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First published on Saturday 26 May 2001: Hampshire Chronicle
Ceaucescu's children
Mike Brown's pictures of Romanian children have shown their plight in a new light. Ali Kefford reports...
THE FIRST casualties of the 1989 Romanian revolution were a band of children, shot dead on the steps of a cathedral. They had fled there in terror from President Ceaucescu's secret police, the securitate. Hoping to take refuge, the group had run down Piata Victorie, in Timisoara. But they were to get no further. For amid the confusion and shouting the priests had locked the doors.
The boys and girls were mown down in a hail of bullets where they stood - the blood of babes spilt on the doorway to God.
A year ago, Hampshire photographer Mike Browne visited the site of the massacre and befriended today's street children. Simply sitting in the road and biting into an apple was all it took to lure these famished urchins from their makeshift hovels. Romania's orphans are the product of one of the most controversial policies of loathed tyrant President Ceausescu, deposed in the 1989 upheaval. When he and his wife were shot by firing squad, pictures of their dead bodies lying in the snow were beamed to shocked audiences worldwide. In Romania itself, few cried at the passing of the corrupt leader.
If they did shed tears, it was probably because they were overcome with relief. Not only had the Ceausescu terrorised his subjects but he had also run up huge international debts in order to fund the building of a sumptuous parliament building. When the debts were called in, the tyrant sold everything to pay back what he owed - and his people starved. The revolution that followed was swift, the army stepping aside to ease its path. But though Ceausescu was soon dead, the effects of his childbirth policy can still be seen everywhere. He decreed that all women under 40 should have five children to help create a Romanian Workers Army. There were gynaecological tests to enforce the policy, contraception was illegal and those unable to support their children handed them over to be raised by the state.
On Ceausescu's fall the country was over-run with destitute youngsters.
Many of the pictures of the orphans that followed showed deeply distressing images of rows of babies, lying six to a cot in their own urine, wailing. One of those touched by their misery was New Milton's Ann Croft who set up charity New Life Into Romania 11 years ago and has been sending aid out there ever since. It was she who commissioned Mike to visit the fledgling Eastern Europe democracy and take pictures for a calendar to raise awareness and funds. What he saw during his ten-day trip reduced him to tears time and time again. But in his pictures Mike set out to capture a brighter side of the children's plight - to portray them as people with dignity and hope. "In most cases the images we see used to ask for aid are, I feel, of an horrific nature. That's not to say there's anything wrong with them and they do a valid job bringing about public awareness," he says. "But I've tried to show there's also another way based on what is possible rather than what isn't. "Rather than offering help from a point of pity or guilt, I want people to fall in love with these children and feel good when they lend a helping hand. "On waste ground near Arad railway station about 25 people from babies to adults were living in a hollow. "Dirty and shouting they swarmed around us when we asked to photograph them. A deal was struck and we bought them bread and sausage in exchange for photos."A woman brought out a dirty plastic table cloth, spread it on the ground and everyone stopped shouting. "Then one man stood up and said grace. "We spent a magical afternoon with these people. Laughing shouting posing and sharing sweets with us and trying on our sun glasses. It was heartbreaking to leave." Mike, 39, of Ramley Road, Lymington, used to drive diggers and trucks before he turned his hand to photography. His career quickly snowballed and he has scooped three prestigious National Fugi awards. Now the success of his Romanian project has ballooned out of all envisaged proportions. Not only have the photographs been used for a calendar, but they have been exhibited around the country - including at the Romanian ambassador's London residence. Back in Romania, a plaque has been put on the wall next to the doors of Timisoara cathedral to commemorate the children shot by Ceaucescu's secret police. So today's children, who live with hope in their hearts, will remember the first young lives cold-heartedly snuffed out during the uprising which freed their country from tyranny. (blob)
You can contact New Life Into Romania by calling 01425 613404. Or visit Mike's website on http://www.mjbrowne.co.uk/new_life/images.htm
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