In March 1989, Silviu Brucan, together with five other Communist dignitaries (Gheorghe Apostol, Alexandru Bârlădeanu, Grigore Răceanu, Corneliu Mănescu, and Constantin Pîrvulescu), signed the open letter known as Scrisoarea celor şase - "The Letter of the Six".[1][2][3][4][5]
The document, which was immediately broadcast on Radio Free Europe, BBC Radio, and Voice of America, was a left-wing critique of the policies of the president Nicolae Ceauşescu,[4][6] and it led to the swift arrest and interrogation of the signatories by the Securitate (the secret police), and then to their internal exile and house arrest at various locations.[2] The Securitate depicted Brucan as one of several "hostile, inveterate, elements" and "the agent of foreign imperialist secret services".[3] Although lacking in actual popular support,[7] the letter was argued to be the among most important and influential acts of opposition during its period, and a notorious break with the tradition of strict obedience and party discipline.[7]
Brucan was sent to a location on the outskirts of Bucharest, in Dămăroaia[2] — the reason for his subsequent colloquial moniker, "The Oracle of Dămăroaia".[8] Despite increased pressure, most contributors to the protest refused to withdraw their statement.[7] Brucan later accused Apostol of having given in to pressures.[9]