The Republic of Moldova must assume the construction and development of a complex that will represent the suffering of the people who experienced all types of repression. And not only deportations, but also other kinds of repression that must not be forgotten, such as arrests, homicides, organized hunger, forced refuges, etc, chairman of the Association of Former Deportees and Political Prisoners of the Republic Moldova Alexandru Postica stated in an international conference entitled “75 years since the second wave of deportations from Bessarabia”, which was held on Friday in Mereni village of Anenii Noi district, IPN reports.

Today’s event commemorates 75 years since the second wave of deportations from Bessarabia. The topics of discussion include the tragedies that took place then and also the crimes that, in some places, still continue to be committed against many deportees and political prisoners. “Unfortunately, after 32 years since the adoption of the legal framework, deportees and political prisoners are seen as victims. I think this is somehow scary. Labels that are not appropriate are put on them. I think that the notion that should be used in relation to these people is survivor, hero. They are heroes who overcome the regime, because our very presence here in large numbers proves that we survived, that we defeated that regime and we do not deserve this label of victim,” stated the Association’s chairman.

In his opinion, the lack of places of remembrance is another problem. Today’s conference is held in Mereni, where there is an open-air museum complex. It is a museum of the local community, which emphasizes the importance of creating similar memorials. “We are the first to offer the Moldovan society a sample of how an idea can be transformed into a museum, into a living complex to be visited, which will be a place of pilgrimage and I urge all the citizens to visit this museum, at least in this period that is very symbolic for Moldovan society. We must be aware of the fact that so far we do not have any cultural and historical attraction, apart from a few museums, which are very important, but which cannot encompass all the pain of the 75 years that have passed since the second wave of deportations,” said Alexandru Postica.

“In the Republic of Moldova, there are few people who have no connection with the deported or politically detained persons. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people who are still not counted today. This event comes to underline the need for the Republic of Moldova to assume the construction and development of a complex that will represent the suffering experienced during all types of repression,” said the chairman of the Association of Former Deportees and Political Prisoners of the Republic of Moldova

The international conference “75 years since the second wave of deportations from Bessarabia” was organized by the Association of Former Deportees and Political Prisoners of the Republic of Moldova, the public association “Genesis”, with the support of the Mereni mayor’s office and the Hanns Seidel Foundation. Activities are also planned for Saturday. At the “Train of Pain” Monument at the Chisinau Railway Station, a religious service will be held to commemorate the victims of the second wave of deportations. Also, officials and members of the Association of Former Deportees and Political Prisoners will give commemoration speeches in front of the “Train of Pain” Monument.