ROMANIA: DEATH OF A DICTATOR : Joy, Sadness Mark Demonstration by Romanian Expatriates in L.A.

Strong and mixed emotions dominated a small demonstration by Romanian expatriates at Los Angeles City Hall on Monday night.

Joy that Nicolae Ceausescu had been deposed as dictator of their homeland combined with sorrow that apparently tens of thousands have died in the process. Hope for a new democratic government was diluted by outrage at the rumored presence of Libyan and Syrian mercenaries fighting on the side of Ceausescu’s police.

About 150 of the approximately 11,000 Romanians living in the Los Angeles area gathered to hold lighted candles and red, blue and yellow Romanian flags--conspicuously lacking the green Communist insignia in the center.

They chanted “Kadafi out of Romania!” and carried signs with such messages as “Ceausescu Anti-Christ is Dead. Ho, ho, ho.”

Virgil Anastasiu, a Panorama City resident who defected from a Romanian merchant ship 3 1/2 years ago, said a private execution was too good for Ceausescu. “Everybody should take a piece of his skin, like they did the Berlin Wall,” he said.

The Romanian Relief Fund is collecting money, food and clothing and will turn all donations over to the Red Cross, spokesman Sergio Onaga said. The mailing address is: 7250 Bandini Blvd., Unit 111, City of Commerce 90040. Further information can be obtained by calling (213) 724-8360 or (213) 724-8362.