The National Council for the Study of Security Archives (CNSAS) recently disclosed a letter from a young man in Sighișoara to the radio station Radio Free Europe, in which he requested the broadcast of certain songs. This letter was intercepted by the Securitate, Romania’s secret police, prompting the sender to express his frustration with a curse directed at the censors: “If you stop this letter, I curse you…”
CNSAS noted on Facebook that despite music being a popular pastime for teenagers, the options available during communist Romania were quite limited. Western music, particularly Anglo-American, was seldom featured on radio or television broadcasts. Many youths resorted to clandestinely listening to Western radio stations, with “Metronom,” hosted by Cornel Chiriac on Radio Free Europe, being particularly popular.
Listening to anti-communist foreign radio stations like Radio Free Europe was illegal, yet many young Romanians consistently tuned in to “Metronom,” some even attempting to send letters requesting specific songs or voicing their dissent against the communist regime. Such letters were subject to scrutiny by the Securitate, and those sent to foreign addresses, especially Munich’s radio station, were likely to be intercepted, analyzed, and linked back to their senders.
In January 1970, the letter from the Sighișoara high school student was identified and traced back to him with relative ease, given that there were only two high schools in the town. The authorities were not content with simply identifying the sender; they initiated an extensive investigation into his social circle to send a strong warning to other young people. The Securitate then discovered other teenagers who were corresponding with foreign entities and displayed negative sentiments toward the state. These individuals were interrogated, publicly reprimanded, and pressured to express contrition, often receiving penalties affecting their school conduct grades.
CNSAS issued a caution to today’s youth, particularly those who might romanticize the communist era while enjoying the benefits of democracy: under that regime, individuals could not freely express themselves as they do now.
The full text of the intercepted letter was shared by CNSAS on Facebook. The correspondent, signing off as “BELFEGOR” (a pseudonym) and referring to himself as “Oaie” (a long-standing nickname), addressed Cornel directly, claiming to be a longstanding listener of “Metronom.” He expressed frustration that previous letters had likely been blocked by censors, portraying the regime’s officials as incompetent and corrupt. The writer described his life, lamenting strict educational measures, a lack of integrity among teachers, and the pervasive dishonesty of the political system.
Despite his grievances, the writer maintains a humorous tone, sarcastically discussing the absurdities of the communist ideology, and requests three specific songs to share with his classmates and a friend in Pitești. He signs off with a controversial curse aimed at whoever might intercept his letter, highlighting the desperation and defiance of many young Romanians under the oppressive regime.
This episode is a testament to the resilience and rebellion of youth in the face of a repressive system, contrasting the current advantages of democratic freedoms with the constraints of the past.
