It's sad to see civil unrest spread throughout Ukraine during this past holiday season.
It's also scarry to see the Ukrainian armed forces' plans to mobilize at least 100 thousdand troops this year. See
http://www.nsn-ua.info/index.php/en/vojna/item/1532-the-minister-of-defence-of-ukraine-stepan-poltorak-reports-that-in-2015-should-be-mobilized-about-104-000-people-to-ukrainian-army
I hope that 2015 brings the end of hostilities, foreign interference & aggression, hate, xenophobia, nationalism, political repression and corruption to Ukraine.
We need tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace. If South Africa could do it to end apartheid, then so can Ukraine.
For this to happen, we need to drop hateful slogans and stereotypes as well as get rid of warmongering politicians (on both sides!) and vulture investors (both foreign and domestic) so that we can start the painful but necessary process of reconciliation in order to save Ukraine as an independent nonaligned democratic country.
I hope to see Ukraine as country where all its citizens, regardless of whether they are
- from West or East Ukraine
- Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Pagan or atheist (sorry, Satanists not included)
- Ethnic Russian, Rusyn, Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian, German or Crimean Tartar
- European, Asian or African
- Pro EU or pro Russian Customs Union
- Rich or poor
- capitalist, communist, socialist, anarchist, democrat, republican or monarchist (who knows?)
can live with equal rights and equal protections ensured by a state that's accountable to the people.
Nice slogans, right? But what do need to make this happen?
Here are some of my thoughts & ideas:
1. Immediate end of military activities against the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DNR and LNR).
2. Immediately end the financial and economic blockade of Donetsk coal basin (Donbass), ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, pensions, medical care and education to all Ukrainian citizens, regardless of whether they live on territory controlled by the current Ukrainian government or DNR and LNR.
3. Start of political negotiations over autonomy for Donetsk, Lugansk and any other Ukrainian region (oblast) whose population demands it in a democratic referendum and all local elections of all government officials (including governors, mayors, local parliaments/councils, prosecutors and judges -- just like in the United States, the self-declared beacon and cradle of modern democracy)
4. Amnesty for all combatants (including DNR & LNR separatists) except for those who've committed war crimes as well as for all political prisoners. Also, establish an international commission to investigate war crimes and allow both domestic and international prosecution of war criminals.
5. Immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops and advisors (including Russia and NATO) with the exception of peacekeeping troops whose mandate is accepted by all sides and ensured by international organizations (such as the UN, OSCE, International red Cross and etc.).
6. Prohibition on foreign funding of any political parties and politicians as well as prohibition on foreign citizens holding any government post (unless these foreigners are properly granted Ukrainian citizenship and renounce their foreign citizenship to eliminate conflict of interest and foreign control).
7. Make it mandatory for all government employees, elected officials, political candidates, NGOs and all Ukrainian citizens & residents to declare
- all foreign assets, including bank accounts, real estate, securities and etc.
- employment, provision of services and lobbying (direct or indirect) for foreign governments, foreign individuals, NGOs & foreign corporations
- gifts and other material benefits from any domestic or foreign source in excess of 100 USD or EU
under penalty of civil & criminal prosecution, dismissal from office, permanent lifetime ban on civil service as well as total forfeiture.
8. Commit to staying out of the geopolitical war between the US and its allies (EU & NATO) and Russia, by restoring Ukraine's non-aligned status and refusing to even consider any military bloc (regardless of whether its NATO or a pro-Russian block).
9. Put on hold joining or associating with any economic block (EU or Russia's Customs Union) until the economic ratifications for Ukraine (all of its citizens and industries and not just some favored financial industrial groups) are fully and independently analyzed.
10. Ensure that both Russian and Ukrainian languages have equal and official government status and that any discrimination in Ukraine on the basis of ethnicity, language, religion and/or political views is punishable under civil and criminal law.
11. In order for Ukrainians and the world to see and understand the truth of what's really happening in Ukraine today, ensure freedom of the press, protection of journalists and end all press censorship, including that against Russian media.
12. Ensure the separation of church and state and make sure that the Ukrainian government does not support, advocate for or favor any religious denomination.
Obviously, there's a lot more that can and should be done, but if Ukraine commits to just these twelve points over the next 12 months of 2015, then it has a chance.
I'd like to hear your comments and suggestions, especially those of you with ties too Ukraine and/or Russia.
In the meantime, let's pray that the remainder of 2015 brings only peace and reconcilliation to Ukraine, Russia and America.
