Saturday, November 26, 2005
SENT NOV. 25, 2004, or DAY 4 of the OR
ITS GOT A NAME: THE ORANGE REVOLUTION
Greetings Friends,
Headlines of many newspapers in Ukraine today read: ORANZHEVA REVOLUTSIJA (ORANGE REVOLUTION)! Thus events in Ukraine now have a name, and what is being born out of this revolution, out of this turning of the wheel, is the chore of a new Ukrainian civic nation.
That is, despite what far too many western journalists continue to write today (such as an article from Reuters on the Yahoo website just now), Ukraine is not that divided of a nation. The major division obtaining today is between the people and the illegitimate leadership, between the majority and a leadership with a weak and dwindling base of power in society. In truth, at least 60% if not more actually voted for Jushchenko; and more importantly, more and more are switching sides, joining the revolt. Witness, as I reported yesterday, the demonstrations that began for Janukovych in areas traditionally thought to be in his camp that by end of the day had become pro-Jushchenko rallies (such as in Cherkassy). And witness the fact that wherever there were pro-Janukovych demos, pro-Jushchenko rallies also took place. The authorities' power base is dwindling. What authorities are hoping is that the energy of the people will also dwindle. That is all they can hope for now--the only other method they have at hand is use of violence.
With that, as the crisis of legitimate authority deepens in Ukraine, there are signs emerging today of a parallel society taking shape. That is, much like the oligarch's illegitimate domination of the economy this past thirteen years has forced upon Ukrainians the choice of building their own shadow economy, it appears that today the continuing, illegitimate rule of authorities is triggering the formation of a shadow society of sorts that recognizes Jushchenko as President. Recall what I reported yesterday about towns refusing to recognize the elections as legitimate; add to it Jushchenko's symbolic taking of the presidential oath. Also add to it today the rumor that many towns are publically declaring Jushchenko their president. Also, activists in the city of Kirovohrad planned to hold a symbolic trial in absentia of those officials of the Kirovohrad state administration who are accused of participating in falsification of the vote. In Uzhhorod today, 16,000 protestors stood in front of state administration buildings, demanding that officials come and face the people. Ukrainians are waiting for the illegitimate authorities to step out of the way so that the society they are starting to build without them can step into the light with Jushchenko as President.
Would this constitute a coup de etat, as the authorities claim? No. Coups occur from the top down in total disregard of popular opinion. When one leader is removed and another is swept into power on the wings of a popular uprising, that is called a revolution. And revolutions occur when governments have failed to meet the needs of the majority of people, who then withdraw their support of the government. And this is precisely what is happening in Ukraine at the moment.
However, although things look very hopeful, the end and ultimate success is not yet in sight.
Events on the gournd in Ukraine are proving however, that there is indeed, at long last, a nascent civil society in Ukraine, and with that, that there is a civic sense of Ukrainianness that unites all of Ukraine's diverse cultures and peoples. It is up to the illegitimate authorities to decide whether there will be violence perpetrated against the will of this civic nation waiting to be fully born. And they should think carefully: is the support of maybe 1/3 or a little more of the population enough to support them through a crack-down?
But also--and this is very important--Jushchenko needs to see and hear from his supporters, the clear majority of the population of this country, that they are willing to stand with him through to the end. That is, with authorities still posing as legitimate rulers (with of course only the CIS recognizing them now), Janukovych has made statements that he is "willing to cooperate and negotiate with the opposition," and rumors are floating of offers being made by authorities to Jushchenko and the opposition leaders that a compromise government be established with Janukovych as president and Jushchenko as PM--in essence, they are tempting Jushchenko into betraying revolution and fundamental change for compromise and simple reform. Jushchenko has today firmly rejected all such offers; it is clear that most people on the streets will only accept a handover of power to Jushchenko. To my mind, Jushchenko is clearly a man with the strength of character to not capitulate to any such tactics. But what he needs now more than ever is a display of the willingness to keep on fighting, a further display of the true and genuine strength of the Ukrainian people .
And this he is getting. The energy is not dieing down; recall what I have already written about Kirovohrad and Uzhhorod. And right now I am back in Ternopil, where things continue to simmer. There is now a stage set-up on the central Theater Square, and there are entertainers. The crowd remains huge. Students and PORA! activists have pitched tents and are staying the night. And upon arrival in town today, I saw a huge caravan of taxis and buses flying Ukrainian and Orange flags heading out of town, the lead car and many others displaying signs "DO KYJEVA ZA UKRAJINU (TO KYIV FOR UKRAINE)!" This is precisely what Jushchenko and those in the capital need: reenforcements. I have been busy encouraging young people in Pidhajtsi to either go to Kyiv or Lviv. [note: what I meant was, some of us had been traveling to other villages in the Pidhajtsi county, telling people that those in Kyiv already need to come back home for a rest, but that they would not come back unless they knew that others were on the way to replace them. We also told people that we could give them 100 UAH or $20, a third of an average month's wage, for the trip, and that once there, our people from Pidhajtsi were already organized and would find them a place to stay and food to eat. I finally made it to Kyiv toward the end of the street demos.] I plan myself to head with a bunch of people this weekend to Lviv, possibly on to Kyiv thereafter. The movement is continuing, and energy is not being lost--especially not as we head into the weekend.
This weekend, my gut tells me, will prove critical.
So, now some news:
In Kyiv, thousands demonstrated in front of the Russian Embassy to demand the removal of Russia special police from the capital.
Also in Kyiv, about 1,000 Janukovych supporters demonstrated in front of the parlaiment today, while Jushchenko demonstrators also stood on the streets and Jushchenko supporters drove in cars, circling around the parlaiment building.
Also, I forgot to mention before, over 150 tents have been set up on the central Independence Square, and people have been staying the night, despite the cold and the snow.
More buses are reported to be arriving in the capital, Kyiv, from Donetsk, full of men (which means that they are most likely coming as provocateurs).
Oleksandr Moroz of the Socialist Party and Julija Tymoshenko of what is called the Julija Tymoshenko Bloc, who along with Jushchenko form a kind of triumvirate guiding the opposition, began talking today about the opposition seizing control and power in Kyiv by blockading and controlling roads and rails to and fro the capital. This is a huge threat to the power of authorities, and if it is to happen, will be very provocative. Such actions--the building of barricades, seizing control of the means of transportation, are major moments in the history of every major revolution. There is also talk of storming the state TV--not from Moroz or Tymoshenko, but in the general ether. All of this could seriously provoke the illegitimate authorities.
I forgot also to mention that yesterday, Jushchenko, Moroz, Tymoshenk and other leaders of the opposition met with Interior Ministry officials in Kyiv, officials who allegedly gave promises that they would refuse to obey orders to open fire on demonstrators if such an order were to come from President Kuchma.
Janukovych today repeated his call to open dialogue between the opposition and the illegitimate authorities.
Both the US and the EU declared today that they do not recognize the election.
Russian deputies warn the US and EU not to meddle with Ukraine.
Kuchma still has not ceritified the results of the election--the last step in declaring Janukovych (the illegitimate) President. What is he waiting for? What is he afraid of? Perhaps he's hoping that the revolution taking place isn't real. Maybe he thinks he's asleep and all of this is a bad dream. But seriously, authorities greatest hope at the moment is that things will quiet down--and no doubt, Kuchma's giving a final OK at the moment will bring things to a boil.
Then today, I was listening to an independent Ukrainian radio station [Radio Era] that had someone on who was talking about all the violations in the town of Donetsk. A caller from Kyiv phoned in to say, in perfect Ukrainian, that he was from Donetsk, and that he has many friends there who speak Ukrainian and voted for Jushchenko and that he himself voted for Jushchenko and that he couldn't understand why the speaker was saying such terrible things about Donetsk. The speaker repsonded with saying in general, "Sir, I am not saying that no one in Donetsk is for Jushchenko--on the contrary, I am saying that your voices there are not being heard! We're talking about the massive falsification of the vote there, and you confirm for me that there are voices in Donetsk that are not being heard!"
Also, this radio station today is periodically giving instructions on how to stay warm, on signs of hypothermia, and is also reporting on the need for solidarity and mutual support.
Also, I saw a new flag today flying over heads in Ternopil: it was a white flag with the SOLIDARITY written across it in orange.
With that, I want to say there is nothing like the feelings of hope and inspiration that comes of millions of people working together to fight for a better future.
Peace and Love,
Stefan
Greetings Friends,
Headlines of many newspapers in Ukraine today read: ORANZHEVA REVOLUTSIJA (ORANGE REVOLUTION)! Thus events in Ukraine now have a name, and what is being born out of this revolution, out of this turning of the wheel, is the chore of a new Ukrainian civic nation.
That is, despite what far too many western journalists continue to write today (such as an article from Reuters on the Yahoo website just now), Ukraine is not that divided of a nation. The major division obtaining today is between the people and the illegitimate leadership, between the majority and a leadership with a weak and dwindling base of power in society. In truth, at least 60% if not more actually voted for Jushchenko; and more importantly, more and more are switching sides, joining the revolt. Witness, as I reported yesterday, the demonstrations that began for Janukovych in areas traditionally thought to be in his camp that by end of the day had become pro-Jushchenko rallies (such as in Cherkassy). And witness the fact that wherever there were pro-Janukovych demos, pro-Jushchenko rallies also took place. The authorities' power base is dwindling. What authorities are hoping is that the energy of the people will also dwindle. That is all they can hope for now--the only other method they have at hand is use of violence.
With that, as the crisis of legitimate authority deepens in Ukraine, there are signs emerging today of a parallel society taking shape. That is, much like the oligarch's illegitimate domination of the economy this past thirteen years has forced upon Ukrainians the choice of building their own shadow economy, it appears that today the continuing, illegitimate rule of authorities is triggering the formation of a shadow society of sorts that recognizes Jushchenko as President. Recall what I reported yesterday about towns refusing to recognize the elections as legitimate; add to it Jushchenko's symbolic taking of the presidential oath. Also add to it today the rumor that many towns are publically declaring Jushchenko their president. Also, activists in the city of Kirovohrad planned to hold a symbolic trial in absentia of those officials of the Kirovohrad state administration who are accused of participating in falsification of the vote. In Uzhhorod today, 16,000 protestors stood in front of state administration buildings, demanding that officials come and face the people. Ukrainians are waiting for the illegitimate authorities to step out of the way so that the society they are starting to build without them can step into the light with Jushchenko as President.
Would this constitute a coup de etat, as the authorities claim? No. Coups occur from the top down in total disregard of popular opinion. When one leader is removed and another is swept into power on the wings of a popular uprising, that is called a revolution. And revolutions occur when governments have failed to meet the needs of the majority of people, who then withdraw their support of the government. And this is precisely what is happening in Ukraine at the moment.
However, although things look very hopeful, the end and ultimate success is not yet in sight.
Events on the gournd in Ukraine are proving however, that there is indeed, at long last, a nascent civil society in Ukraine, and with that, that there is a civic sense of Ukrainianness that unites all of Ukraine's diverse cultures and peoples. It is up to the illegitimate authorities to decide whether there will be violence perpetrated against the will of this civic nation waiting to be fully born. And they should think carefully: is the support of maybe 1/3 or a little more of the population enough to support them through a crack-down?
But also--and this is very important--Jushchenko needs to see and hear from his supporters, the clear majority of the population of this country, that they are willing to stand with him through to the end. That is, with authorities still posing as legitimate rulers (with of course only the CIS recognizing them now), Janukovych has made statements that he is "willing to cooperate and negotiate with the opposition," and rumors are floating of offers being made by authorities to Jushchenko and the opposition leaders that a compromise government be established with Janukovych as president and Jushchenko as PM--in essence, they are tempting Jushchenko into betraying revolution and fundamental change for compromise and simple reform. Jushchenko has today firmly rejected all such offers; it is clear that most people on the streets will only accept a handover of power to Jushchenko. To my mind, Jushchenko is clearly a man with the strength of character to not capitulate to any such tactics. But what he needs now more than ever is a display of the willingness to keep on fighting, a further display of the true and genuine strength of the Ukrainian people .
And this he is getting. The energy is not dieing down; recall what I have already written about Kirovohrad and Uzhhorod. And right now I am back in Ternopil, where things continue to simmer. There is now a stage set-up on the central Theater Square, and there are entertainers. The crowd remains huge. Students and PORA! activists have pitched tents and are staying the night. And upon arrival in town today, I saw a huge caravan of taxis and buses flying Ukrainian and Orange flags heading out of town, the lead car and many others displaying signs "DO KYJEVA ZA UKRAJINU (TO KYIV FOR UKRAINE)!" This is precisely what Jushchenko and those in the capital need: reenforcements. I have been busy encouraging young people in Pidhajtsi to either go to Kyiv or Lviv. [note: what I meant was, some of us had been traveling to other villages in the Pidhajtsi county, telling people that those in Kyiv already need to come back home for a rest, but that they would not come back unless they knew that others were on the way to replace them. We also told people that we could give them 100 UAH or $20, a third of an average month's wage, for the trip, and that once there, our people from Pidhajtsi were already organized and would find them a place to stay and food to eat. I finally made it to Kyiv toward the end of the street demos.] I plan myself to head with a bunch of people this weekend to Lviv, possibly on to Kyiv thereafter. The movement is continuing, and energy is not being lost--especially not as we head into the weekend.
This weekend, my gut tells me, will prove critical.
So, now some news:
In Kyiv, thousands demonstrated in front of the Russian Embassy to demand the removal of Russia special police from the capital.
Also in Kyiv, about 1,000 Janukovych supporters demonstrated in front of the parlaiment today, while Jushchenko demonstrators also stood on the streets and Jushchenko supporters drove in cars, circling around the parlaiment building.
Also, I forgot to mention before, over 150 tents have been set up on the central Independence Square, and people have been staying the night, despite the cold and the snow.
More buses are reported to be arriving in the capital, Kyiv, from Donetsk, full of men (which means that they are most likely coming as provocateurs).
Oleksandr Moroz of the Socialist Party and Julija Tymoshenko of what is called the Julija Tymoshenko Bloc, who along with Jushchenko form a kind of triumvirate guiding the opposition, began talking today about the opposition seizing control and power in Kyiv by blockading and controlling roads and rails to and fro the capital. This is a huge threat to the power of authorities, and if it is to happen, will be very provocative. Such actions--the building of barricades, seizing control of the means of transportation, are major moments in the history of every major revolution. There is also talk of storming the state TV--not from Moroz or Tymoshenko, but in the general ether. All of this could seriously provoke the illegitimate authorities.
I forgot also to mention that yesterday, Jushchenko, Moroz, Tymoshenk and other leaders of the opposition met with Interior Ministry officials in Kyiv, officials who allegedly gave promises that they would refuse to obey orders to open fire on demonstrators if such an order were to come from President Kuchma.
Janukovych today repeated his call to open dialogue between the opposition and the illegitimate authorities.
Both the US and the EU declared today that they do not recognize the election.
Russian deputies warn the US and EU not to meddle with Ukraine.
Kuchma still has not ceritified the results of the election--the last step in declaring Janukovych (the illegitimate) President. What is he waiting for? What is he afraid of? Perhaps he's hoping that the revolution taking place isn't real. Maybe he thinks he's asleep and all of this is a bad dream. But seriously, authorities greatest hope at the moment is that things will quiet down--and no doubt, Kuchma's giving a final OK at the moment will bring things to a boil.
Then today, I was listening to an independent Ukrainian radio station [Radio Era] that had someone on who was talking about all the violations in the town of Donetsk. A caller from Kyiv phoned in to say, in perfect Ukrainian, that he was from Donetsk, and that he has many friends there who speak Ukrainian and voted for Jushchenko and that he himself voted for Jushchenko and that he couldn't understand why the speaker was saying such terrible things about Donetsk. The speaker repsonded with saying in general, "Sir, I am not saying that no one in Donetsk is for Jushchenko--on the contrary, I am saying that your voices there are not being heard! We're talking about the massive falsification of the vote there, and you confirm for me that there are voices in Donetsk that are not being heard!"
Also, this radio station today is periodically giving instructions on how to stay warm, on signs of hypothermia, and is also reporting on the need for solidarity and mutual support.
Also, I saw a new flag today flying over heads in Ternopil: it was a white flag with the SOLIDARITY written across it in orange.
With that, I want to say there is nothing like the feelings of hope and inspiration that comes of millions of people working together to fight for a better future.
Peace and Love,
Stefan
