April 7: 'The voice of the youth was heard'

On April 7, 2009, the world heard the voices of young people who wanted to build a future in Moldova. The enthusiasm of that day was the main catalyst behind the change of the political vector, which was followed by a series of changes in concepts, goals and tendencies. This is the opinion of representatives of youth structures interviewed by Info-Prim Neo. [According to the State University of Moldova (USM) pro-rector on student issues, Tudor Arnaut], the youth gathered on the streets because of the state of constraint at the time, the one-party policy and the impossibility to voice their opinions. “Our youth is really smart, inventive and has modern values. The youth knows how things are abroad thanks to the latest technologies. When the government delayed some innovations after European models, their reaction came as a consequence of this set of actions”, said Tudor Arnaut. According to the pro-rector, it’s perfectly natural that everyone wished and still wishes changes for the better in the material sphere, but the new government doesn’t function as a mechanic system of fulfilling wishes. “We must be glad we have the chance to have our own self, to speak out without constraint. Today, there aren’t as many restrictions for youth. The disappointment is related to the failure to improve the life standard. However, this doesn’t depend solely on the government, but on several other internal and external factors”, said the USM pro-rector on student issues. Tudor Arnaut thinks that the events on April 7 radically changed the social-economic situation in the country because the opinion of the people was finally taken into consideration. “History is made by both masses and leaders”, he concluded. [Chairman of the student senate at the Free International University (ULIM) Natalia Screlea], was one of the participants at the protests 3 years ago. She says that the youth were motivated by the desire for change, for a future that would allow them to remain in the country. Although she admits there were some organized groups, Natalia thinks that most came voluntarily and individually. The large majority didn’t want to do anything bad, nobody wanted the events to get a negative connotation. They went there only to express their unhappiness with the old government. They did so because the young generation has new aspirations, such as freedom. “We’re happy with our achievements, but regret the abuses in police stations and the prosecutions the consequences of which some suffer until today”, declared the chairman of ULIM’s student senate. According to Natalia Screlea, the majority of Moldovans want an European path for the country. The time since the Alliance for European Integration came to power is too short for the change to be fully felt. Nevertheless, one can easily state that European collaborations intensified and many countries are now watching Moldova closely. “The youth must focus their efforts on studies and initiatives to build a great future. Their involvement in improving social life is just as important as their participation in the protests in 2009”, she concluded. [Deputy chairman of the Student Alliance of Moldova, head of the student senate of the Academy of Economic Studies (ASEM) Ghenadie Negrei] says that the youth participated in the protests in April 2009 to express their discontent with the government and the standard of life. “The elections on April 5 were an impulse that catalyzed the events, as the situation was on the verge of a social crisis”, he explained. Ghenadie Negrei thinks that the main expectation of the young generation was the change of the political vector, of the government and general tendencies. “Being a youth leader, I can certainly say that after April 2009 I never met obstacles in voicing our opinions or implementing our ideas. As concerns democracy and moral principles, our society must feel happy. The collaborations with the outside world improved, which is a great advantage for us”, said Ghenadie Negrei. The head of the ASEM student senate doesn’t rule out that besides the youth who came to protest in the Great National Assembly Square in April 2009, there were organized groups who provoked the crowd. On April 7, 2009, thousands of people, mostly youth, protested against the results of parliamentary elections on April 5, which they considered to have been rigged. The initially peaceful protests degenerated. A part of protesters broke into the buildings of the Parliament and the Presidency, from where they stole various things and destroyed everything in their path. In the night between April 7 and 8, the police arrested hundreds of youth. Many of them were beaten and humiliated in the Square or in police stations. One of them died. The investigation revealed that Valeriu Boboc died as a result of the blows he took.