Engineer Ioan Bujoi, a dignified man, thirsty for truth and justice

I will tell you a little episode of which I was the only witness and which I think is conclusive. One morning I was with Bujoiu in his office. A major in uniform came in, said he was an inspector from the Ministry of the Internal Affairs and asked us: “Who is Engineer Bujoiu?”

When Bujoiu stood up and answered “I am”, the major continued: “As head of the technical office, I’m asking you: How many cases of sabotage have you had underground or above ground since the beginning of 1952?”

The reply: “Major, you are in the wrong office. Your question should be addressed to the political officer in charge of such cases, should they occur in the colony”. “I am asking you,” the Major insisted, more bitterly. “My answer,” replied Engineer Bujoiu, “is that you get out of the office or I will get out myself.” And the Major left the office without making any threat. (…)

Engineer Ioan Bujoiu remained in my memory as a dignified man, thirsty for truth and justice, a good organiser and, above all, a good Romanian. Perhaps his family’s Macedonian origins had their effect. After my release, through Nicușor Tanoviceanu, I met Bani Ghica, the former son-in-law of the engineer Bujoiu, a passionate rugby player in his youth and now a leading member of the National Christian and Democratic Peasant Party. I was struck by the love and admiration with which this man, the descendant of a ruler, spoke of “Buju”, his former father-in-law. To say that I remain grateful to Engineer Bujoiu for the balance his presence created in the Baia-Sprie prison colony is perhaps an understatement. I felt in his soul the willingness to sacrifice for the country and for the nation. A sacrifice that was accepted in Văcărești in 1956.

(Nicolae Goga – The Triangle of Death. Memories from Baia-Sprie 1950-1952, ed. Marineasa, Timișoara, 1995, pp. 27, 93)