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Romanian cemetery, Christmas 1989

It's the last from my '89 Romania archive and hope is within site limits. It shows an exhumated mass grave, with bodies of demonstrators killed by police and paramilitary squads a week before Christmas, when the revolution eventually prevailed.

Discuss this image here: http://1x.com/discussions/14272/limits-of-oe-tough-motifs/#unread

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Catalin Nitu 10 months ago

All respect for publishing this document! Thank you Balazs!

Balazs Pataki Hi Catalin, multumesc for having a look.

Catalin Nitu I was in Bucharest in '89. Many thanks for sharing all of this documents!

Willem de Vlaming 2 years ago

Impressive, very impressive. Respect

Balazs Pataki Dank je well.

jacques philippe 2 years ago

no words for that.

Petitelfe petitelfe 2 years ago

This photo is terrifying, horrible. I want to say MY GOD WHY? WHY
AS OF VIOLENCE!

What courage you had. A GREAT COURAGE TO DO TO GET TO THIS FILE.

FRIENDSHIP PETITELFE.

Cette photo est terrifiante , horrible . J'ai envie de dire MON DIEU POURQUOI ? POURQUOI
TANT DE VIOLENCE !

QUELLE COURAGE TU AS EU . UN GRAND COURAGE POUR ARRIVER A FAIRE CETTE PHOTO .

AMITIE PETITELFE.

Alex OBrien 2 years ago

I cannot quite find the words to describe what I want to say Balazs but this is a powerful picture taken with powerful mental strength and I admire you for your ability to take these as, although they are absolutely horrendous and unbearable to look at, they need to be taken. Thank you for sharing something I had no idea about.

Balazs Pataki Hi Alex, thanks and what a coincidence - was thinking about you just a few minutes ago! Good to hear from you!

wunderskatz 2 years ago

Well, I am deeply moved by this picture as I lived in Romania in those days. Thank you for sharing it.

Adrian Dudui 3 years ago

Balasz, I am from Timisoara. All respect and esteem for publishing this document. It is very likely this photo has been taken at a cemetery on Boulevard(Calea) Lipovei; maybe you still remember. The bodies belong to some of OUR HEROES. They fought comunism and stood against the weapons empty handed. The case of a pregnant women shot dead is known. This photo is a history document. About previous comment, the rumour that some bodies were "added", it was not true. Moreover, many dead bodies of THE HEROS were never found. In fact, according to the evidences and witnesses, comunist Militia stole bodies from the morgue in order to cremate them.
This image is terrible and disturbing for any of us; to all redears, please remember it as a face of opression.

Balazs Pataki Adrian, multumesc - thanks for shedding light on this. I'm not sure about the accurate location of the cemetery, but it was very notorious in those days (for the things that happened in the little chapel) and all over the news. I believe you, a local, are right!

José Luis Mieza 3 years ago

I'M TOUCHE MY FRIEND

Balazs Pataki Many many thanks dear José!

Szabolcs Sipos 3 years ago

A cliche, but: if you ever hear me complaining of having a bad day, just shoot me...

Balazs Pataki Minden relatív ugye? Köszi Szabolcs és bocs hogy kissé lemaradtam a válasszal!

Monique 3 years ago

omg,,,,,this is so touching...these little baby there.....this is so terrible...i just don't know what to say.....very very sad ....but life not always is happy....and in most cases it isn't.....:(...it has to be someone very strong to take this picture....i admire you----i think i wouldn't be able...i am to weak...
regards Balzs.

Balazs Pataki It also depends on the cocktail of adrenalin and alcohol which kept me by my sanity during those days. Many thanks Monique.

Rui Pires 3 years ago

Such is reality, terrible and horrend reality in planet earth. Also i consider is a "diferent" image in 1X, in the way of pure documentary, very very disturbing, Balazs. See that little baby over mother, just ruins my day and makes me feel very disturbed and seek. Sorry but is my feelings, i can´t apreciate this photo neither look any one second more to it. But, i think this photos are ver very important, as a forensic evidence now and someday in future in order mankind never forget this atrocitys !

Balazs Pataki We take too much for granted Rui, and don't think about where all the things necessary for our life come from and at which price. Energy, food, and freedom. What justifies taking and showing this photo is, in my opinion, that it reminds us to freedom coming at a heavy price. We moan and bitch at the system we're living in because we focus too much on its shortcomings, and forget that not so long ago people actually died in the struggle to get it. What came afterwards is a different story, but we shouldn't forget the price paid.

Rui Pires I agree, letter by letter, word by word !

storytaylor 3 years ago

somehow, you ended up in the right place at the right time. In fact, for me it isn't photojournalism at all. but a strong, powerful and disturbing picture.

Balazs Pataki After all, that's the only thing that counts... or so I believe. Thanks.

Andrei 3 years ago

I do not think this is the right place to show this photo between 'artistic' landscape, nature, and other photos which are just entertainment.
It might be very offending for the victims and their families if it is displayed in such a way.

Balazs Pataki Yes. That's why it's in the documentary section which is usually not about entertainment.

nicoleta gabor 3 years ago

oh my God,Balazs...that little baby ! were you a soldier at that time ? A very cruel photo,a great documentary masterpiece !

Balazs Pataki No, at that time I was working in a garbage recycling facility in Budapest :) We had no news for days, and in the afternoon of the 22nd there were rumours that from midnight trains will run again. So I got my gymbag, went to the nearest pharmacy and purchased lots of bandages and other first aid stuff. The train indeed left at midnight, it was empty except for a bunch of Hungarians and a few journalists. When the train rolled out, they all cheered, "we are on the way to a free Romania". The train made it only to Arad, where I joined a couple of Romanian guys who wanted to stir up trouble in Temesvar, and that's how I got there.

yuan 3 years ago

hope better & better for all in the world... what a documentary shot... salam senyum -u1-

Balazs Pataki Thanks for the fav, you are very brave yuan! :))

Phyllis Clarke 3 years ago

As I look at this photo two things come to mind.

The first is the grief and horror you must have felt standing there, and how it affected you generally. Then, the harsh reality that this kind of violence, maybe not identical, but none the less violence against innocent people is happening now as I type and these letters show up on the computer screen.

While I may not be able to change what happened here or even what is happening now - I think the lesson we can take from this photo is to be just a little kinder to the person next to us. There is no excuse not to do just that much. We never know where loving kindness energies can flow to..

Thank you for sharing this Balazs - I am glad to see it published.
Phyllis

Balazs Pataki As far as I can remember I wasn't really shocked by what I saw, probably because of the adrenaline rush of that day, but the smell was unbearable even though it was cold winter. To me, this experience more or less explaned what "carpe diem" really means, and it was a good lesson for life. Thanks Pyllis - thoughtful like always.

Niels Christian Wulff 3 years ago

I think it is nice too see somthing like this published here on 1x.

Well made.

/Wulff

Balazs Pataki I am also surprised, but regret that a less gory and - photo-wise - much better shot was rejected. C'est la vie. Now the esteemed is saturated with this series, but maybe some time later I'll try a re-upload. Thanks Niels, and thanks again to all those brave pro votes...

Frank Michael Helferich 3 years ago

It is a fascinating and horrible document at the same time.
I agree: pictures like this should be published.

Balazs Pataki I too wish there would be many great PJ shots (this is not a great shot, but a great document I believe) to learn from. Thanks Frank.

Colmar Wocke 3 years ago

Balasz,

What a Christmas.

Not nice to see.

But, thanks for showing it here.

Colmar

Balazs Pataki
Revolutionäre Märtyrerin Angela Sava
? nach Augenzeugenberichten ?

Temeswar, 17. Dezember. Gegen 20 Uhr zog ein Demonstrationszug von der Reformierten Kirche in Richtung Kathedrale, eine Gruppe von ca. acht Personen, darunter Angela Elena Sava, an der Spitze. Als die Gruppe, die sich ca. 20 Meter vor den restlichen Demonstranten befand, Losungen skandierend die Mihai-Viteazul-Brücke überquerte, fielen ohne Vorwarnung Schüsse. Die Demonstranten rannten in alle Richtungen, viele stürzten, Panzerwagen fuhren über am Boden Liegende. Aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach wurde vom Capitol-Kino her geschossen, aus Richtung der dort zwischen dem Bekleidungsgeschäft und der Eminescu-Statue neben dem Kino postierten Soldaten, die den Zugang zum Zentrum versperrten.

Aus der Gruppe der 8 fielen drei Revolutionäre: Angela, ein Jugendlicher namens Ghita und dessen Freundin. Letztere erhob sich sogleich wieder, sie stand unter Schock, war aber ansonsten unverletzt. Der Jugendliche, obwohl selbst verletzt, versuchte Angela zu helfen. Als er sie bewegte, sah er die Blutlache und erkannte ihren kritischen Zustand. Er hob Angela hoch und trug sie zum Taxistand. Auch auf dem Weg ins Krankenhaus hielt er sie in seinen Armen. Angela war am Kopf verletzt, sie blutete stark, lebte aber noch. »Ce se intampla cu mine?« (»Was geschieht mit mir?«), fragte sie, als sie kurzzeitig das Bewusstsein wiedererlangte. Ghita sprach beruhigend auf sie ein. Im Krankenhaus trug er Angela, da es so sicherer war, in seinen Armen bis zur dritten Etage hoch.

Am 18. Dezember informierte jemand von Kandia (Angelas Arbeitsstätte) ? er war in jener Gruppe von acht Demonstranten ? Angelas Schwester über die Vorkommnisse. Obwohl dieser der Zugang zum Krankenhaus durch die Securitate verwehrt wurde, gelang es ihr, Gewissheit zu erlangen: Angela war tatsächlich dort, jedoch ... tot. Sie war den Folgen der Schussverletzung am Kopf erlegen. Am nächsten Tag war der Leichnam Angelas verschwunden ... (vgl. S. 40f). Heute erinnert in Temeswar ein Straßenname an die Heldin und Märtyrerin der Revolution: »Intrare Sava Angela, martir«.

http://www.uwedetemple.de/

Paul van Geldrop 3 years ago

Such a strong message which makes me choke up. The real world is a cruel place.

If there was a button with Happy Favorites and Sad Favorites i would have added it to my favorites. I use my favorites to spoil my brain so to say. Luckily the search button works great and your war pictures are easy to find when i want some realism.

Thank you for sharing such an incredible picture.

Balazs Pataki Dank u well Paul. I am not surprised no one has added this as a fav...

Robert 3 years ago

This is unbelievable! And you was there? My great respect to you. The child there makes me sad very much. I read about the sad history in Romania and i was shocked! So gruel whats happen to the people. Your picture is a good memory on that bad time and still remind me on what is happen right now in this very moment!
A good document Balazs!

Balazs Pataki Robert, as a German-speaker, may I recommend you the site of an author who wrote a recommendable book about this events:
http://www.uwedetemple.de/
Danke!

Robert Such things are unbelievable! Tears running out reading this!

Balazs Pataki Thanks for the comment Robert...

doro rapp 3 years ago

well..Balazs...good on you for showing some of the "real" world, I saw you were preparing and discussing beforehand and I feel it is very good that it got published. everyday we hear about atrocities somewhere on the world without being able to really grab the impact...
these humans all look to me like they are just asleep...they should move any time..stand up, end that nightmare view...but no - lives taken - for what?...

Balazs Pataki I'm also happy to see this through and my thanks goes to all who made it possible. See, this was 20 years ago but the same shit still happens around the world, from Iran to China.

Tim Corbeel 3 years ago

Very strong image!

Balazs Pataki Thank you Tim.

Ricky Siegers 3 years ago

Balazs it's so cold and very strong ...another world class photo from you.
I am speechless too, may they rest in peace.

Balazs Pataki I do not think it's world class, but the event certainly was. Romania was probably the only country where at least the worst of the bad guys got what they deserved. Best Christmas ever.

JBA 3 years ago

I'm just lucky I've never had to witness anything like this. Very powerful stuff Balazs. . . The baby is such a shocking thing to see. May they rest in peace.

Balazs Pataki Yes, RIP. Thanks JBA.

latoday 3 years ago

I´m freezing...

How can so many horrible things like this happen?

Balazs Pataki And I ask myself how could a dictator, who ordered all this, for decades be regarded a popular statesman and honoured with the highest decorations of Western Europe, from France's Legion d'Honneur to Britain's Order of Bath, not to mention the professor emeritus titles awarded to him and his analphabet wife by the most famous US universities?

Codrin Lupei 3 years ago

Balazs, don't know what could be said about this, but I'm really happy to see it published! Many thanks for sharing all of them!

Balazs Pataki One of the reasons I published this series here is, that while our countries are not at the best terms, our peoples can still live in friendship, and one should not forget those days when this was more obvious than ever.

KPK 3 years ago

Makes me speechless.

Balazs Pataki What to say? Thanks KPK.

johnpainter 3 years ago

Wow. The baby is...unspeakable. This is what documentary photography is all about. In a way, I wish you had more substantial equipment with you to more perfectly push this information in the face of the world.

Balazs Pataki At that time, this was all the equipment I had. Didn't photograph much else than funny moments in our school class. I regret it, maybe it could have pushed me in the direction of a career in photojournalism while there still was a chance for it.

Dan C. H. 3 years ago

I agrre with John. This needs to be documented. I'm not sure though, that 1x is the place for a picture like this. No matter how important this picture is I wouldnt call it art, and isn't 1x a site for the art of photography?
I'm not sure about this, just reflecting...
Regards Dan

Balazs Pataki Maybe 1x is not a place for pictures like this because there aren't many photojournalism/contemporary documentary photos in the gallery. There is a documentary channel however, to which this subject belongs. I had my doubts before submitting this to screening, asked in the forum and Ralf OK-ed it. It could have been still rejected and spent a record time in screening (almost a week), but passed through eventually.

John Parminter 3 years ago

I don't think this horrible it's just a documentary record of the worst of human behavior. Still needs to be photographed in my opinion, it makes me stop and reflect on what some folk are capable of.

JP

Balazs Pataki I agree with both of you. Especially because there's more than meets the eye here... Thanks for the comment, John.

Roger Madsen I ment that the scene, or the event or wathever you want to call it is horrible.. I agree that it should be photographed.. but it would be nice to at least get a warning before being showed these kind of pictures.. just like there is with nude pictures.

John Parminter I know what you meant Roger and I wasn't disagreeing with your view. I was only stating that I don't find the image horrible, but yes the act of people doing this to others is.

Roger Madsen 3 years ago

Horrible.. Like for the nude pictures there should be some kind of warning for pictures like these..

Balazs Pataki I rather agree. Photojournalism is sadly underrepresented on OE so I doubt if anyone would ever use it, though.

Andre du Plessis 3 years ago

Hey Balazs. This is heartsick stuff. That baby...

moses stell 3 years ago

ooohhh my GOD!.......
is there a baby Balasz...?

Balazs Pataki Yes, and look carefully... The row of dead was used as a PR coup. After a few months, when the dust settled down, people began to ask if the bodies were really victims of the revolution, since some were in different states of decay, and there were suspicions that while most might have indeed been victims, some "ordinary" bodies were added from the hospital morgue. We don't know the truth, but let's give them the benefit of doubt...

Glen Ballis, Thomas Parsons, Yuan Atmojo and 9 more people added this to favorites

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