1555318_742039732487881_460370728_nThe Ukraine is in the throes of a popular uprising,
against its regime, which is becoming ever more repressive. Much of the mainstream media
presents the image of a confrontation taking place between the two statist political
factions in Ukraine: The governing coalition, led by President Yanukovich, which has
recently backed away from a trade agreement with the EU, and is developing a close
subservient relationship with Russia; and the smaller nationalist opposition, headed by
the parties called the Blow, Homeland and Freedom, opposing this development and seeking
to attach Ukraine more strongly to the EU. ---- This image is far from representing
reality. The nationalist opposition is attempting to ride the wave of popular protest,
which has broken out due to measures taken by the Ukrainian state.
On January 16th, the state of Ukraine enacted a body of legislation narrowing the already
limited space of organization and expression in a democratic regime: The criminalizing of
unauthorized public protest; the weakening of procedural restrictions on initiation of
legal action against subjects; the facilitation of holding in-abstentia legal proceedings;
criminalization 'responsibility' for 'extreme' acts and the disruption of public orders by
others, including administrative fines; et cetera. The combination of these laws, and the
expected nature of their application, will make the Ukraine into a semi-Totalitarian state.
The masses have thus taken to the streets. Hundreds of thousands rising in revolt and
protest in Kiev, and large numbers all over the Ukraine. The Ukrainian state is applying
increasing repressive force against the population, by means of the Berkut security
police. The ministry of internal affairs has issued an edict allowing security forces to
shoot to kill; and the use of live ammunition ? rubber-coated and otherwise ?has begun,
including the use of snipers against demonstrators.
We also note with much concern, that among those siding with the government and the
security police, as well as among the nationalists, one observes widespread expressions of
racism, particularly anti-Semitism. There have even been reports of violent anti-Semitic
attacks. It should be mentioned, that the Freedom party is known for its crass
anti-Semitic statements, originally being named the Social-Nationalist Party of Ukraine.
Cases have also been reported of Berkut forces seizing injured protesters from their
hospital beds; and of corpses discovered after having been tortured before death.
Most protesters are not supporters of the nationalist right-wing; most of them are
motivated by their resistance to the oppressive measures of the state ? the parliament,
the security forces and the Yanukovich government, all together. We also share the
widely-held view, that the forces of the extreme right are effectively 'Trojan horses' of
the Yanukovich government, and their aspirations are essentially to replace the existing
government, to take hold of positions in the security apparatuses ? not to weaken the
state's oppressive powers.
We express our support for the protests and revolt, calling:
? For wide-spread participation in the popular uprising ? while steering clear of the
right-wing forces.
? For initiating processes of collective reflection and development of consciousness, in
popular assemblies and other fora, which will allow a transcendence beyond the hollow
choice between different statist forces.
? For organization of collective defense, both from the marauding state security forces
and from racist and anti-Semitic gangs which pose a threat to minority groups.
? For organization of mass defection by the rank-and-file soldiers in the Ukrainian
military, lest the government attempt to mobilize it to ensure the successful repression
of the uprising.
? For a general society-wide reorganization in the Ukraine, a recovery from the
destruction and terrible deterioration of material conditions in the past decades, towards
an Anarchist revolution in all aspects of social life.
? For the raising of awareness in other countries to the situation in the Ukraine, and for
activities in support of the uprising outside the Ukraine.
The Ukrainian masses are joining other popular protests in recent years, attempts to break
the yoke of oppressive regimes. People in the Arab east have also thus risen against their
oppressors: The people of Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and elsewhere. Some of these
uprisings have not attained their desired results; some were derailed from their due
course; and some deteriorated into bloody civil wars. As we stand in support of the
Ukrainian masses, so do we wish the Arab peoples to succeed in crossing these dire
straights ? towards a future free of local oppressive states and indirect control by
Capitalist Imperialism.
Unity ? Anarcho-Communist Organization
Palestine/Israel, January 25th 2014
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