US/NATO War on Russia

[Paul Rigby]

Ukraine between powers: Statement of Ukrainian anti-fascist group - See more at: http://kasamaproject.org/threads/entry/u...cist-group

http://kasamaproject.org/threads/entry/u...cist-group

"We have to acknowledge the very unpleasant fact: Ukraine is under a threat of imposing the worst type of dictatorship of the Third World countries: an alliance between the supporters of neoliberal economic policy and the fascist political practice. With the help of such system of rule the new government pushes unpopular reforms that would lead to further impoverishment of the people. And coercive support to such kind of reforms is provided by far-right paramilitary units that should suppress any social protest.

The union "Borotba" calls all citizens of Ukraine opposing to such a development trend - to take part in the activity of the Centre of Anti*fascist Resistance. Anti*-fascism now is not about support of the bankrupt and deposed regime of Janukovich. It is about self*-organizing and uniting all those citizens who don't want to see our country slipping into the abyss of fascist dictatorship.

Instead of a misanthropic ideology of the far-righters, we put forward a set of top-priority demands that should lay a basis for social movement striving to real changes in the country"

The following is a communique of the "Borotba" union and of the Centre of Antifascist Resistance in Ukraine. It first appeared at borotba.org.

Communiqué #3 of the "Borotba" union and of the Centre of Antifascist Resistance

Ukraine is on the brink of fascist dictatorship.

The fascist threat... During the last year the former power and the forces of liberal opposition in Ukraine have made enough so that to make these words sound harmless and prevent Ukrainians from addressing the threat seriously. The pro-government forces used to organize, for their self-advertisement some pseudo-"anti fascist marches" though they failed to take effective actions to prevent the rise of power of the armed nationalist organizations. The oppositional block of liberals and nationalists could easily hit the clumsy rhetoric of the Ukrainian government. As a result, the term "fascism" has become vulgarized, deprived of its historical meaning and even used with a certain irony. Meanwhile, the process of legalization of the extremist far-right ideology in Ukraine was going on at a full pace.

What is fascism? Fascism is a generalized term denoting a bunch of political movements sharing some common ideologic features:

- The idea of superior position of some nations over others. The pervasive belief that a nation and its interests are more important than human rights and freedoms. (while the mere content of the "nation's interest" is being defined by leaders of such movements themselves and mass debates over the issue are suppresed).

It's blind praising of "historical traditions" (again, as they are understood by the right*wing idea-mongers). It's the intrusive belief that the society needs no development, modernization and progress, but rather peculiar "return to the roots", seen as a some magic means that are able to resolve all the problems and contradictions.

It's a hatred towards communism, socialism, ideas of egalitarism and social justice. The fascists set off against these ideas the doctrine of limitless power of the self* proclaimed "social elite" that can drive the cattle into stall'.

The cult of force and violence. Readiness to kill all the political opponents.

And the ideologies of many different nationalist forces that set up a tone to modern Ukrainian policy from the parlamentary party "Svoboda" to newborn "Right Sector" - correspond to these criteria.

Hundreds of thousands came out to the streets of Ukraine so that to protest against the corrupt regime of Janukovich late 2013. Naturally, not all Maydan-*protesters are right*wing radicals (as it was ludicrously claimed by some reactionary propagandists of great* Russian *chauvinism esp. notorious Russian TV star Kysylev and the like). The protest against the bankrupt ruling has gathered people of various beliefs. However, numerous protesters failed to notice that the leadership in this movement was seized by bearers of openly fascist ideology.

It should be stressed that on the Maydan scene there was actually no room to discuss social justice issues or even the most moderate economic reforms that are quite necessary for those who care about interests of the majority of the Ukrainian population, namely - the working class. Along with shoutings "Glory to the nation! Death to the enemy!" the so*-called revolutionaries' have brought to the streets and squares not only red-*black nationalist flags but also the overtly nazi symbols and flags with celtic crosses. Moreover, there appeared a lot of the disgust "wolf crosses" (signs associated with SS) on the walls. Brutal assaults and beatings of political opponents, covered up by so-*called fight against "titushky" or governmental provocators, have become a daily normal practice. And the liberal groups of the protesters have quite consciously turned a blind eye to all these facts, proclaiming a union with far-right extremists a "revolutionary" need and a temporal phenomenon'.

Well, Janukovich's regime has fallen. A new "people's power" has seized control over the most country. Is it high time, maybe, to follow democratic values that were so much discussed at the Maydan? Sadly, the reality suggests that such a hope is futile.

The very first days after the "victory of revolution' saw the destruction of many monuments to V. I. Lenin. One can treat Soviet heritage differently but it is evident that the demolishion of the monuments without any approval of city councils and communities has nothing in common with democratic values.

While repeating ferocious proclamations about the necessity to fight separatist sentiments, MPs of the new majority in Parliament (Rada) remove the law that determines principles of the state language policies, therefore, they limit drastically the rights of Russian and other languages of national minorities in Ukraine. How can this step lead to the unity of the country? On the contrary it will only deepen the contradictions between people in different regions.

Whilst indulging in resonating about the freedom of speech, the our "revolutionaries" introduce the most rigid censorship. The website of the movement "Stop censorship" (while criticizing one of the TV companies in Vinnitsa) threatens the journalists with a visit of armed fighters from the notorious "Right Sector". In the meantime, MPs of "Svoboda" party propose a law limiting the broadcasting of foreign TV channels.

At the same time we witness a real terror-campaign against ideological opponents. Following the pogrom in the central office of the Communist Party of the Ukraine (that was close to the ex-power) , the far-right militants attacked Kiev office of Borotba' union that supports neither former regime nor the present one. The activists of Borotba' are threatened with death. And MP Javorivsky proposed the bill that cancels penalty for negation or public apology of nazi crimes.

The new power has immidiately promised to fight severely against any forceful actions of the opponents to Maydan*. That's why it approved the violence of the militarized nationalists. The new power immediately started legal proceedings against Yevgeny Zhilin, the leader of Kharchiv Anti*-maidan' movement "Oplot". But the leaders of the Right Sector' (like Alexander Musychko, who recently came to the session of Rivne regional council with an assault rifle) are promised to get positions in the Ministry of Interior Affairs

We have to acknowledge the very unpleasant fact: Ukraine is under a threat of imposing the worst type of dictatorship of the Third World countries: an alliance between the supporters of neoliberal economic policy and the fascist political practice. With the help of such system of rule the new government pushes unpopular reforms that would lead to further impoverishment of the people. And coercive support to such kind of reforms is provided by far-right paramilitary units that should suppress any social protest.

The union "Borotba" calls all citizens of Ukraine opposing to such a development trend - to take part in the activity of the Centre of Anti*fascist Resistance. Anti*-fascism now is not about support of the bankrupt and deposed regime of Janukovich. It is about self*-organizing and uniting all those citizens who don't want to see our country slipping into the abyss of fascist dictatorship.

Instead of a misanthropic ideology of the far-righters, we put forward a set of top-priority demands that should lay a basis for social movement striving to real changes in the country:

1. To guarantee equal rights and freedoms for all citizens of the country, regardless of the language used and region of their living.

2. To stop the commercialisation of healthcare and education system, as well as the process of destruction of hospitals and schools. The public services should be accessable to everyone. Otherwise we'll face the further extinction and degrading of our people.

3. To introduce full public control over the process of seting prices and tariffs for public utilities, primary necessities and public transport.

4. To ensure complete realization of the labor legislation as well as decent wages in all enterprises regardless of the form of property. To introduce the system of workers' control in state enterprises.

5. To nationalize the largest enterprises and bring back the control over process of natural resources extraction to the people of Ukraine.

6. To abolish pension reform that raised the pension age. To prevent privatization of pension funds.

7. To liquidate offshore schemes used for transferring out of Ukrainian economy the capital created by labor of millions of Ukrainian people.

8. To create the necessary conditions for open democratic elections of central and local authorities, without predatory practice of bailment for the registration of candidates and party lists. To broaden the power of local authorities. To vest the results of national and regional referenda the with power of laws being mandatory to execute.

You can contact centre of anti-fascist resistance via e mail front@borotba.org. Join our common movement. Start to act now! Together we can save our country!

- See more at: http://kasamaproject.org/threads/entry/u...PANKe.dpuf