Miron Cozma
Encyclopedia
Miron Cozma is a former Romanian labor union organizer and leader of Romania's Jiu Valley coal miners' union
. He is best known for his role in leading the miners of the Jiu Valley
during the 1991 riots (the Mineriad
) which overthrew the reformist Petre Roman
government.
In January 1999 Cozma led another series of miner protests, caused by the intention of Radu Vasile
's government to close down several money-losing mines in the Jiu Valley region. Intending to put pressure on the government, Cozma and his miners started marching towards Bucharest
. The miners clashed with the Gendarmerie
at Costeşti
, Vâlcea County
; about 70 miners and 100 gendarmes were wounded and one miner died. Soon after, Prime Minister Radu Vasile held talks with Cozma at Cozia
, and Cozma agreed to end the march and disband the miners.
At the beginning of February of the same year, however, Cozma was sentenced by the Supreme Court of Justice
to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the 1991 mineriad. This quickly prompted a new march of the miners towards Bucharest. This time, special forces intervened and dispersed the miners at Stoeneşti
, Olt
. Cozma and his lieutenants were captured by the police
; Cozma himself was taken to the Rahova
prison to serve his term.
Cozma was a controversial character in the '90s, both within and outside of Jiu Valley. He was pardon
ed by Romanian President Ion Iliescu
on December 15, 2004, only a few days before his final term as President ended, but shortly afterwards revoked the pardon on December 16 stating that it was a mistake.
However, he was released from prison in June 2005 when the cancellation of his pardon was ruled illegal by the Bucharest
Court of Appeal. In September 2005, he was sentenced by the Romania
n Supreme Court
to a 10-year term for the January 1999 Mineriad
. All his sentences were overlapped, so as of June 2006 he still had to serve a 13-month concurrent sentence
in prison.
On June 2, 2006, Miron Cozma's request to be released on parole
was denied by the Parole Commission of the Rahova
Penitentiary. A Bucharest court dismissed his appeal against the decision 2 weeks later.
Cozma could have left the prison 6 months before time as recommended by the Parole Commission on January 3, 2007. Although the decision was upheld by a Bucharest court on January 9, it was overturned on appeal on February 20, 2007.
Miron Cozma was finally released on 2 December 2007, having a restriction on entering Petroşani or Bucharest. Upon leaving Rahova, he flew to Timişoara to meet with his family and friends. He stated in his interviews that certain politicians should have been incarcerated as well, also adding "Spiritul lui Miron Cozma nu moare!" ("The soul of Miron Cozma will never die!")
League of Miners Unions of the Jiu Valley
The Miners Union League of the Jiu Valley represents the miners of the Jiu Valley.-Membership:...
. He is best known for his role in leading the miners of the Jiu Valley
Jiu Valley
The Jiu Valley is a region in southwestern Romania, in Hunedoara county, situated in a valley of the Jiu River between the Retezat Mountains and the Parâng Mountains...
during the 1991 riots (the Mineriad
Mineriad
See also The 1990s: the rise and decline of miners' unionsA Mineriad is the term used to name any of the successive violent interventions of miners in Bucharest. These interventions were generally seen as aimed at wrestling policy changes or simply material advantages from the current political...
) which overthrew the reformist Petre Roman
Petre Roman
Petre Roman is a Romanian politician and a former Prime Minister of Romania. He served from 1989 to 1991, when his government was overthrown by the intervention of the miners led by Miron Cozma. Roman is a member of the Club of Madrid, grouping 66 democratic former heads of state and government...
government.
In January 1999 Cozma led another series of miner protests, caused by the intention of Radu Vasile
Radu Vasile
Radu Vasile is a Romanian politician, historian and poet.-Education and Professional Activity:*1967 - Graduate, with exceptional results, of the Faculty of History - University of Bucharest...
's government to close down several money-losing mines in the Jiu Valley region. Intending to put pressure on the government, Cozma and his miners started marching towards Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. The miners clashed with the Gendarmerie
Jandarmeria Româna
Jandarmeria Română is the military branch of the two Romanian police forces .The gendarmerie is subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform and does not have responsibility for policing the Romanian Armed Forces...
at Costeşti
Costesti, Vâlcea
Costeşti is a commune located in Vâlcea County, Romania. It is composed of four villages: Bistriţa, Costeşti, Văratici and Pietreni....
, Vâlcea County
Vâlcea County
Vâlcea is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia...
; about 70 miners and 100 gendarmes were wounded and one miner died. Soon after, Prime Minister Radu Vasile held talks with Cozma at Cozia
Cozia
Cozia may refer to several places in Romania:*Cozia Monastery*Cozia Mountains, Vâlcea County* Cozia, a village in Cornereva Commune, Caraş-Severin County* Cozia, a village in Cârjiţi Commune, Hunedoara County...
, and Cozma agreed to end the march and disband the miners.
At the beginning of February of the same year, however, Cozma was sentenced by the Supreme Court of Justice
High Court of Cassation and Justice
The High Court of Cassation and Justice is Romania's supreme court, and the court of last resort. It is the equivalent of France's Cour de cassation and serves a similar function to other courts of cassation around the world...
to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the 1991 mineriad. This quickly prompted a new march of the miners towards Bucharest. This time, special forces intervened and dispersed the miners at Stoeneşti
Stoenesti
Stoeneşti may refer to several places in Romania:* Stoeneşti, a commune in Argeş County* Stoeneşti, a commune in Giurgiu County* Stoeneşti, a commune in Olt County* Stoeneşti, a commune in Vâlcea County...
, Olt
Olt County
Olt is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia . The capital city is Slatina.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 489,274 and the population density was 89/km²....
. Cozma and his lieutenants were captured by the police
Romanian Police
The Romanian Police is the national police force and main civil law enforcement agency in Romania. It is subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform.-Duties:The Romanian Police are responsible for:...
; Cozma himself was taken to the Rahova
Rahova
Rahova is a neighbourhood of southwest Bucharest, Romania, situated in Sector 5, west of Dâmboviţa River. It is named after the Bulgarian town Rahovo , site of a battle in the Romanian War of Independence....
prison to serve his term.
Cozma was a controversial character in the '90s, both within and outside of Jiu Valley. He was pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
ed by Romanian President Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
on December 15, 2004, only a few days before his final term as President ended, but shortly afterwards revoked the pardon on December 16 stating that it was a mistake.
However, he was released from prison in June 2005 when the cancellation of his pardon was ruled illegal by the Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
Court of Appeal. In September 2005, he was sentenced by the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n Supreme Court
High Court of Cassation and Justice
The High Court of Cassation and Justice is Romania's supreme court, and the court of last resort. It is the equivalent of France's Cour de cassation and serves a similar function to other courts of cassation around the world...
to a 10-year term for the January 1999 Mineriad
Mineriad
See also The 1990s: the rise and decline of miners' unionsA Mineriad is the term used to name any of the successive violent interventions of miners in Bucharest. These interventions were generally seen as aimed at wrestling policy changes or simply material advantages from the current political...
. All his sentences were overlapped, so as of June 2006 he still had to serve a 13-month concurrent sentence
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
in prison.
On June 2, 2006, Miron Cozma's request to be released on parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
was denied by the Parole Commission of the Rahova
Rahova
Rahova is a neighbourhood of southwest Bucharest, Romania, situated in Sector 5, west of Dâmboviţa River. It is named after the Bulgarian town Rahovo , site of a battle in the Romanian War of Independence....
Penitentiary. A Bucharest court dismissed his appeal against the decision 2 weeks later.
Cozma could have left the prison 6 months before time as recommended by the Parole Commission on January 3, 2007. Although the decision was upheld by a Bucharest court on January 9, it was overturned on appeal on February 20, 2007.
Miron Cozma was finally released on 2 December 2007, having a restriction on entering Petroşani or Bucharest. Upon leaving Rahova, he flew to Timişoara to meet with his family and friends. He stated in his interviews that certain politicians should have been incarcerated as well, also adding "Spiritul lui Miron Cozma nu moare!" ("The soul of Miron Cozma will never die!")