae Iorga, Mircea Eliade or Emil Cioran. In 1988 and 1989 he is
arrested and interrogated on several occasions, being accused of "Christian propaganda
hostile to Marxist-Leninist ideology," the main accusation being that of the disciple of

Peter uea thinker.

He participated to the 1989 Revolution in Bucharest
Was one of the first members of the Association 21 December, being active in the first
day of the Revolution. He is not involved in any way in the current activity of the
association of that name, whose composition (and, especially, public representation)

differs radically from association founded in December 1989.

He did not accept and did not hold a "revolutionary certificate" declaring opposition to
the practice of public post-revolutionary authorities to grant privilege to a large number
of people as "reward" for participation (often uncertain) in the popular uprising in

December 1989.
On December 23, 1989 established the national association "Students League", whose
president was until graduation (1991). In this respect he holds numerous civic activities,
advocating for the reconstruction of the Romanian society, democratic values and the rule

of law, protection of citizens' rights and freedoms.

It was the main coordinator of the demonstration in University Square (April-May 1990)
and the national student strike in December 1990. Since March 1991 he is Honorary
President of the Students' League.

He was the initiator and coordinator of student demonstrations in University Square, who

gave it peaceful, non-violent character.

Marian Munteanu is the main promoter of non-violence as a civic attitude in post-

communist Romania.
He was the most prominent leader the anti-communist protests in 1990, violently
terminated by the intervention of the miners in Petre Roman's government and President

Ion Iliescu.
Regarding University Square, Eugene Ionesco said: "Wake up Romanian is an old song,
but the real awakening happened now. I think young people in University Square, headed
by Marian Munteanu, are the real heroes. They wanted freedom and they still wanted
honesty. I told the truth. They are, as the French say, " en quete de la libert in search of
freedom and they will find her. I am with them. I have said many times that I forgot
Romania so long, but since I'm here, I regained Romanian heart ... There in Romania,
they "did not play" ,there people lived and died. And I know that the Square has not
propagated violence contrary, Marian Munteanu called for free discussion, truth. "