Interview with  Dan Ușurelu, border police officer at the Ungheni  Customs

Dan Uşurelu became known to the public a week ago, following his posts on a social networking site. In his message, the policeman claims his support for Maia Sandu’s government and disobedience to the “old government.” “Yes, I’m a policeman, I took a credit, but as far as I know, I’m apolitical. If you want, you can fire me, if you want, fabricate criminal cases against me, you can do that, but I do not admit or I do not obey to the old government! You should accept your failure just as I take the risk of being fired by you, by the way, illegally. I am young, I am 22 years old, and I want to work in my home country instead of going abroad, though I intend to. Did you raise my salary? No, I do not think so, because you cut it off. Look how much I pay for the rented house, bills, food, etc., and how much money is left to survive. I want to make my family home, not abroad, I want to have children, but I cannot do it, it costs too much”, says the policeman in his post.

We contacted Dan and asked him what caused him to post such a message, but also about his work at the Border Police.

– How is the work of a border police officer? 

I have been a border guard for 2 years and I can say that our work is not as easy as such. Being a border policeman, it’s like being a tree. Just as the tree endures cold, warmth, rain, snow, so a border guard passes through all of this, he endures all these and goes ahead. I activate in the Green Sector, that means I am equipped, armed for 10 hours at the border of the country. And in the days when I do not work on shifts, anyway, I have to be ready to the sound of the alarm and I have to respond immediately and go out on duty. A good border policeman must be brave, fast, but also calm and handle the situation. Our work involves direct contact with people, so it is important to be respectful and kind.  Positions (jobs) come and go, but being a human is the most important. Teachers taught us that we need to be fair, to put the truth at the forefront, so no one can blame us and do not force us to do things we do not want to.

– Why did you want to become a border police officer?

– It’s my childhood dream. In primary school, when the teacher asked me what I wanted to be, I replied that I would be a policeman. Then the teacher told me that I could not be a policeman as I had a weak character. That made me ambitious. Now, when she goes to Romania and crosses the border, she says she is proud of me and tells my colleagues that I am her disciple. I love justice, that’s why I wanted to do my work honestly. I may be weak but I’m strong and brave, I believe you could see that in my posts.

–  If you mentioned the posts, what made you be so vocal?

– I made the posting, being aware of the illegalities. It was a new government, but the force structures continued to obey to the old regime. As I say in my post, we must be apolitical and respect the law. We have to work for the benefit of the citizens, not for the benefit of those who give orders. I wanted to express my vision of a citizen and call my colleagues not to be afraid to speak. Even in the state structure where I work, there are voices who, like me, disagree with the system and the latest political events, but do not dare to say their opinions. They are not doing so because they risk losing their job. Some of them will retire soon, so they choose to keep quiet. Young people do not talk because they took credits and they have to pay them back. I had nothing to lose, I took the risks, my dignity was more important than anything.

 – You say in your post, “if you want, fire me, if you want, fabricate criminal cases on my name, you can do it”, it is known that there are precedents. Some have tried to speak and they suffered. Weren’t you afraid?

– I took the risks. I have a clean consciousness; I know justice will win in the end. I’m not a naive.  This credo guided me when I went to study and to work and I like my job. When I saw that something went wrong with this principle, I spoke; I do not take my words back. I assumed everything I wrote.

– Shortly after the first post, you came with another message, a call to the policemen, saying, “I know what keeps you at this job, it is exactly what kept me up today, the credits and the amount that we have to return to the state for studies. Do not be afraid, be with people”.  What credit and what fee for education?

– I studied at the National Border Police College in Ungheni. State paid for our studies, accommodation, food, clothing, so we owe to the state 80,000 lei. After graduation, you’re forced to work in the field. The debt takes you 5 years of work. I have been working at the border for two years, so in case of dismissal, I will have to return a sum of 40,000 lei to the state. There are colleagues who have not resisted and resigned, so they owe to the state huge sums of money. Out of 99 graduates in that year, about 30 resigned after a period of work and they must return the money. You no longer resist the regime and the salary is not a motivating one.. I work in constructions too. If I work today, 12 hours, tomorrow morning, by the evening, I make money in construction, then I work at night at the border. After I work in shifts that day, the next day, I do not go to sleep, I go back to hard work, and I just rest at night. What do you risk in such conditions? With such a salary? How much can you keep silent?  As for credit – I took a credit; I wanted to buy a car. It happened that I lost the car and I have to pay the credit. When I was at the market to buy a car, I realized that the prices are too high. I used the money for something else.

– How did your family, colleagues, your bosses react to your post? 

–  When I got home at night, I received messages from colleagues. Some people said they share my opinion, but they cannot say it openly. I would lie if I say that in that morning, on my way to work, I had no emotions. I was ready to answer any question. I received several retorts: “What are you doing? Be careful!”. I was told I did not respect the Constitution. What do you mean I do not respect the Constitution? Just because I respect the Constitution, I wrote what I wrote. At home, Dad asked me if I’m fine, if I did not do some wrong things, and if I know what I’m doing. I assured him that I did not do anything wrong and that justice is by my side.  My girlfriend reacted very badly to what happened, she called me all the time, and if I could not answer, she was worried, that is why, I decided not to say anything to my mother. I did not want her to worry anymore. Now the situation is back to normal and I can tell it to my mother. I do not fear to on the street.

– How do you think, why did your posts become so popular? 

– I did not expect that everything I write will cause so many reactions. The people commented strongly that I am brave, that I will be a general, that I am the policeman of truth. I do not remember exactly who wrote this to me, but I will not forget the message, “Guy, I do not know who you are, I do not know what’s going on with you, but you’re brave! Let God protect you! “After such messages, how can you not get courageous? I think postings have become popular because I said what most people think. I know, even if not all of us have the courage to say openly, many of our people think and feel the same. I noticed that many of those who left this country, have reacted. They suffer even more, probably. They did not leave voluntarily, they were forced. Here they worked for small salaries, just like me. Now, abroad, they are still working hard to maintain their families. Only they know the difficulties they go through. I said what hurts everybody. That’s my explanation!

– The new government was declared constitutional, how do you find the news? 

– I felt proud, that proved that I was right. This demonstrates that you cannot be against all nation and violate the law. I’m considered a hero in my family, many colleagues wrote to me in the evening, after the PDM announced that it retreated from power. They told me that I was a fighter. They thanked me because I had the courage to say what they did not dare to say.

– What are your expectances from the new leadership?

– The new government is trustworthy and has a lot to do. I realize that after such a crisis, it’s hard to get back to normal, but not impossible, when people are upright and have political will. We must have salaries and pensions that will allow us a decent living. We need to fight corruption and I think that’s possible. Border police need better working conditions. Winter is very cold, we survive, summer is very warm, we, equipped, dressed, have to survive. That, over the years, leaves consequences. I do not want to be Dan Uşurelu who became known to the public a week ago, following his posts on a social network. In his message, the policeman claims his support for Maia Sandu’s government and disobedience to the “old government.” „Yes, I’m a policeman, I took a credit, but as far as I know, I’m apolitical. If you want, dismiss me, if you want,  release me, if you want, fabricate criminal cases on my name, you can do that, but I do not admit or do not obey to the old government! Accept the failure just as I take the risk of being released by you, by the way, illegally. I am young, I am 22 years old, and I want to work at home, not to go abroad, though I intend to. Did you raise my salary? No, I do not think, because you cut it off. Look how much I pay for the rented house, bills, food , etc., and how much money left to survive. I want to make my family home, not abroad, I want to have children, but I cannot do it, it costs too much”, says the policeman in his post. I called Dan and asked him what caused him to post such a message, but also to speak about his work at the Border Police. I do not want to be forced to work in constructions anymore. I’m young; I want to go out with the boys to play football in the evening. By the end of the month, our staff speaks about salary. I pay for rent, bills, food, and I cannot handle it, but my colleagues, who have families, children, how can they live out of salary?

– How do you see Moldova in the future?

Moldova is very beautiful. If we work honestly, if we respect the law, the country will also become prosperous. Everyone needs to do what they do best, but also to be motivated for their work. I believe and I hope that Moldova will have an independent judiciary and the people who were unfairly convicted will be released. I mean my professor Gheorghe Petic, whom I am sure he is innocent. A man, who repeats that the most important thing in life and work is the clean consciousness, that you can sleep peacefully,  could not commit some crimes.

– Do you have a message for the youth from our country?

– I think that young people need to be heard. I know that change will not come immediately, but we do not have to give up. If we are united, we will succeed. I think it’s not justified the saying “I’m going abroad; I do not care what’s going on here.” If so, what would remain of Moldova? Even more damning is the fact that some young people accept the 200 lei to go to protests. Do you really sell your dignity for 200 lei? Today they give it to you, but tomorrow, they will take it from our parents. We, young people are the future of this country; we need to get involved, to talk, to change things.

– What are your future plans? 

– I love justice and I want to become a lawyer. I’m sure I will become a good lawyer, but in a healthy system, free of corruption, free of selective justice. That’s why, I work in construction, I save money for studies. I hope to be a student again this autumn. Also, I want to make a family. I am young, I know how to work, and I will be successful!