Ukraine: Fascism and Realpolitik

[cyu]

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/01/29/ukraine-and-the-rebirth-of-fascism/

For its part, the United States has strongly come down on the side of the opposition, regardless of its political character. as the character of the opposition has become apparent in recent days, the US and Western ruling class and its media machine have done little to condemn the fascist upsurge. Instead, their representatives have met with representatives of Right Sector and deemed them to be “no threat.”

In an attempt to pry Ukraine out of the Russian sphere of influence, the US-EU-NATO alliance has, not for the first time, allied itself with fascists. Of course, for decades, millions in Latin America were disappeared or murdered by fascist paramilitary forces armed and supported by the United States.

There is a disturbing pattern here that has never been lost on keen political observers: the United States always makes common cause with right wing extremists and fascists for geopolitical gain.

beyond Europe, there are a number of quasi-fascist political formations which are, in one way or another, supported by the United States. The right wing coups that overthrew the governments of Paraguay and Honduras were tacitly and/or overtly supported by Washington in their seemingly endless quest to suppress the Left in Latin America.

[tuwix]

I think there is no such simple translation of that what happens in Ukraine to all known politics and especially to Latin American.

Ukrainian rebellion is composed of many forces. Some of them are even anarchist and refer to direct democracy. Decisions on Maidan frequently are taken by votes of all gathered. And there are fascist too indeed having roots in cooperation with Hitler during WWII. But nobody knows what will happen. There even fights between different groups to occupy one ministry. Even we, Russians and Poles, who are culturally closest to Ukraine, really don't know what will happen there.

[Psycho P and the Freight Train]

Maybe it's just my imagination but it seems that there's been a disturbing surge of right wing activity in Europe lately. That being said, I'd say these riots are made up of a lot of different groups with conflicting opinions, it's not so binary.

[cyu]

As in Egypt, you don't just have pro-MB forces and pro-Sisi forces involved. Lots of groups want to determine their own destiny - don't even get me started on the mess that is Syria.

However, I would say that there is a powerful faction within the US foreign policy establishment that is willing to do whatever it takes to isolate Russia (especially after their Snowden decision indicated their willingness to challenge American power) and pull Ukraine into NATO, even if it means military funding for fascists. What would be interesting is if Israel has enough pull within the American administration to prevent that from happening.

[Sasha]

i also posted this article in the other thread but i think its even more relevant here (note, i am in no way a supporter of the AWU, i think their anarchism is pretty confused and i disagree with a lot of their stated positions, but they are the most "left" voice in the opposition camp that regularly makes statements on the situation English language that i so far found)


Euromaidan: “We Support Your Struggle But Not Your Fascists” 2nd Interview with a Ukrainian Anarchist

January 30, 2014 - Revolution News (http://revolution-news.com/category/revnews/), Ukraine (http://revolution-news.com/category/ukraine/) - Tagged: anarchism (http://revolution-news.com/tag/anarchism/), Anti-Government (http://revolution-news.com/tag/anti-government/), Bandera (http://revolution-news.com/tag/bandera/), EU (http://revolution-news.com/tag/eu/), Euromaidan (http://revolution-news.com/tag/euromaidan/), human rights (http://revolution-news.com/tag/human-rights/), Klitschko (http://revolution-news.com/tag/klitschko/), Kyiv (http://revolution-news.com/tag/kyiv/), neo-nazi (http://revolution-news.com/tag/neo-nazi/), protests (http://revolution-news.com/tag/protests/), revolution news (http://revolution-news.com/tag/revolution-news/), Russia (http://revolution-news.com/tag/russia/), Ukraine (http://revolution-news.com/tag/ukraine/), union (http://revolution-news.com/tag/union/)


http://revolution-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kiev1.jpg (http://revolution-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kiev1.jpg)
This interview with a comrade from the Autonomous Workers’ Union (http://avtonomia.net/) in Kiev was done on January 28, 2014. It sheds some light on the events around the EuroMaidan: the array of reasons behind the protests, their focus on the hated president, the differences to the “orange revolution”, the role of the right, the weakness of social struggles and possible scenarios.



Q: Looking at the pictures from Kiev (for instance, here (http://zyalt.livejournal.com/984735.html)) it seems that all kinds of people are at the barricades. In your opinion, what brings them together? What do the people at the barricades and all the supporters discuss? Merely the practical issues of the fight against the cops? Or are there assemblies, or other forms of “organized” debates, at the barricades or elsewhere?
A: The main motive for the protests right now is extreme unpopularity of the president. Of course, the actual reasons are economic crisis, social inequality, corruption, decay of social services, poverty, unemployment – the usual set of grievances which make people go into the streets these days. This is not a leftist dogma; people do speak about all these issues. But nevertheless the force which made them stop grumbling at their kitchens and protest loudly is their feelings towards president Yanukovich. The demand of president’s resignation is the ultimate one; unfortunately, this is the most radical thing people can actually think about.
The second thing is the sheer hatred towards the police forces. But then again, protesters just don’t think there’s anything wrong with the fact that one of the leaders of the protests – Yuriy Lutsenko – himself used to be Minister of the Interior; during that time Berkut and other special police forces existed as usual, and Lutsenko himself had announced that he would disperse protesting crowds with tear gas. So, here, too, protest against police as such (it has extremely bad reputation among all social classes here) is channeled into relatively harmless direction.
The president, his government and police are main subjects of discussions, I guess. Protesters’ main task, as they see it, is to get rid of the Party of Regions, that’s all. A small fraction talks about shifting the balance of power in the constitution from president to parliament. But of course, the main topics are indeed the practical matters – tear gas, food, shields, Molotov cocktails, tactics of street battles, and endless rumors – about the imminent threat of introducing the state of emergency, about snipers and riot police (whether they are Russians or not, whether they intend to fight any longer etc.).
About the assemblies – no, I don’t know anything of the sort. The situation is too dynamic and unstable to do any such things, I guess; so, I don’t see any forms of direct democracy evolving at the barricades right now.
Q: It seems that there are a lot of attacks on or occupations of government buildings, but the “normal” life in the city goes on. Is that so? Are people working during the day and going to the barricades at night in Kiev? What other forms of protest play a role? I heard about university faculties being occupied? Is anything going on at work-places against the late or non-payment of wages, for instance?
A: Yes, that’s true. Only the central parts of Kiev are affected by the protests while in other areas business goes as usual, nothing is interrupted. There were several attempts to declare national political strike but they failed miserably: the opposition doesn’t have any instruments for this, no political organization has a nationwide network of workplace cells, and the people themselves are also simply not used to such thing as strike. The only force that could theoretically do this – the old bureaucratic Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine – is neutral. The student union Direct Action is trying to organize students’ strike – so far they’ve partly managed to do this only in one university, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. So, yes, most people work or study, spending their free time at the barricades.
There’s an initiative group called Automaidan – car owners who use their vehicles for blocking the traffic, especially in the vicinity of important government sites or near the residences of people in power. One more form of protest employed here is the customers’ boycott of goods manufactured by capitalists who belong to the Party of Regions. It turned out to be relatively successful, at least according to some reports.
There’s been only one university occupation so far, and I’m not sure you can call it that, actually. Our comrades from Direct Action do try to occupy the whole campus and block all activities there but as far as I understand it is not physically occupied yet.
Protests at workplaces concerning wages etc. hasn’t been connected to the political protests so far. For example, workers of Kyivpastrans – the communal enterprise which controls urban transit – held their protests in December, some leftist organizations helped them, but they didn’t go so far as to declare an Italian strike and they didn’t join Maidan. Actually, the local government did their best to pay them all the arrears in the end of December to calm them down.
Q: One of the last huge mobilization in the Ukraine was the “orange revolution”. In comparison, what is different today? Does anyone refer to that “history”? How are the protesters talk about “democracy”? And what hopes are connected with a EU-membership?
A: First of all, the “orange revolution” was a highly personalized protest. People concentrated on a specific goal – to install their leader, Viktor Yuschenko, in the president’s seat. Yuschenko’s political structures controlled the crowd pretty tightly and organized everything very smoothly. Now the three leaders of the parliamentary opposition are not trusted by a majority of protesters. They represent Maidan at the negotiations with the President, but many people are not sure they have a mandate for that. For example, last Thursday they were booed by the crowd, and Maidan didn’t accept their conditions which had been negotiated with Yanukovych. Despite all their anger, the politicians had to obey the crowd; generally, people are much more radical than their “representatives”. The whole mobilization in November came as a surprise for them, and since then they couldn’t grasp the events and take a lead. This vacuum was momentarily filled by the far-right groups.
Another difference is that in 2004 the scope of issues discussed was much wider. The whole “revolution” was dedicated to presidential elections, but still, you could legitimately propose left agenda there, discuss social and economic issues. In that respect, that protest was much more heterodox than the current one; now you can only talk about the matters of bourgeois politics. Any attempt to put forward other issues puts you at risk of being labeled as a “provocateur”.
I wouldn’t say that people imagine many parallels between the events of 2004 and the current protests. First of all, during the last ten years there appeared a new generation of young people who had been schoolkids back then. And now they are an important part of the mobilization. Second of all, Viktor Yuschenko turned out to be a major disappointment for all participants of the “orange revolution”.
Protesters naturally say that they want a truly (bourgeois) democratic state, with the rule of law etc. They imagine that the only thing which separates them from this ideal is Viktor Yanukovych, And they are convinced that the EU membership is synonymous with democracy, also prosperity and all other good things. EU serves as a myth concentrating all their hopes; while Russia is a land of Mordor in this mythological view of the world.
Q: Right-wing parties and fascist groups play a role in the protests. How important are they actually? Do they get much support? How do other protesters relate to them?
A: Far right party Svoboda is the most organized of the three large political forces trying to control the protest. They are the only party which has real active cells in various regions, actual activist base. So, as the most organized and the most ideological of the three, they are gaining the most. Apart from Svoboda, there is an umbrella coalition of neo-nazi militant groups. It is called Right Sector. They were formed in the beginning of the protests, and by now they’ve succeeded to gain enormous prominence and conquer sympathies from apolitical and liberal people. They are mostly famous by their demonstrative militancy and aggression, and the public doesn’t see anything wrong with these cute young patriots. Lately, the same pattern repeats in other regions, where neo-nazi football hooligans turned out to be the main assault force fighting the police and pro-government thugs.
The fascist hegemony was indisputable until January 19th, when the protests were joined by lots of other people – random apolitical citizens, liberals and even the left. That happened because the agenda of the protests shifted to repealing the “dictatorship laws” passed on January 16. Since then they had to step back a bit but nevertheless it’s obvious that in the long run these protests will enormously benefit the far right, whoever wins. In the case of the victory of the opposition, they will surely get themselves the police forces, special services etc. If Yanukovych wins, this means that half of the country will become firm supporters of the far-right as supposedly the only patriotic radical force able to confront the dictator.
Meanwhile, most left activists also joined the protests after January 19 because those laws will severely damage them as well. They found their niche in infrastructural activities, such as vigils in emergency hospitals: they stay there in order to prevent police and thugs kidnap the wounded. Other area of left activity is the above mentioned attempt at igniting the political strike.
Q: From outside the protest seems to have a lot in common with the one in Istanbul last year (well, surely not the temperatures…). Do the protesters in Kiev and elsewhere in the Ukraine see a connection to the uprisings around the globe in the past few years?
A: There may be some parallels drawn indeed, but from the subjective point of view of Ukrainian protesters those other protests don’t exist. They see these events as a purely national struggle, trying to embed them into Ukrainian history, not into the global wave of protests.
Q: Last not least, you have been following the movement from its beginning, and I have read some of your statements. What is your hope for the protest, what positive outcome can you imagine? What is the worst outcome you can imagine? What kind of support do you expect from outside the Ukraine?
A: Like I said, there are two possible outcomes. One is the victory of Yanukovych, which will bring about a harsh authoritarian regime in the mould of Latin American dictatorships of 1970s. Still, it will be problematic to govern the country for Yanukovych because he will still be supported by half of population at best; dictatorships cannot survive in such conditions. One of the probable scenarios then can be emerging of a militant underground guerilla movement not unlike the IRA in Northern Ireland of 1980s and 1990s.
The other outcome will be eventual victory of the parliamentary opposition. This will result in a weak bourgeois democratic republic, politically unstable but retaining the basic freedoms – like Ukraine in 2005-2009. Only now the fascists will be much stronger both in the power lobbies and in the streets.
Now, there is also third scenario – maybe that would the worst one – it’s the full-fledged civil war between Western and Central Ukraine, including Kiev, on the one side, and South and East, on the other. Naturally this would be catastrophic because people will fight for nationalist chimeras on both sides. On the other hand, this still looks unlikely to me because Ukraine is such a large industrial country. The EU, Russia and other global powers are unlikely to allow a chaotic war zone in a country which has major gas and oil transit routes, 15 atomic reactors etc.
I guess in such conditions the best form of support from abroad would be efforts to make the Ukrainian government back off, but without showing solidarity with the far-right. My guess is that such messages – “we support your struggle but not your fascists” – would be optimal form of pressure from abroad.
Source (http://www.libcom.org/news/politicians-had-obey-crowd-29012014)

[PhoenixAsh]

Maybe it's just my imagination but it seems that there's been a disturbing surge of right wing activity in Europe lately. That being said, I'd say these riots are made up of a lot of different groups with conflicting opinions, it's not so binary.

No, that is not your imagination. Europe is enduring a deep economic crisis. A crisis in which there is no unified revolutionary left which manages to translate their sectarianism into something non political workers can get behind.

Without a strong united and clear revolutionary alternative...the working class is without focus and direction for awakening class consciousness and therefore prey to far right ideologies and easy solutions.

Basically the current crisis might very well be another step towards the next stage in the evolution of capitalism.

[PhoenixAsh]

What would be interesting is if Israel has enough pull within the American administration to prevent that from happening.

You mention this and it peaked my interest. Out of curiosity...

Are you basing yourself on something specific you read about how Israel is reacting to the situation in the Ukrain? Or do you mention Israel because of the connection with the Holocaust?


My opinion for now is that Israel really doesn't care whether or not fascists are funded in the Ukrain.

[cyu]

My opinion for now is that Israel really doesn't care whether or not fascists are funded in the Ukrain.


Why wouldn't they? There are certainly different types of fascists. Some types are not focused on Jewish people specifically, but when they are, I would imagine Israel would be concerned.

Edit: http://embassies.gov.il/kiev/NewsAndEvents/Pages/PressRelease20Jan2014.aspx

[ckaihatsu]

Top US Diplomat Caught on Tape Using Tough Vernacular on the Phone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKN1wrjAEyU


MEPs have asked EU governments to prepare sanctions against members of the Ukrainian government.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SwwPpYyeS0


Nuland - No comment on private conversation about EU and Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cer03Tri4as


Democracy or Hypocrisy 'Nuland leaked comment proves US disdain'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR9QjFzvd6Y


Senior Russian official warns U.S. against interfering in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjb2gio9g04


Art of Meddling - US's Nulad visits Ukraine again, with 'regime change' aims

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUZJ82wQRo


EU's Ashton demands more urgency from Ukraine politicians

qwoXBg2eHME

[ckaihatsu]

Ukraine - pro and anti‐government demonstrators clash in central Kyiv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWZAY6FtuIo


Examining the diplomatic push and pull over Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SArw79vVfL8


Leaked phone call on Ukraine generates outrage toward U.S.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I64AuvmYN0w


US blames Russia for leaking telephone call about Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0JSE7wpBA


'F_k the EU' - State Dept on damage control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvYuW4KuLi4


International Furor Over U.S. Ukraine Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs73V2TVD9M


State Dept spokesperson grilled over 'F_k the EU tape'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWfBW1ExZmc

[WilliamGreen]

We better prepare, the shit is coming in this next decade.

[ckaihatsu]

CrossTalk - Radical Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7PjcOTF5A4

[ckaihatsu]

EU calls for new government, constitutional reform in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d11I6Opi-xE

[ckaihatsu]

EU says financial help is available for Ukraine if it reforms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5mcztZDvco

[ckaihatsu]

Russia's Lavrov warns West against interference in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_QE5a7m26k


Putin set to embrace closer ties between EU and Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ6zzgvnCNk


Ukraine - A Maidan government or nothing says opposition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_-1riXiIGk


Fears for the economic legacy in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arlg0fLwv0E

[ckaihatsu]

Ukrainian protesters refuse to leave until demands are met

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ytbwlo85-8


Ukraine provisionally frees the last of protesters detained during unrest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhJf9lCFYxs

[ckaihatsu]

Protesters end Kyiv City Hall occupation under government amnesty deal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voAJ21SGQO4


Protesters hand back Kiev's city hall to the authorities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCsLfmCzSxQ

[keine_zukunft]

Do we have an idea of how many people who are on the left who are involved and how much of this is being instigated by this so-called fascist vanguard.

[Sasha]

AN INTERVIEW WITH MIRA, ANDREI, AND SASCHA OF ANTIFASCIST ACTION UKRAINE


A group of Defense Militia members at EuroMaidan. On the left one gives a Nazi salute.

Sascha, Andrei, and Mira are members of AntiFascist Union Ukraine, a group that monitors and fights fascism in Ukraine. We sat down to talk about the influence of fascism in EuroMaidan, this is what they told me:

Sascha: There are lots of Nationalists here, including Nazis. They came from all over Ukraine, and they make up about 30% of protesters.

Mira: The two biggest groups are Svoboda and Pravy Sektor (Right Sector). The defense forces aren’t 100% Pravy but a large percentage is.

S: Svoboda is more legal as a group, but they also have an illegal militant faction. Pravy Sektor is more illegal, but they want to usurp Svoboda.

M: There’s a lot of infighting between Pravy and Svoboda. They worked together during the violence but now everything is calm so there’s time to focus on each other. Pravy and Svoboda both take donations and they have lots of money. Recently Pravy has all these new uniforms, military fatigues.
One of the worst things is that Pravy has this official structure. They are coordinated. You need passes to go certain places. They have the power to give or not give people permission to be active. We’re trying to be active but we have to avoid Nazis, and I’m not going to ask a Nazi for permission!

S: A group of 100 anarchists tried to arrange their own self-defense group, different Anarchist groups came together for a meeting on the Maidan. While they were meeting a group of Nazis came in a larger group, they had axes and baseball bats and sticks, helmets, they said it was their territory. They called the Anarchists things like Jews, blacks, Communists. There weren’t even any Communists, that was just an insult. The Anarchists weren’t expecting this and they left. People with other political views can’t stay in certain places, they aren’t tolerated.

M: Early on a Stalinist tent was attacked by Nazis. One was sent to the hospital. Another student spoke out against fascism and he was attacked.
Pravy Sektor got too much attention after the first violence, the media gave them popularity and they started to think they’re cool guys. Pravy existed before but now it’s growing and attracting a lot of new people.

S: After this Pravy will have more young guys. They have money to make propaganda, uniforms, they’re getting more attention and they look cool.



(r) A group of young men who recently joined the Defense Militia

M: The Ukraine is a patriarchal country so to be a strong man who’s fighting is a good aim.

Click Here to View A Recent Example of Pravy Sektor Propaganda

S: Nazi groups are also trying to mimic leftists, to try to ingratiate themselves. They use anarchist vocabulary, words like “autonomous.” One group of the ugliest Nazis is now doing this by calling themselves “Autonomous Resistance.” They’ve had lots of success with this tactic.
They attract some Anarchists who think they’re changing the Nazis, but really the Nazis are changing them.” They’re becoming more nationalistic, they have more more anti-feminist views, etc. Now is when Anarchists need to speak out and be louder.



Two symbols that could be found at EuroMaidan. The Celtic Cross (l) is a common symbol representing white supremacy. The Wolfsangel (r) was a symbol used by several divisions of the SS during World War II and now represents Neo-Nazism.

S: There’s a whole spectrum of Nationalists represented. They divide themselves into groups with their own symbols. They want support so they don’t use Nazi or fascist symbols so much. They use symbols that are recognizable to other fascistic people, but look innocuous to anyone else. For example there is a special eagle symbol. It’s drawn a certain way, it doesn’t look like anything unless you know the meaning.
No one has any idea how this could turn out, what form a new government could take. The fascist groups don’t have common aims, they know what they’re opposed to, and that they’re opposed to each other, but they don’t all want the same things. If Pravy has positions in a new government that would be really dangerous but that isn’t possible, they aren’t powerful enough.

M: People have these chants: “Glory Ukraine,” “Glory to Heroes,” “Death to Enemies.” But who are these heroes, who are these enemies? I don’t think they have any idea. “Ukraine Above All” is one, just like they used to chant in Germany.

Andrei: I’m from Germany, and from my perspective it’s like Ukraine has had this nationalism since the fall of the USSR. The nationalist sentiment on Maidan is there to divide people. The East of Ukraine favors Russia, the West is nationalist. People are quite divided, but if you look at the whole country everyone has the same social and economic problems. If people saw that and came together that would be the most dangerous for Svoboda, or Yanukovich, or any political party. Svoboda and Yanukovich favor the same neoliberal policies that make life worse for Ukrainians.

M: These nationalists are here not for rights but for nation and it’s practical for leaders to encourage this, because a focus on nationalism lets them do whatever they want. It’s mostly working class and poor people at EuroMaidan, and their attention needs to be diverted to real problems. Lots of people want to manipulate the people here.




A sign hangs in a EuroMaidan tent: “Ultra-Radical Pacifist”


Click Here to Read My Interview With A Member of the Defense Militia

source: http://www.timothyeastman.com/uncategorized/an-interview-with-mira-andrei-and-sascha-of-antifascist-action-ukraine/

[cyu]

Pravy and Svoboda both take donations and they have lots of money. Recently Pravy has all these new uniforms, military fatigues.

a group of Nazis came in a larger group, they had axes and baseball bats and sticks, helmets, they said it was their territory.

They have money to make propaganda, uniforms, they’re getting more attention and they look cool.

Makes me wonder where this "material support of terrorism" comes from.

[Sasha]

Makes me wonder where this "material support of terrorism" comes from.

its pretty obvious that beyond the primary motivation of the normal people on the streets for freedom and representation this is also a conflict between different bourgeois factions, the traditional miners and industrialists who are depended on russia and another faction who make money on open borders with europe, the latter, who also overlap with organized crime (both factions do though) is funding the nationalist protesters.

[cyu]

another faction who make money on open borders with europe, the latter, who also overlap with organized crime (both factions do though) is funding the nationalist protesters.


What is fascism if not the "realist" protecting his profits :glare:

[Sasha]

i think its obvious both bourgeois sides suck, one is basically establishing a dictatorship, the other makes a pact with the devil of fascism where history has shown us that this is force that is almost impossible to rain in when unleashed.
that said i think, from behind my safe computer half a continent away, it is important for revolutionary leftist to participate as much as possible in the uprising without making dirty hands with the fascists and bourgeois, to present an alternative path to the people.

[boiler]

Ukraine and the Rebirth of Fascism in Europe

The violence on the streets of Ukraine is far more than an expression of popular anger against a government. Instead, it is merely the latest example of the rise of the most insidious form of fascism that Europe has seen since the fall of the Third Reich.

Recent months have seen regular protests by the Ukrainian political opposition and its supporters – protests ostensibly in response to Ukrainian President Yanukovich’s refusal to sign a trade agreement with the European Union that was seen by many political observers as the first step towards European integration. The protests remained largely peaceful until January 17th when protesters armed with clubs, helmets, and improvised bombs unleashed brutal violence on the police, storming government buildings, beating anyone suspected of pro-government sympathies, and generally wreaking havoc on the streets of Kiev. But who are these violent extremists and what is their ideology?

The political formation is known as “Pravy Sektor” (Right Sector), which is essentially an umbrella organization for a number of ultra-nationalist (read fascist) right wing groups including supporters of the “Svoboda” (Freedom) Party, “Patriots of Ukraine”, “Ukrainian National Assembly – Ukrainian National Self Defense” (UNA-UNSO), and “Trizub”. All of these organizations share a common ideology that is vehemently anti-Russian, anti-immigrant, and anti-Jewish among other things. In addition they share a common reverence for the so called “Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists” led by Stepan Bandera, the infamous Nazi collaborators who actively fought against the Soviet Union and engaged in some of the worst atrocities committed by any side in World War II.

While Ukrainian political forces, opposition and government, continue to negotiate, a very different battle is being waged in the streets. Using intimidation and brute force more typical of Hitler’s “Brownshirts” or Mussolini’s “Blackshirts” than a contemporary political movement, these groups have managed to turn a conflict over economic policy and the political allegiances of the country into an existential struggle for the very survival of the nation that these so called “nationalists” claim to love so dearly. The images of Kiev burning, Lviv streets filled with thugs, and other chilling examples of the chaos in the country, illustrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that the political negotiation with the Maidan (Kiev’s central square and center of the protests) opposition is now no longer the central issue. Rather, it is the question of Ukrainian fascism and whether it is to be supported or rejected.

For its part, the United States has strongly come down on the side of the opposition, regardless of its political character. In early December, members of the US ruling establishment such as John McCain and Victoria Nuland were seen at Maidan lending their support to the protesters. However, as the character of the opposition has become apparent in recent days, the US and Western ruling class and its media machine have done little to condemn the fascist upsurge. Instead, their representatives have met with representatives of Right Sector and deemed them to be “no threat.” In other words, the US and its allies have given their tacit approval for the continuation and proliferation of the violence in the name of their ultimate goal: regime change.

In an attempt to pry Ukraine out of the Russian sphere of influence, the US-EU-NATO alliance has, not for the first time, allied itself with fascists. Of course, for decades, millions in Latin America were disappeared or murdered by fascist paramilitary forces armed and supported by the United States. The mujahideen of Afghanistan, which later transmogrified into Al Qaeda, also extreme ideological reactionaries, were created and financed by the United States for the purposes of destabilizing Russia. And of course, there is the painful reality of Libya and, most recently Syria, where the United States and its allies finance and support extremist jihadis against a government that has refused to align with the US and Israel. There is a disturbing pattern here that has never been lost on keen political observers: the United States always makes common cause with right wing extremists and fascists for geopolitical gain.

The situation in Ukraine is deeply troubling because it represents a political conflagration that could very easily tear the country apart less than 25 years after it gained independence from the Soviet Union. However, there is another equally disturbing aspect to the rise of fascism in that country – it is not alone.

The Fascist Menace Across the Continent

Ukraine and the rise of right wing extremism there cannot be seen, let alone understood, in isolation. Rather, it must be examined as part of a growing trend throughout Europe (and indeed the world) – a trend which threatens the very foundations of democracy.

In Greece, savage austerity imposed by the troika (IMF, ECB, and European Commission) has crippled the country’s economy, leading to a depression as bad, if not worse, than the Great Depression in the United States. It is against this backdrop of economic collapse that the Golden Dawn party has grown to become the third most popular political party in the country. Espousing an ideology of hate, the Golden Dawn – in effect a Nazi party that promotes anti-Jewish, anti-immigrant, anti-women chauvinism – is a political force that the government in Athens has understood to be a serious threat to the very fabric of society. It is this threat which led the government to arrest the party’s leadership after a Golden Dawn Nazi fatally stabbed an anti-fascist rapper. Athens has launched an investigation into the party, though the results of this investigation and trial remain somewhat unclear.

What makes Golden Dawn such an insidious threat is the fact that, despite their central ideology of Nazism, their anti-EU, anti-austerity rhetoric appeals to many in the economically devastated Greece. As with many fascist movements in the 20th Century, Golden Dawn scapegoats immigrants, Muslim and African primarily, for many of the problems facing Greeks. In dire economic circumstances, such irrational hate becomes appealing; an answer to the question of how to solve society’s problems. Indeed, despite Golden Dawn’s leaders being jailed, other party members are still in parliament, still running for major offices including mayor of Athens. Though an electoral victory is unlikely, another strong showing at the polls will make the eradication of fascism in Greece that much harder.

Were this phenomenon confined to Greece and Ukraine, it would not constitute a continental trend. Sadly however, we see the rise of similar, albeit slightly less overtly fascist, political parties all over Europe. In Spain, the ruling pro-austerity People’s Party has moved to establish draconian laws restricting protest and free speech, and empowering and sanctioning repressive police tactics. In France, the National Front Party of Marine Le Pen, which vehemently scapegoats Muslim and African immigrants, won nearly twenty percent of the vote in the first round of presidential elections. Similarly, the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands – which promotes anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant policies – has grown to be the third largest in parliament. Throughout Scandinavia, ultra nationalist parties which once toiled in complete irrelevance and obscurity are now significant players in elections. These trends are worrying to say the least.

It should be noted too that, beyond Europe, there are a number of quasi-fascist political formations which are, in one way or another, supported by the United States. The right wing coups that overthrew the governments of Paraguay and Honduras were tacitly and/or overtly supported by Washington in their seemingly endless quest to suppress the Left in Latin America. Of course, one should also remember that the protest movement in Russia was spearheaded by Alexei Navalny and his nationalist followers who espouse a virulently anti-Muslim, racist ideology that views immigrants from the Russian Caucasus and former Soviet republics as beneath “European Russians”. These and other examples begin to paint a very ugly portrait of a US foreign policy that attempts to use economic hardship and political upheaval to extend US hegemony around the world.

In Ukraine, the “Right Sector” has taken the fight from the negotiating table to the streets in an attempt to fulfill the dream of Stepan Bandera – a Ukraine free of Russia, Jews, and all other “undesirables” as they see it. Buoyed by the continued support from the US and Europe, these fanatics represent a more serious threat to democracy than Yanukovich and the pro-Russian government ever could. If Europe and the United States don’t recognize this threat in its infancy, by the time they finally do, it might just be too late.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/ukraine-and-the-rebirth-of-fascism-in-europe/5366852

[Sasha]

good statement by the AWU, ill post it in full for discussion in the other thread: http://avtonomia.net/2014/02/19/zayavlenie-ast-kiev-o-situatsii-v-ukraine/

[cyu]

Laughable interview at NPR. http://www.npr.org/2014/02/21/280759125/what-it-means-when-the-wolf-cries-wolf-fascism-in-ukraine

Is it treason to lie to your own people about foreign policy being carried out on their behalf? At least the comments there aren't as ignorant as certain NPR honchos would want:

Snyder reproduces yet another widespread media malpractice regarding Russia, the decline of editorial fact-checking. In a recent article in the International New York Times, he both inflates his assertions and tries to delete neofascist elements from his innocuous “Ukrainian extreme right.” Again without any verified evidence, he warns of a Putin-backed “armed intervention” in Ukraine after the Olympics and characterizes reliable reports of “Nazis and anti-Semites” among street protesters as “Russian propaganda.”

Is the world really so susceptible to such obvious, crude propaganda?

Omissions of facts, by journalists or scholars, are no less an untruth than misstatements of fact. Snyder’s article was full of both

Perhaps the largest untruth promoted by Snyder and most US media is the claim that “Ukraine’s future integration into Europe” is “yearned for throughout the country.” The now exceedingly dangerous confrontation between the two Ukraines was not “ignited,” as the Times claims, by Yanukovych’s duplicitous negotiating—or by Putin—but by the EU’s reckless ultimatum, in November, that the democratically elected president of a profoundly divided country choose between Europe and Russia. Putin’s proposal for a tripartite arrangement, rarely if ever reported, was flatly rejected by US and EU officials.

[cyu]

http://www.salon.com/2014/03/08/35_countries_the_u_s_has_backed_international_crim e_partner/

The U.S. is backing Ukraine’s extreme right-wing Svoboda party and violent neo-Nazis whose armed uprising paved the way for a Western-backed coup. The ugly reality behind the mirror is that the U.S. government has a long and unbroken record of working with fascists, dictators, druglords and state sponsors of terrorism in every region of the world in its elusive but relentless quest for unchallenged global power.

Behind a firewall of impunity and protection from the State Department and the CIA, U.S. clients and puppets have engaged in the worst crimes known to man, from murder and torture to coups and genocide.

Afghanistan
the U.S. worked with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to overthrow Afghanistan’s socialist government. After Mikhail Gorbachev withdrew Soviet forces in 1989, these U.S.-backed warlords tore the country apart and boosted opium production to an unprecedented level. The Taliban government cut opium production by 95% in two years between 1999 and 2001, but the U.S. invasion in 2001 restored the warlords and drug lords to power. President Karzai’s brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, was well known as a CIA-backed drug lord. After a major U.S. offensive in Kandahar province in 2011, Colonel Abdul Razziq was appointed provincial police chief, boosting a heroin smuggling operation that already earned him $60 million per year.

Albania
the U.S. and U.K. set out to overthrow the government of Albania, the smallest and most vulnerable communist country in Eastern Europe. Exiles were recruited and trained to stir up dissent and plan an armed uprising. They included former Interior Minister Xhafer Deva, who oversaw the deportations of “Jews, Communists, partisans and suspicious persons” (as described in a Nazi document) to Auschwitz. Declassified U.S. documents have since revealed that Deva was one of 743 fascist war criminals recruited by the U.S.

Cuba
The United States supported the Batista dictatorship. the U.S. was so overwhelmingly influential in Cuba that the American Ambassador was the second most important man, sometimes even more important than the Cuban president. CIA-backed operations against Cuba included the bombing of a Cuban airliner (78 killed) planned by Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, who remain free in America despite the U.S. pretense of waging a war against terrorism. Bosch was granted a presidential pardon by the first President Bush.

France
at the end of World War II, advancing allied forces found that communist resistance forces had gained effective control of large areas as German forces withdrew. In Marseille, the CGT communist trade union controlled the docks. after the OSS merged into the new CIA, it used its contacts to restore Corsican gangsters to power in Marseille, to break dock strikes and CGT control of the docks. It protected the Corsicans as they set up heroin labs and began shipping heroin to New York, where the American-Sicilian mafia also flourished under CIA protection. the CIA’s infamous French Connection brought a new wave of addiction, organized crime and drug-violence to American cities.

Greece
When British forces landed in Greece in 1944, they found the country under the effective control of ELAS-EAM, the leftist partisan group formed by the Greek Communist Party after the Italian and German invasion. ELAS-EAM welcomed the British forces, but the British refused any accommodation with them and installed a government that included royalists and Nazi collaborators. The British recruited members of the Nazi-trained Security Battalions to hunt down and arrest ELAS members. In 1947, the bankrupt British asked the U.S. to take over their role in occupied Greece. ELAS-EAM fighters laid down their arms in 1949 after Yugoslavia withdrew its support, and 100,000 were either executed, exiled or jailed.

Guatemala
The CIA recruited and trained a small army of mercenaries under Guatemalan exile Castillo Armas to invade Guatemala, with 30 unmarked U.S. planes providing air support. U.S. Ambassador Peurifoy prepared a list of Guatemalans to be executed, and Armas was installed as president.

Honduras
The 2009 coup in Honduras has led to severe repression and death squad murders of political opponents, union organizers and journalists. U.S. officials used semantics to avoid cutting off U.S. military aid as required under U.S. law. two Wikileaks cables revealed that the U.S. Embassy was the main power broker in managing the aftermath of the coup and forming a government that is now repressing and murdering its people.

Indonesia
In 1965, General Suharto seized effective power. U.S. diplomats admitted providing lists of 5,000 Communist Party members to be killed. Robert Martens said, "They probably killed a lot of people, and I probably have a lot of blood on my hands, but that's not all bad."

Iraq
Qasim was killed in a CIA-backed Baathist coup in 1963, and the CIA gave the new government a list of at least 4,000 communists to be killed.

Korea
The U.S. flew in Syngman Rhee, a conservative Korean exile, and installed him as President of South Korea in 1948. Rhee became a dictator on an anti-communist crusade, arresting and torturing suspected communists, brutally putting down rebellions, killing 100,000 people.

Nicaragua
Anastasio Somosa ruled Nicaragua as his personal fiefdom for 43 years with unconditional U.S. support, as his National Guard committed every crime imaginable from massacres and torture to extortion and rape with complete impunity. After he was overthrown by the Sandinista Revolution in 1979, the CIA recruited, trained and supported “contra” mercenariesto invade Nicaragua and conduct terrorism to destabilize the country. the International Court of Justice found the United States guilty of aggression against Nicaragua for deploying the contras and mining Nicaraguan ports. The court ordered the U.S. to cease its aggression and pay war reparations. The U.S. response was to declare that it would no longer recognize the jurisdiction of the ICJ.

***

The doctrine that was taught was that if you want information you use physical abuse, false imprisonment, threats to family members, and killing. If you can’t get the information you want, if you can’t get that person to shut up or stop what they’re doing, you assassinate them—and you assassinate them with one of your death squads.

A huge amount of human suffering could be alleviated if the United States would make a genuine commitment to human rights and the rule of law, as opposed to one it only applies cynically and opportunistically to its enemies, but never to itself or its allies.

[LiamChe]

It seems to me like there is a very real possibility that a fascist state could easily come about through all this turmoil, considering it is the dominant ideology in Ukraine. I think we should support Putin in crushing the fascist uprising. It would just be too detrimental to the region if a fascist state was to come to power in Ukraine, which I fear may be soon.

[Sasha]

You know russia is importing serbian fascist chetnik militia's in to the Ukraine? both sides are as guilty as the other, no war but the classwar.

[ckaihatsu]

It seems to me like there is a very real possibility that a fascist state could easily come about through all this turmoil, considering it is the dominant ideology in Ukraine. I think we should support Putin in crushing the fascist uprising. It would just be too detrimental to the region if a fascist state was to come to power in Ukraine, which I fear may be soon.


'Support' is a strong word....

In the absence of a stronger revolutionary leftist presence I'd say that any Russian anti-fascist intervention might be tacitly *tolerated*.

[cyu]

http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2014/03/chronology-of-ukrainian-coup.html

emails from a Lithuanian government advisor to opposition leader and former boxer Vitaly Klitschko regarding plans to destabilize Ukraine:

“Our American friends promise to pay a visit in the coming days, we may even see Nuland or someone from the Congress.” 12/7/2013

“Your colleague has arrived … his services may be required even after the country is destabilized.” 12/14/2013

“I think we’ve paved the way for more radical escalation of the situation. Isn’t it time to proceed with more decisive action?” 1/9/2014

What Nuland did not reveal was that her meetings with ‘key Ukrainian stakeholders’ included neo-Nazi Svoboda party leader Oleh Tyahnybok and prime minister wannabe Arsenly Yatsenyuk of the Fatherland Party. The Svoboda party which has roots with extreme vigilante and antisemitic groups has since received at least three high level cabinet posts in the interim government including deputy prime minister.

[ckaihatsu]

“Stalingrad” confronts the disturbing realities of fascism and war

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2014/3/18/stalingrad-confronts-disturbing-realities-fascism-and-war

[ckaihatsu]

Dossier: Crimea, Ukraine, and the March 16 Referendum

http://socialistorganizer.org/dossier-crimea-ukraine-and-the-march-16-referendum/

[ckaihatsu]

Protest at Chicago Ukrainian Consulate slams fascists

Confrontation with right-wing Ukrainians

By staff

http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/Kait%20anti-fascist-1%20%282%29.jpg

Chicago, IL - In a rally to mark the International Day Against Fascism and Racism, 35 people stood against a right-wing crowd of more than 100 at the Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago. Chanting, “Obama, McCain, no fascist Ukraine,” the small crowd braved the anger from the Ukrainian nationalists.

In the right-wing Ukrainian crowd was the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) flag. That flag flew alongside the Nazi flag in World War II, when the Ukrainian Insurgent Army carried out attacks against Jews and ethnic Russians. The UPA was responsible for the deaths of 100,000 Polish people. That same flag was present at the marches of the Right Sector, the neo-Nazi organization that played a leading role in the violent assaults in the Euromaidan protests in Kiev that overthrew the democratically elected government in February.

The anti-fascist protest wavered in the face of the hostile Ukrainian crowd for 15 minutes because of the influence of the International Socialist Organization (ISO). Others, including Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) and other anti-fascists, including the Workers World Party, finally started leading chants to stand up to the reactionary nationalists. The ISO was unwilling to confront the right-wing crowd because they largely agree with their views.

The ISO continues to support the fascist-led Ukrainian protest movement that overthrew the government of former President Yanukovich. At the Chicago protest, ISO leaders refused to start chants. One ISO member objected to a FRSO sign that opposed U.S. government sanctions against Russia. Another leader repeatedly said no to chants because she was concerned that, “We have to be all on the same page.”

In the face of the Ukrainian rightists, the ISO refused to recognize the fascist nature of the movement that overthrew the government of Ukraine.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






This email was sent to [email protected]
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA

[tallguy]

'Support' is a strong word....

In the absence of a stronger revolutionary leftist presence I'd say that any Russian anti-fascist intervention might be tacitly *tolerated*.
Yeah, at a push, but only at a push, that's about as far as I would go. But no further. I certainly have no illusions about Putin's Russia.

[ckaihatsu]

http://laborfightback.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/where-has-all-the-money-gone-no-to-u-s-intervention-in-ukraine/

[PhoenixAsh]

http://rt.com/news/yarosh-nationalist-resign-killing-157/

We cannot watch silently as the Interior Ministry works to undermine the revolution," Interfax reported Yarosh as saying. “We demand the immediate resignation of the Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, and the arrest of the commander of the Sokol Special Forces and those guilty of [Muzychko’s] murder."

Earlier Tuesday, right-wing militant leader Muzychko, also known as Sashko Bilyi, was killed in a police raid against his gang in Rovno, western Ukraine, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.

[PhoenixAsh]

http://rt.com/news/ukrainian-nationalist-muzychko-antics-093/

Background story to this nazi fuck.

[cyu]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-25/anarchy-returns-ukraine-ultra-nationalist-leader-killed-police

people dressed in the uniform of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) got into carriages and began a ‘document check’. People who showed Russian passports were then made to hand over their money and jewelry

Moscow also said it was “bewildered” by the refusal of the Ukrainian police to take any action when the victims attempted to file a report.

Ukrainian right-wing militant leader Aleksandr Muzychko, also known as Sashko Bilyi, has been shot dead during a police raid against his gang, confirmed Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior.

Muzychko was killed in Rovno, where he coordinated actions of local groups belonging to the Right Sector movement.

A former senior official at the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) told RIA Novosti that the objective of the operation was to kill Muzychko, rather than to detain him.

"We will take revenge for the death of Arsen Avakov our brother" - said the coordinator of the "right sector" in Rivne region Roman Koval.

Ukraine Police now claims they didn't kill the Right Sector Leader Muzychko. He has commited suicide.

[RedHal]

http://rt.com/news/yarosh-nationalist-resign-killing-157/

We cannot watch silently as the Interior Ministry works to undermine the revolution," Interfax reported Yarosh as saying. “We demand the immediate resignation of the Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, and the arrest of the commander of the Sokol Special Forces and those guilty of [Muzychko’s] murder."

Earlier Tuesday, right-wing militant leader Muzychko, also known as Sashko Bilyi, was killed in a police raid against his gang in Rovno, western Ukraine, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said in a statement.

reminiscent of Night of the Long Knives and the assassination of Ernst Röhm.

Looks like Muzychko has lived out his usefullness and was now seen as a publicity train wreak.

[aty]

Neo-Nazi may have fled to Ukraine

There is now an international warrant out for a Swedish neo-Nazi, who may have fled to Ukraine.
The man is suspected of murder, for an attack in Malmö in early March, when several people who had taken part in a feminist demonstration were stabbed.

"We suspect that he has gone to Ukraine, since he was there before," says police inspector Sten Ove Nilsson to TV4 News.
The suspect is a prominent figure in the neo-Nazi "Party of the Swedes", reports news agency TT. Several party members had travelled to Ukraine to support what they saw as a nationalist revolution.

A court has ordered the suspect remanded in custody in his absence. He is sought by Interpol, reports Aftonbladet.

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=5819846

[cyu]

Just what the world needs - an entire nation where purveyors of hate crimes go because they feel they will be welcomed :glare:

[ckaihatsu]

Just what the world needs - an entire nation where purveyors of hate crimes go because they feel they will be welcomed :glare:


The Syrian opposition for the Arab (non-Western) fascists, and Ukraine for the *Western* fascists.... And the U.S. supports them both -- !

[cyu]

When you make a deal with the devil, only idiots wouldn't expect consequences

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-27/ukraines-freedom-seeking-nationalists-protest-government-building-ministers-evacuate

the "nationalists" who freed the country from Yanukovych's government in favor of a well-chosen US leadership, are now turning on the replacements:

•*UKRAINE NATIONALIST PRAVYI SEKTOR PROTESTS AT PARLIAMENT
•*UKRAINIAN PROTESTERS DEMAND INTERIOR MINISTER'S RESIGNATION
•*UKRAINE LAWMAKERS EVACUATED FROM PARLIAMENT BUILDING

Hundreds of the Right Sector members flood the square in front of Verkhovna Rada in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday night. Wearing masks and brandishing bats

[ckaihatsu]

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_25/Ukrainian-leadership-to-hire-US-mercenaries-to-suppress-eastern-regions-source-3828/


Ukrainian leadership to hire US mercenaries to suppress eastern regions - source


Photo: RIA


Private military company will be in charge of suppressing protest movements in Eastern Ukraine, said a source in the country's Security Service. According to him, the name of the company is Greystone Limited.

According to a source cited by ITAR-TASS, Ukrainian authorities believe that the Security Service is not able to suppress the protest mood and neutralize the leaders and activists of the pro-Russian movement in the eastern regions. In particular, the source said, the acting president Alexander Turchinov shares this opinion. "Therefore it was decided to attract foreign mercenaries, who will serve as political police and state security protection, " said the representative of the Security Service.

Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_25/Ukrainian-leadership-to-hire-US-mercenaries-to-suppress-eastern-regions-source-3828/


---


http://news.yahoo.com/lawmakers-rush-pass-bill-aid-ukraine-060403820.html


Lawmakers rush to pass bill to aid Ukraine

Associated Press By DEB RIECHMANN

March 27, 2014 10:35 AM

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio wraps up a news conference on his legislative agenda, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Boehner touched on the Ukraine crisis, relations with Russia, the NSA surveillance program, jobs and other issues. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)


WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are rushing to get a bill to the president's desk that would provide $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine and sanction those who had a hand in Russia's takeover of Crimea.

[cyu]

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-30/they-never-learn-russias-take-west-and-shifting-geopolitical-balance-power

Russian Foreign Minister:

for major countries to use all their diplomatic resources to twist the arms of the entire world, including our closest partners, in order for them to agree with the argument about Ukraine’s territorial integrity while ignoring the rest of the principles outlined in the UN Charter?

some countries that are naïve enough for it are told, “Look, it’s such a great resolution, why don’t you sign it and become a co-sponsor.” The more experienced ones who realize what’s really going on are approached with, “If you don’t support this resolution, there will be consequences.” And then they describe these consequences. Our colleagues come to us and confide why this or that relatively small country has to cave in. For example, they were told contracts would not be signed or political dividends would be withheld.

I asked them a very simple question: “If you agree that we need to defuse the situation, why won’t you publicly say what the Right Sector really is?” Same to a degree goes for the Svoboda party.

At first they avoided the issue, and then at one of the recent meetings, John Kerry told me that after close scrutiny they concluded that the Right Sector was trying to become a political movement. The subtext was that it’s a good thing, and Svoboda is moving towards the mainstream. That’s a quote.

[ckaihatsu]

UKRAINE: What Now? The IMF Plan

http://socialistorganizer.org/gokhl

[ckaihatsu]

Say no to U.S. Intervention in the Ukraine

By Freedom Road Socialist Organization

What the U.S. is doing in the Ukraine is nothing short of criminal. The U.S. is backing outright fascists, in an effort to put the country under the domination of the West. The White House and Pentagon are acting as a threat to peace by imposing sanctions on Russia and sending warships and missiles into the region. All progressive people should oppose the ongoing U.S. intervention in the Ukraine.

In February, reactionary mobs with fascist gangs in the lead managed to bring down the democratically-elected government of President Viktor Yanukovych. This was the culmination of a process promoted by the U.S. and countries of the European Union to bring instability and turmoil to the Ukraine. The U.S. alone spent about $5 billion on the project. The result was there for all of us to see on TV: neo-Nazis trying to destroy monuments to the heroes of World War II and the socialist past and seizing government buildings.

To say that the movement that ousted President Yanukovych was something progressive or democratic is to confuse right and wrong. Certainly there were legitimate reasons to be dissatisfied with Yanukovych and his oligarch associates, but that does not change the reactionary nature of the anti-government turmoil.

It is a fact that the leading forces in this right-wing movement, such as Right Sector and Svoboda, have their roots in the most disgusting of Ukraine’s political currents. They see themselves as the political heirs of the Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera, an anti-communist, anti-Semitic butcher who first did Hitler’s bidding and then went on to be a servant of the CIA. Look at the photos of the turmoil in Keiv and other Ukrainian cities; the portrait of Stepan Bandera shows up again and again. In the Ukraine, the White House and its EU allies are supporting ugly nationalists, who preach hatred against other nationalities, especially Russians, and who will carry out the most reactionary of agendas if they are successful in consolidating power.

Given this reality it is not surprising that the people of Crimea, who are mainly ethnic Russians, voted overwhelmingly to rejoin Russia. They did not want to live under the monsters who roam the halls of government in Kiev. They understand what these vicious chauvinists are all about. After all, one of the first measures passed by Ukraine’s new regime was abolishing the equality of languages.

It is also understandable and just that people in the eastern Ukraine are rising up and attempting to take things in their own hands. They are standing up to fascists and a U.S./EU power grab.

The Ukraine is an important prize for the Western imperialist powers, who covet its natural resources and industries and plan to make use of its strategic location. Their goal is the complete encirclement of Russia. Western powers have prepared a large loan from the International Monetary Fund, and in return, the Kiev authorities are preparing austerity measures that will further impoverish the people, starting with a 50% rise in the price of gasoline on May 1.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the U.S. has systematically expanded its aggressive military alliance, NATO, throughout Eastern Europe and the Baltic states. It has reached the point where Russia is close to being surrounded. Russia’s elite and their political representative Vladimir Putin want to expand their sphere of influence and control. As a result they find themselves being drawn into a conflict with the Western imperial powers.

The U.S. government has no right to complain about the actions of Russia. Its moral authority is less than zero. The U.S. invaded and occupied Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with NATO, it destroyed Libya. It is trying to subjugate Syria and finances the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The list of current U.S. wars and interventions is much longer, but the point is clear enough: Washington DC is the capitol of an empire and those that speak for it are hypocrites and liars.

All progressive people should oppose sanctions on Russia. We have seen this before. Sanctions are a step towards war. Likewise, we need to be clear about how we assess events in the Ukraine. A victory for fascists and their Western backers would be a setback for people everywhere.

Here in the U.S. we are under attack by a system that takes away our jobs, exploits us when we work and thrives on inequality and oppression. Our enemy is right here at home.

End U.S./European Union Intervention in the Ukraine!
Stop U.S. Funding for Ukrainian Fascists!
No Sanctions on Russia!

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






This email was sent to [email protected]
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA

[ckaihatsu]

Chicago forum on U.S. role in Ukraine: fascists attempt disruption

By staff

http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/Man%20wearing%20Right%20Sector%20scarf.jpg

Chicago, IL - Under attack from aggressive Ukrainian fascists, 40 anti-war activists held a teach-in here on the unfolding Ukraine crisis and NATO expansion, April 12. An equal sized crowd of Ukrainian reactionaries, one carrying the battle flag of the fascist Ukrainian Insurgent Army and another man wearing a scarf bearing the insignia of the violent neo-Nazi Right Sector, attempted to push their way into the door of the union hall during the speakers’ presentations.

When they failed to get inside, one of them slipped a Right Sector leaflet through the door. It included language used in Hitler’s Mein Kampf, such as the need for “living space” for Ukrainians. The flyer defines Ukrainians as a “genetic community,” meaning that the Russians and Jews that live there aren’t part of their nation.

Delivering his remarks over the muffled chanting from outside, Rick Rozoff from the Stop NATO Network detailed the U.S.’s imperialist maneuvers in Ukraine, emphasizing the role of NATO as a vehicle for American foreign policy. Rozoff explained the State Department intervention in Ukraine and arms build up in Eastern Europe as part of a long-term strategy to besiege Russia.

Speakers from the Anti-War Committee-Chicago included Kait McIntyre, who is running as an anti-war candidate for Boeing’s Board of Directors. McIntyre’s campaign targets the world’s second largest weapons manufacturer, headquartered here in Chicago, which profits off the billions poured into drone warfare and NATO expansion by the U.S. defense budget.

Sara Flounders of the International Action Center in New York outlined the historical cooperation between the U.S. and fascist forces in Europe. The U.S. propelled these forces into power during the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, aided by the NATO bombardment. She stated that the U.S. actively maintains right-wing opposition movements around the world in order to eliminate governments that assert their national independence.

With the fascist Svoboda party now occupying prominent positions in the new Ukrainian regime, the anti-war movement must take a strong stand against U.S.-funding of the Kiev junta, whose rise to power, as Rozoff noted, echoed Mussolini’s March on Rome. Alfonso Casal of the American Party of Labor (APL) told attendees about the history of fascism in the Ukraine. The panel was organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Workers World Party (WWP) and APL, with Erich Struch of WWP as chair of the event.

Many young people attended and contributed to the engaging discussion.

The participants bravely defied right-wing intimidation to stage this important teach-in, refusing to allow the fascists to shut down the meeting.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]

[cyu]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/17/jews-in-east-ukraine-are-being-threatened-but-by-whom.html#url=/articles/2014/04/17/jews-in-east-ukraine-are-being-threatened-but-by-whom.html

five men in masks got out, and handed them pieces of paper. Witnesses said that on reading the text of the leaflets a few elderly Jewish women burst into tears.

The flyers were addressed to “Jews of Donetsk” from the “Independent Donetsk Republic” and ordered Jewish residents of the city to pay the new pro-Russian revolutionary authorities $50 apiece for individual registration, otherwise “the guilty ones would be deprived of their citizenship and deported outside the republic; their property would be confiscated.”

In all of his 20-year service in Donetsk, Rabbi Pinhas Vyshedski said, he could never imagine that anything as “cynical” and “anti-human” could ever happen to his community. The text of the leaflet read like an accusation against Ukrainian Jews for their supposed support of the “Bandera Junta” in Kiev, which is what many Russian-speakers call the government that took over in February. The irony, of course, is that Bandera was for a time a Nazi collaborator.

The leaflet claimed that each Jew was to come to room 514 of the occupied administration building on Lenin Square and to pay the fee. The leaflet was stamped by the Donetsk People’s Republic and signed: “Your People’s Governor Denis Pushilin.”

Later Pushilin publically denied that he had ever signed such a letter, and indeed it could have been the work of provocateurs hoping to discredit the pro-Russian movement.

“Last time Donetsk saw similar messages was in 1941, when the Nazi German army occupied Donetsk. It is so painful for us to see that some cynical politicians dare to use us as an instrument in their political games.”

I went to see who was collecting the “Jewish fee” in room 514 at the seized administration. The office was empty.

[Hrafn]

According to the article I read, the Donestk Jewish community said that the events smelled of provocation, so it's not just the separatists denying.

[ckaihatsu]

Ukraine fascists kill many, burn trade unions building in Odessa

By Jafe Arnoldski

Thugs of the neo-Nazi political party Right Sector assaulted and set ablaze the House of Trade Unions in Odessa, Ukraine, May 2, murdering dozens and injuring over 200 anti-fascist, anti-coup protesters. The Right Sector is one of the fascist parties in the new, U.S.-backed coup government of Kiev. The vicious attack on the House of Trade Unions is only the most recent explosion of violence backed by the Kiev government.

In the wake of the secession of Crimea and its induction into the Russian Federation following a popular referendum in March, the crisis in Ukraine is intensifying. The fascist-dominated junta in Kiev, backed by the U.S. and NATO, is cracking down on ‘separatist elements’ in the east and now the south of the deteriorating country.

Within less than a month of Crimea’s secession, mass protests erupted in Eastern cities - Donetsk, Lugansk, Slavyansk and Kharkov and dozens of smaller towns. Occupying government, public and media buildings, the protesters declared their cities independent and issued a minimum demand: a referendum on the federalization of Ukraine in order to provide its heterogeneous population and ethnically varied regions choice in their official language and allegiance between Ukraine and Russia.

The uprisings in the east come on the heels of the U.S.-backed Maidan coup in February that ousted the Yanukovich government. The Yanukovich government turned down an EU deal on the grounds that EU integration would bankrupt and destabilize Ukraine.

The new coup government is comprised of several menacing parties that usurped power. The neo-Nazi Svoboda (Freedom) Party, which has promoted a campaign to “liquidate” the “Muscovites and Jewry” of Ukraine, holds key ministerial as well as judicial and military positions. The Right Sector party, whose leader has claimed that even Svoboda is “too liberal,” has claimed an equally significant number of military posts. The stubbornly right-wing Fatherland Party, led by the one of the most infamous, wealthiest and criminal oligarchs in Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, is the other newly ascended party in the regime. In tandem with the rise of these parties to power, the portrait of Stepan Bandera, the notorious Ukrainian Nazi-collaborator of World War II, is hanging in government buildings.

Virulently anti-Russian, the new government is hitting hard with its first political offensives that target a vast portion of the Ukrainian population. Such ‘reforms’ included the proposed ban on any official use of the Russian language, which was formerly respected as the second official language of 13 out of 27 regions.

The predominantly Russian east, frightened by the new coup government’s fascist ambitions, is being devastated by the austerity imposed by Kiev as a prerequisite measure to join the EU. Cut off from funding and suddenly faced with the menace of fascism, one city and region after another is rising in defiance of the right-wing government.

Protesters in the east surged out in mass numbers to demonstrate against the new government. After demonstrations changed little and an offensive on the part of Kiev was impending, occupiers soon declared autonomy, formed self-defense teams, and looked to Russia for aid. The most famous instances include the declaration of People’s Republics in Donetsk and Lugansk and requests by newly appointed governors for Putin to intervene on Russians’ behalf. The Ukrainian left, including the Borotba Union and the Communist Party of Ukraine, are organizing and leading protests.

In mid-April, the Kiev junta announced an ‘anti-terrorist’ and ‘anti-separatist’ military operation to clear protests in Eastern Ukraine by force. The Ukrainian military launched offensives against numerous eastern cities, deploying tanks, helicopters and heavily armed soldiers against protesters.

While peaceful protesters initially greeted tanks, intense fighting has since broken out as Kiev makes it clear that it is determined to suppress any resistance to its new order. Although defections, mutinies and executions of soldiers who refuse to fire on protesters plague the Ukrainian army, the Kiev coup government offensive continues and the number of civilian deaths is rapidly increasing.

With Ukraine facing civil war and the U.S. mobilizing and deploying troops throughout Eastern Europe, all progressive people should adamantly oppose U.S. intervention and declare: “Hands off Ukraine!”

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






This email was sent to [email protected]
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA

[ckaihatsu]

http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/ukraine-russia-at-the-brink-fascist-menace.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=partial&utm_campaign=Liberation%20Newsletter


Ukraine, Russia and the United States at the brink

The neo-Nazi menace is real

By Brian Becker

MAY 7, 2014

http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/assets/images/content/odessa-trade-union-building.jpg
Thirty-eight anti-fascist activists were murdered when a neo-Nazi militia set fire to a trade union building into which they had fled

Are we moving to civil war in Ukraine? Russia is trying to prevent such a catastrophe. A civil war in Ukraine would invariably draw into the conflict the United States and its NATO allies on the side of the right-wing Ukraine government that seized power in a U.S.-backed coup d’état on Feb. 22 and Russia on the other.

Since the United States and Russia both possess large nuclear arsenals that, if used, would lead to the deaths of many millions of people, it would seem impossible to overstate the potential danger of this newest military crisis. Yet, U.S. elected officials including the White House and Congress seem glibly unfazed by the far-reaching potential consequences caused by their own foolhardy and arrogant interventionist actions in Ukraine. This includes their actions between November and the Feb. 22 coup and in their subsequent “tough stance” against Russia for its refusal to accept the half-fascist coup government in Kiev.

The majority sentiment in the United States, according to most public opinion polls, is decidedly opposed to an escalation of the crisis by the U.S. government. That sentiment has been ignored as the White House has dispatched war planes and troops to the region, imposed new sanctions on Russia, and dispatched first Joseph Biden and then FBI agents and CIA Director John Brennan to Kiev to help the new government set up an internal security apparatus.

The fascist menace is real

The full U.S. embrace of the coup government in Kiev has emboldened it to launch a military offensive against its political opponents in eastern and southern Ukrainian cities. The fascist militias from the Right Sector, whose leaders occupy key positions in the new Ukrainian government, are so emboldened by the U.S. support that they openly murdered 38 political activists in the Black Sea port city of Odessa on May 2 by attacking their tent encampment outside of a trade union headquarters building and, after they fled into the building for protection, torching the structure. While the trapped activists were incinerated, the neo-Nazis sang songs and chanted taunts against Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine’s acting Interior Minister Avakov announced on May 6 that Ukraine’s military offensive in southern and eastern cities led to the death of 30 more anti-fascist activists, labeled “terrorists” by the U.S.-backed government.

The U.S. media and the Obama administration are assisting the government in Kiev in maintaining the fiction that those in Ukraine who oppose the government are strictly puppets of Putin and Russia. They claim that the protests and demands to vote in a referendum about the status of the eastern and southern regions are simply a Russian manipulation.

The dominant narrative in the media, following the line of the Obama administration, is that Russia's agitation in defense of the Russian-speaking people in eastern and southern Ukraine is just fake propaganda, that there is no threat to Russians, Jews and other minority peoples from the new central government. They assert that there is no fascist menace and that Russian state media has created a caricature of Ukraine's “pro-European” government merely as a pretext for Russia to separate that part of Ukraine and annex the region into Russia.

The massacre in Odessa, however, gives the clearest evidence of the role of re-born fascism in the unfolding struggle in Ukraine.

Journalist Robert Parry, a former Associated Press reporter now with Consortium News, has produced some of the most objective analysis of the Ukraine struggle. He published another excellent piece May 5 about the rising tide of neo-Nazi mobilization in Ukraine and the refusal by both U.S officials and the mainstream media to cover its significance.

Parry, who played a major role in examining and exposing the Iran-Contra scandal of the Reagan administration in the 1980s, put the Odessa massacre in context:

“This brutal Nazism surfaced again on Friday when right-wing toughs in Odessa attacked an encampment of ethnic Russian protesters driving them into a trade union building which was then set on fire with Molotov cocktails. As the building was engulfed in flames, some people who tried to flee were chased and beaten, while those trapped inside heard the Ukrainian nationalists liken them to black-and-red-striped potato beetles called Colorados, because those colors are used in pro-Russian ribbons.

“Burn, Colorado, burn” went the chant.

“As the fire worsened, those dying inside were serenaded with the taunting singing of the Ukrainian national anthem. The building also was spray-painted with Swastika-like symbols and graffiti reading “Galician SS,” a reference to the Ukrainian nationalist army that fought alongside the German Nazi SS in World War II, killing Russians on the eastern front.

“The death by fire of dozens of people in Odessa recalled a World War II incident in 1944 when elements of a Galician SS police regiment took part in the massacre of the Polish village of Huta Pieniacka, which had been a refuge for Jews and was protected by Russian and Polish partisans. Attacked by a mixed force of Ukrainian police and German soldiers on Feb. 28, hundreds of townspeople were massacred, including many locked in barns that were set ablaze.

“The legacy of World War II – especially the bitter fight between Ukrainian nationalists from the west and ethnic Russians from the east seven decades ago – is never far from the surface in Ukrainian politics. One of the heroes celebrated during the Maidan protests in Kiev was Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera, whose name was honored in many banners including one on a podium where Sen. John McCain voiced support for the uprising to oust elected President Viktor Yanukovych, whose political base was in eastern Ukraine.

“During World War II, Bandera headed the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists-B, a radical paramilitary movement that sought to transform Ukraine into a racially pure state. OUN-B took part in the expulsion and extermination of thousands of Jews and Poles.

“Though most of the Maidan protesters in 2013-14 appeared motivated by anger over political corruption and by a desire to join the European Union, neo-Nazis made up a significant number. These storm troopers from the Right Sektor and Svoboda party decked out some of the occupied government buildings with Nazi insignias and even a Confederate battle flag, the universal symbol of white supremacy.” Read the whole article on Consortium News

What Obama, McCain, the CIA and Pentagon want in Ukraine

Wars do not necessarily start because the principal antagonists desire war. President Obama acknowledged to the media Russia’s opposition to a new war, with a provocative barb: "They’re not interested in any kind of military confrontation with us, understanding that our conventional forces are significantly superior to the Russians. We don’t need a war."

In this case, neither the United States nor Russia wants to go to war with each other. The U.S. goal is not war with Russia but regime change in Ukraine with the goal of absorbing all of Ukraine into a U.S.-dominated sphere of influence and eventually establishing Ukraine as a NATO country on Russia’s border.

Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s president who was ousted by the Feb. 22 coup d’etat, wanted to integrate Ukraine into an economic arrangement with the European powers but publicly opposed Ukraine joining NATO. He sought a balanced relationship between Russia and the EU countries. The anti-government protests in downtown Kiev began in November 2013 on the day Yanukovych rejected an ultimatum from the EU that would have imposed a harsh austerity program on Ukraine as a requirement to get new financing from the IMF and Western bankers. He was thus labeled as “pro-Russian” by the Western media.

The anti-government “pro-Europe” protest movement that started in Kiev was an eclectic mix of right-wing, centrist and some left-wing opposition to Yanukovych's government. The movement grew with the active and vigorous support from Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the White House and from the EU countries. The imperialist backers of regime change in Ukraine turned a blind eye as the movement quickly came under the leadership of neo-Nazi parties that are virulently anti-Russian.

The February 21 Agreement – and the fascist-led coup

Under extreme pressure, Yanukovych agreed to meet with opposition leaders and sign an agreement, what became known as the February 21 Agreement, to end the crisis by making significant concessions to the demands of the right-wing opposition that were in turn supported by the United States and the EU powers.

The February 21 Agreement between Yanukovych and the opposition was signed in the presence of the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland and a special envoy from Russia, Vladimir Lukin.

The February 21 Agreement guaranteed early presidential elections, included a diminution of the constitutional authority of the office of the president, and provided a basis for ending violence from both the government side and the armed protesters.

The agreement read in part: “Both parties will undertake serious efforts for the normalisation of life in the cities and villages by withdrawing from administrative and public buildings and unblocking streets, city parks and squares. Illegal weapons should be handed over to the Ministry of Interior bodies within 24 hours of the special law, referred to in point 1 hereof, coming into force. After the aforementioned period, all cases of illegal carrying and storage of weapons will fall under the law of Ukraine. The forces of authorities and of the opposition will step back from confrontational posture. The Government will use law enforcement forces exclusively for the physical protection of public buildings.”

The day after the February 21 Agreement was signed, the fascist-led militias violated the agreement by storming the presidential palace and the Parliament building. In a hastily-called rump session of the Parliament they declared a new government and neo-Nazis took five of the 11 cabinet posts of the coup government including the Interior Ministry.

When the fascists scrapped the February 21 Agreement by their armed takeover of government buildings on Feb. 22, the U.S. State Department could not conceal their wild exuberance.

Putin’s orientation

The Putin government in Russia was stunned by the reckless and wildly aggressive support given by the United States to an armed and fascist-led coup toppling the government of Russia’s most populous neighbor, a country that was a strategic and historic ally of Russia.

Ukraine has nearly 46 million people and was historically one with Russia as the largest non-Russian republic in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. The Crimean Peninsula was the home of the Soviet Union’s largest naval base and remained a Russian naval base after the dissolution of the Soviet Union based on a leasing arrangement between Ukraine and Russia. The absorption of all of Ukraine into NATO would inevitably have ousted Russia from its largest naval base.

Since the scrapping of the February 21 Agreement, the struggle has entered a new and highly dangerous phase. Putin has been searching for a way to blunt and mitigate the U.S.-backed offensive in Ukraine while simultaneously looking for a way find a settlement before a larger crisis fully emerges.

The speed of events is breathtaking. Crimea held a Russian-supported referendum that voted to affiliate with Russia. Other eastern and southern cities are mobilizing in opposition to the U.S.-backed regime in Kiev. Fascist militias are hitting back with a campaign of terror and murder. NATO is sending troops, equipment and fighter aircraft into the region. Even as the confrontation grows and assumes a life of its own that could lead to an even greater struggle, the U.S. government and media continue with their smug arrogance. They approach the brink and no one in authority demands a pause and a sober evaluation of where this all ends.

The position today of the Russian Federation is to end the growing confrontation in Ukraine by going back to the February 21 Agreement, which would invalidate the legitimacy of the new semi-fascist coup government and reorganize nationwide elections following the end of the escalating armed confrontations initiated by Ukraine’s military in concert with armed attacks by the Right Sector militias. This position seems eminently reasonable. But it got no quarter in Washington where those who have become drunk with power demand that Russia and all others in the world accept their fate and simply bow and genuflect before the Empire.

Far from aggressively seeking to expand Russia’s power, Putin’s actions have been essentially defensive. His policy has centered on securing the Crimea from a NATO takeover and mitigating the Ukrainian offensive against the pro-Russian Eastern cities. Russia is not the driving force in the protests taking place in the south and east of Ukraine.

Fearing the recklessness of the U.S. and aware that some of the principal U.S. partners in NATO, and in particular Germany, are seeking for a way out of the crisis that Washington has been accelerating, Putin is emphasizing extreme prudence. Even now (as of May 7) he has announced that Russia has pulled its military forces back from its western border with Ukraine. He has also given a nod of approval to the May 25 elections in Ukraine that are being organized by the coup government in Kiev, reversing Russia’s official position from a few days earlier. Putin has now called for the eastern and southern cities' referendum on their “status” within Ukraine to be postponed.

The next days will be of critical importance. Anti-fascist forces in Ukraine’s eastern and southern cities have felt the groundswell of support from Russia and the Russian people. They represent a real, indigenous political force that exists within Ukraine.

Some favor autonomy from Kiev but want to remain inside of Ukraine. Others want the area to be part of Russia. What unites them is their fear and hatred of the semi-fascist coup government in Kiev and the ultra-nationalist Ukrainian militias. They are not puppets of Putin or Russia, but the policy orientation of the Putin Administration cannot but have an impact on their struggle to defend their cities and towns.

Content may be reprinted with credit to LiberationNews.org.

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS
Send me email updates
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

READ ALSO

Massive anti-austerity protest in Madrid
Multiple Marches for Dignity converge on capitol

Ucrania: El quién es quién del nuevo gobierno semi-fascista
Conoce a los individuos que los EE.UU. y la Unión Europea han estado respaldando

NEW: Downloadable pamphlet on the crisis in Ukraine
Crimea Referendum: the hidden truth behind the U.S.-Russia rivalry

Fill out the form to learn more.

Powered by Convio
nonprofit software
This website uses GeoIP by MaxMind (www.maxmind.com)



Email this Printer Friendly Print this
Calendar
MAY
09
The Rising Tide of Immigrant and Worker Struggle | The Growing Movement to Stop Sexual Assault in High Schools and Colleges
Washington forum
MAY
09
Donald Sterling, a racist bigot: one bad apple or the core? (Espanol abajo)
San Francisco forum
MAY
10
Fruitvale Station - Dinner, Movie, Discussion
Chicago film showing
ALL EVENTS

[ckaihatsu]

Take Action: Stop funds for neo-Nazis in Ukraine! Not another Odessa massacre!


ANSWER National email banner
Subscribe Forward this email Donate


Take Action: Stop funds for neo-Nazis in Ukraine!

Thousands of people in the United States have joined the
ANSWER Coalition’s “No funds for neo-Nazis in Ukraine” campaign.


Help flood the White House and Congress with emails! (http://www2.answercoalition.org/site/R?i=NGNwIZh_hB1VQ30beGxniQ)


http://www2.answercoalition.org/images/content/pagebuilder/Fire-in-trade-union-build-0.jpg
Far from their stronghold cities, a militia of fascists trap dozens of innocent
civilians in Odessa's trade union building on May 2, singing pro-Nazi songs
to taunt those burning alive inside. Nazi symbols were spray painted on
the ashes. At least 38 people died, including many who were beaten to
death when they tried to escape the fire.


Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Forward this Email


Dear Chris,

We are writing to urge you to join the nationwide grassroots movement to demand that the U.S. government cut all funds and military aid to the Ukraine government, which has a large number of neo-Nazis in its top positions.

During the past several weeks, thousands of people in the United States have joined the ANSWER Coalition’s “No funds for neo-Nazis in Ukraine” campaign. (http://www2.answercoalition.org/site/R?i=D2cWeKQLKjnAxO4jSP6NDw)

People are using our Take Action: No funds for neo-Nazis in Ukraine (http://www2.answercoalition.org/site/R?i=uzFac3TZzebIcxe5aKy9rQ) internet tool to send thousands of emails to President Obama and members of Congress. We are also organizing street protests and other events in Washington, D.C., and around the country.

The menace of neo-Nazism for the people of Ukraine is very real.

Its rise there is giving added momentum to other European fascist parties in Greece, France, Austria, Netherlands and more. The revival of fascism poses a grave danger to all people everywhere.

On Saturday, May, 3 neo-Nazi militias massacred 38 anti-fascist activists in the port city of Odessa after they chased them into a trade union building headquarters and then set the building on fire. As the trapped individuals unsuccessfully struggled to escape from the burning building, the neo-Nazi Right Sector militia sang pro-Nazi songs while shouting taunts and insults against Vladimir Putin and Russia.

“As the fire worsened, those dying inside were serenaded with the taunting singing of the Ukrainian national anthem. The building also was spray-painted with Swastika-like symbols and graffiti reading ‘Galician SS,’ a reference to the Ukrainian nationalist army that fought alongside the German Nazi SS in World War II, killing Russians on the eastern front,” Journalist Robert Parry, formerly with the AP and now with Consortium News, wrote in his vivid description of the massacre in Odessa.

The overthrow of Ukraine’s government on February 22 was part of an operation led by the same Neo-con politicians that brought us the Iraq war in 2003.

Victoria Nuland, who served as Dick Cheney’s principal foreign policy adviser, is the State Department representative to Ukraine who was caught on tape in January 2014 naming the individuals who would serve in Ukraine’s post-regime change government. She and John McCain joined the Kiev street protests where they had their pictures taken and gave U.S. credibility to the political opposition leaders who are in turn the leadership of the neo-Nazi Right Sector and Svoboda Party. Victoria Nuland is married to Robert Kagan, the co-founder of the Neocon Project for a New American Century, whose officials outlined and provided the blueprint for George W. Bush’s war on Iraq.

Nuland, who was openly promoting the fascist-led protests in Kiev as a State Department official, is virulently anti-Russian. She explained the importance of the Ukrainian protest movement to a reactionary anti-communist think tank in Washington, D.C., in a speech she delivered in December 2013, immediately following her return from the protests in downtown Kiev: "We have invested over $5 billion to assist Ukraine in these and other goals that will ensure a secure and prosperous and democratic Ukraine."

The people of this country are being badly misinformed about the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, which began with a U.S.-backed regime change effort whose goal was to absorb all of Ukraine into NATO, and thus reverse Ukraine’s strong economic and political ties to Russia. Nuland, McCain and now the entire U.S. government seem content with the fact that it was the neo-Nazis who were the driving military force in their regime change operation.

It was neo-Nazi militias who stormed and seized the Parliament Building on February 22, torpedoing a political settlement between Ukraine’s elected government and a street protest movement, and established a new semi-fascist government that immediately banned Russian as an official minority language in Ukraine.

The people of this country are taking action. We do not support even one dime going to a regime that is loaded with neo-Nazis. Join the thousands of people in the United States have joined the ANSWER Coalition’s “No funds for neo-Nazis in Ukraine” campaign (http://www2.answercoalition.org/site/R?i=pT9bBz2Cn8ZzhAuGlS2vxQ) by taking action today.

In solidarity,

—All of us here at the ANSWER Coalition

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Forward this Email


Please make a donation to help support our work around the war crisis in Ukraine. (http://www2.answercoalition.org/site/R?i=1eJSp31042shAmo45SJ92A)


Donate


A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
http://www.AnswerCoalition.org/
[email protected]
National Office in Washington DC: 202-265-1948
Boston: 857-334-5084 | New York City: 212-694-8720 | Chicago: 773-463-0311
San Francisco: 415-821-6545| Los Angeles: 213-687-7480 | Albuquerque: 505-268-2488

If this message was forwarded to you and you'd like to receive future ANSWER updates,
click here to subscribe.

Having trouble viewing this message? Click here.

Click here to unsubscribe from the ANSWER e-mail list.

[ckaihatsu]

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

DOSSIER UKRAINE

IN THIS DOSSIER ON UKRAINE:

1) Ukraine: After the May 11 "Popular Referendum" -- By Dominique Ferré [reprinted from the May 14-20 issue of Informations ouvrières (Labor News), the weekly newspaper of the Independent Workers Party (POI) of France.]

2) Ukraine on the Brink of War; Military Attack on Cities in the East, Pogrom in Odessa -- By Dominique Ferré [reprinted from the May 7-13 issue of Informations ouvrières (Labor News), the weekly newspaper of the Independent Workers Party (POI) of France.]

3) Any Interference Is Illegitimate -- Editorial of Issue No. 300 (May 7-13, 2014) of Informations ouvrières (Labor News), the weekly newspaper of the Independent Workers Party of France (POI).

http://izbris-blog.blogspot.com/2014/05/dossier-ukraine.html

[ckaihatsu]

Popular Rebellion Deepens in Eastern and Southern Ukraine

http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/982.php

[ckaihatsu]

Eastern Ukraine voters show courage, unity in the face of fascism

By Kait McIntyre

Chicago, IL - In spite of the coup government in Kiev, an electoral referendum on autonomy saw huge voter turnout in Donetsk and Lugansk in the east of Ukraine. People lined the streets and waited patiently to cast their votes for self rule.

The successful vote shows mass opposition to the U.S.-backed seizure of power in Kiev by fascists and pro-NATO oligarchs. On voting day, the U.S.-backed coup-makers in Kiev sent soldiers to intimidate voters, firing on civilian crowds and blocking polling stations with armed personal carriers. People still voted in big numbers.

Joining the U.S. government in backing the fascists in Kiev are German Chancellor Merkel and French President Hollande. Together they declared the referendum on autonomy illegal, while supporting an unelected government in Kiev.

Voter turnout reached over 74% in both regions of Ukraine. The referendums addressed the status of the regions, asking voters if they supported the act of state self rule. The results show the popularity and strength of the protest movement. Leading up to the vote, people occupied government, public and media buildings and set up barricades in the city. Some were killed resisting the Kiev coup government’s military crackdown in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine. There are dramatic videos, one of unarmed civilians stopping a tank in the street at an intersection and the other of voters being shot at by soldiers outside a polling place. Last week in Odessa, fascists burned the trade union hall and murdered survivors of the fire.

The results of the referendums were announced on May 12: in Donetsk 89.07% voted in favor of state self-rule; in Lugansk 96.2% voted in favor. Clearly the people have spoken: they oppose the U.S.-backed, fascist forces that overthrew the elected government in Ukraine.

Still, U.S. corporate media tries to dismiss the results of these referendums as the work of a pro-Russian minority, despite Putin’s prior position that the referendums should be postponed. In reality, democratic and left forces such as the Borotba Union and the Communist Party of Ukraine promoted the referendum initiatives. The referendum is the work of brave people within Ukraine, not outside of it.

The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) is issuing a call for “Emergency Antiwar Actions” through May 26 to protest U.S./NATO war moves and to oppose the role of U.S. and NATO in Ukraine. The U.S. already spent $5 billion backing the fascist-dominated coup government. It is also being reported in Ukraine that 400 mercenaries from the U.S. private security firm Academi (formerly Blackwater) are participating in the Ukraine military attacks that are attempting to suppress the democratic opposition. NATO is positioning warships in the Black Sea in an attempt to bully Russia. This proves once again that the U.S. is not interested in peace or democracy; it is only interested in financial gain and global domination.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






This email was sent to [email protected]
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA

[ckaihatsu]

Organizing Union Opposition to U.S. Intervention in Ukraine . . .


Dear unionists and labor activists,

I thought you might be interested in the message below regarding U.S. intervention in Ukraine, which I received this morning from the chairperson of the Ohio State Labor Party. Please also note the resolution adopted unanimously by the San Francisco Labor Council that follows the OSLP statement. The SFLC resolution calls for an end to U.S. intervention in Ukraine.

It would be very important for labor bodies across the country, particularly unions affiliated with USLAW, to take a stand against the growing U.S. intervention in Ukraine.

As many of you may know, this intervention has involved funding and fomenting a coup against a democratically elected government (whatever one may think of that government), earmarking millions upon millions of our tax dollars toward this end, and now sending U.S. mercenaries to the region. According to the May 4 issue of the German newspaper Bild, more than 400 U.S. operatives of Academi (ex-Blackwater) were seen organizing the massacre of civilians in Eastern Ukraine -- a report that has not been contradicted by U.S. officials.

The Wall Street Journal and other news media have published polls showing that the overwhelming majority of the American people are opposed to the continued -- let alone expanded -- U.S. military intervention the world over; they want our tax dollars to create jobs and provide vitally needed social services here at home.

So let's get our unions and labor councils to pass resolutions against U.S. intervention in Ukraine, and let's join -- and where possible get our unions to join -- the demonstrations called by UNAC, ANSWER, UFPJ, Code Pink and other antiwar groups around this central demand: End U.S. Intervention in Ukraine Now!

In solidarity,

Alan Benjamin
Labor activist
San Francisco, Calif.

* * * * * * * * * *


To: U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW) Co-Convenors and the rest of the USLAW Steering Committee

From: Ohio State Labor Party (OSLP)
Subject: Ukraine

Greetings:

The last paragraph of the statement on Ukraine adopted by the USLAW Steering Committee on April 2, 2014 notes, "USLAW officers and Steering Committee will continue to follow developments in the Ukraine and will issue additional statements or calls to action as circumstances require."

As an affiliate of USLAW, the OSLP emphatically believes that an additional statement should be issued now by USLAW that would contain the following points:

First, a clear-cut and unambiguous call for the U.S. government to end its intervention in Ukraine.

Second, the U.S. working class has no stake or interest in intervening in Ukraine in support of the Kiev regime.

Third, the regime in Kiev that Washington is supporting with funds, intelligence and other forms of aid is anti-working class to the core and is strongly influenced by the Svoboda Party and other fascist and neo-Nazi formations.

Fourth, the billions of dollars that the U.S. is providing to bolster the Kiev regime should go instead for jobs, infrastructure, extension of unemployment compensation, food stamps, education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other essential safety net programs at home.

Five, that Washington should stop such provocative actions as deploying U.S. destroyers in the Black Sea, supporting NATO troop deployments eastward, stationing jets and missile bases in eight countries encircling Russia and scheduling U.S./NATO war games in the region.

Sixth, all the polls show the U.S. public's overwhelming opposition to U.S. intervention in Ukraine.

Seventh, the U.S. antiwar movement is united in opposing U.S. intervention in Ukraine, the latest example being the resolution unanimously adopted on May 12, 2014 by the San Francisco Labor Council, one of USLAW's major affiliates. This resolution is being sent to the national AFL-CIO calling upon it to circulate the resolution widely throughout the labor movement. (The resolution is re-printed below.)

Eight, USLAW should call upon the labor movement to educate, organize and mobilize to end U.S. intervention in Ukraine.

Most of these points were not addressed by USLAW's earlier statement. We believe it is high time that they be addressed now.

Jerry Gordon
Chair, OSLP

[The above statement was unanimously adopted by the OSLP Executive Board on May 18, 2014.]

cc: Donna Dewitt, Dennis Serrette, Alan Benjamin, OSLP Executive Board
**************************************************


Resolution on Ukraine and Russia

(adopted unanimously by the Delegates Meeting of the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO, on Monday, May 12, 2014)

Whereas the United States and other Western countries have intervened in the internal affairs of Ukraine, and behind the uprising are millions of dollars of our tax money used in the covert campaign to destabilize and topple the democratically elected former regime, and

Whereas this money comes from the federal budget where it competes directly with funds for human needs programs that directly benefit education and other services and public sector employees as well as students and their families, and

Whereas the Western Powers have historically attempted encirclement and the weakening of Russia by incorporating Eastern European countries into NATO, and

Whereas intervention by Western powers and threats of war are contrary to the interests of the Ukrainian, Russian, and American people and undermine peace and stability in the region, and

Whereas the new Ukrainian government, backed by the United States and European powers, has a fascist-minded element that threatens much of the population, and recalls racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic views that go against our fundamental values, and

Whereas fascist movements historically have sought to destroy the organized labor movement, and

Whereas the region is now a tinder box easily ignited, and

Whereas war in Europe will have horrific consequences to the world economy, to the human race and the planet, and

Whereas a peace oriented, productive economy serves not only the needs of all faculty and students, union members and all workers, but also all strata of society, except war-profiteers and the super-rich,

Therefore be it Resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council urges the U.S. government to use diplomacy with Russia and Ukraine to work out a peaceful resolution of the brewing conflict, one that respects the sovereignty, democratic right to self-determination, and security of all the peoples of Eastern Europe, and

Be it Further Resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council urge the U.S. government to stop all military aid to the new Ukraine government, and

Be it Finally Resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council will send copies of this resolution to Bay Area Congressional Representatives, Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Secretary of State John Kerry, Senator John McCain, Senator Mitch McConnell, President Barack Obama, and the national AFL-CIO.

Submitted by Allan Fisher, AFT 2121

[ckaihatsu]

Ukraine on the Eve of the May 25 Presidential Election

By Dominique Ferré

(reprinted from the May 21-27, 2014, issue of Informations ouvrières [Labor News], the weekly newspaper of the Independent Workers Party of France)

Setting the presidential election in Ukraine on May 25 had the goal of conferring a "democratic" and "European" legitimacy to the new government installed in Kiev.[1] Today, Ukraine is on the brink of war and dislocation. Neither the allegedly "anti-terrorist" military offensive in the east of the country nor the "national reconciliation round-tables" decided one after the other by the top people in power have achieved the desired results.

Obama, Merkel, Hollande, Fabius . . . are all repeatedly issuing statements aimed at giving the May 25 elections a veneer of legitimacy. A U.S. official added the threat of "bleeding Russia" through new sanctions in case the Russian government decided to interfere. For his part, Putin was compelled to say that the May 25 election "was a step in the right direction."

But what are the stakes of May 25 for workers in Ukraine?

The end of State subsidies to industry

It is clearer and clearer that whatever the result of the election, all the major decisions have already been made. Thus, the agreement reached in late March with the IMF launched a series of murderous announcements.

- May 1: The Kiev government announced a 50% hike in the price of gas.

- May 13: "Pavel Sheremeta, Ukraine's Minister of Economic Development and Commerce declared that Ukraine was ending State subsidies to industry. . . . Experts explain that Ukraine's industry should expect catastrophic consequences. . . . 'During the next six months, the State can no longer subsidize production. We have cut all subsidies to avoid having to end all social programs -- though some of these programs will have to be cut anyway.'" (Gazeta.ru)

Such a measure will surely sound the death knell of the metal works and mines. Take the mines, for example. A mineworker explains that, "[W]ithout public funding, the mines would have closed down long ago. He says that this is the fault of mine owners who, ever since the mines were privatized, have never invested money in them. Exports to Russia, which amount to about half of mining production, have slowed down badly. Production is plummeting." (Le Nouvel Observateur, May 2)

The working class is trying to make itself heard

Despite the terror and rampant war, the working class is trying to express itself on its own ground, from the east to the west of Ukraine.

- On May 5, the mineworkers of the Lviv Mine Works (in the west) downed their tools to protest the non-payment of 90% of their January to March wages.

- On May 11, in Krivoi Rog (in the center of the country), the miners of the iron complex of Evraz Sukhaia Balka marched to demand a wage increase.

- On the morning of May 13, a strike broke out at the Kharkiv fertilizer factory (in the east). Workers set up a picket line in front of the factory entrance demanding the payment of back pay. Wages were several months in arrears.

And in the middle of all this, the Yatseniuk government has just announced the end of all state subsidies to industry!

"Oligarch vampires"

All these developments have led to a process of differentiation in the eastern cities. In Sloviansk, the "self-proclaimed" authorities are demanding "the immediate nationalization of the oligarchs' properties" . . . while, on the contrary, the draft "People's Constitution" in Donetsk calls for "recognizing the multiple forms of private, public, and mixed property." . . .

Worried by the calls raised by workers in some sectors to seize the properties of the "oligarch vampires," Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest oligarch (who is acting as a broker between the "separatists" and Kiev), announced the creation of so-called "militias," sending his employees to patrol the cities of the major industrial cities of the east -- alongside the Ukrainian police forces -- to "restore order."

- - - - -

Endnote

[1] On May 25, elections will be held throughout Europe to elect deputies to the so-called European Parliament -- a body that is nothing but a rubber stamp for the policies decided by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF. -- Translator's Note

* * * * * * * * * *

SIDEBAR

Petro Poroshenko, "Oligarch" and Front-Runner in the Presidential Election

After the collapse of the USSR, Petro Poroshenko took his cut in plundering state property. He privatized several confectionery and automotive firms for his own benefit, not to mention a shipyard and a TV channel. . . .

Forbes magazine reports that his net worth is more than US$1.6 billion. In 1998, Poroshenko became a deputy on behalf of the Unified Social Democratic Party of Ukraine, which supported President Kuchma. In 2001, he participated in the founding of the Party of Regions, the party of Victor Yanukovych.

Feeling that the political winds were shifting, Poroshenko put himself at the service of Yushchenko and was re-elected deputy in 2002. He then he funded the "Orange Revolution" in 2004.

Dismissed from the SNBO (Council of Security and Defense) on charges of corruption, he was elected again deputy in 2006 and was appointed as Yushchenko's foreign affairs minister in 2009, taking a stand in favor of Ukraine joining NATO. Then, in 2012, under Yanukovych, he was appointed Minister of Commerce. . . The United States and the European Union support his candidacy because he appears to be "less corrupt" than the "Gas Princess" (as she is known) Yulia Timoshenko, who is also a presidential candidate.

On May 15, Andryi Parubiy, another presidential candidate, published in The Wall Street Journal a column titled, "Ukraine Needs Immediate U.S. Military Aid; Antitank and Antiaircraft Weaponry are Essential to Deterring Putin's Aggression." Back in 1991, Parubiy was a co-founder of the National Social Party of Ukraine (later renamed Svoboda). He later was a deputy for the Batkivshina Party in 2012. Currently he is the president of the National Defense and Security Council (SNBO).

It should be noted that Petro Simonenko, leader of the Communist Party of Ukraine (KPU), has withdrawn his candidacy. This party -- which had been totally part of the institutions for 23 years -- was removed summarily from the Rada (parliament) on April 15 after Simonenko, in the name of his party, denounced "the political powers that sent tanks and assault vehicles against its own citizens." Those words were considered "separatist" and resulted in Bill No. 4896, which "removed the KPU parliamentary group" from the Rada. As he was exiting the TV premises, where he had announced the withdrawal of his candidacy, Simonenko was targeted with Molotov cocktails.

[ckaihatsu]

Are Western energy giants' interests behind Ukraine violence? (http://rt.com/news/159588-east-ukraine-shale-deposits/) 17 May 2014 Economic interests, such as untapped shale gas resources, already sliced and diced by Western energy giants, are behind the Kiev government's 'anti-terrorist' operation against the pro-federalist regions, foreign policy expert Nebojsa Malic tells RT. The eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions cut ties with Kiev and declared independence from Kiev after a popular vote last Sunday. Yet federalist activists have no doubt that a new wave of government crackdown is on its way...It's in the Donetsk Region that Shell signed, in January 2013, a 50-year profit sharing deal with the government of Ukraine to explore and drill for natural gas in shale rock formations. US energy giant Chevron signed a similar deal for $10 billion last year, but it is focusing on developing shale gas reserves in the West of Ukraine.

http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

[ckaihatsu]

Rather the Useful Idiot: Ukraine in Turmoil

http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/989.php

[Sasha]

Note;right sector got 0.9% of the votes in the elections, I don't know wheter svoboda fielded a candidate and what their result was but considering the top 2 candidates got 54 and 36% it can't have been much.
So electoraly the fash role seems to have been played out for now.

[ckaihatsu]

Note;right sector got 0.9% of the votes in the elections, I don't know wheter svoboda fielded a candidate and what their result was but considering the top 2 candidates got 54 and 36% it can't have been much.
So electoraly the fash role seems to have been played out for now.


Good to know -- (thanks).

Would you have any sense of what U.S. and/or world public opinion is regarding all of this, specifically, besides being generally anti-war (since Iraq) -- ? It would seem, considering these election results, that the U.S./NATO interventionism in Ukraine, and its backing of the fascists, can't be playing well in the minds of the average person, but there's been a deafening silence as far as what actual public sentiment is....

[ckaihatsu]

Tucson teach-in on U.S./NATO intervention in Ukraine

By Jafe Arnoldski

http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/tucsonukraine.jpg

Tucson, AZ - Tucson activists organized a presentation and discussion on the crisis in Ukraine, May 23. The teach-in was part of the nationwide emergency action campaign, initiated by the United National Antiwar Coalition, against U.S. intervention in Ukraine.

The event, attended by 20 anti-war activists and Tucsonans eager to learn about the ominous developments in Ukraine, featured speakers from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Alliance for Global Justice, and Workers World Party. The presentations covered the history and dynamics leading up to the Maidan protests, the U.S. and NATO-backed fascist coup in February, the current anti-fascist resistance across the country and the role of U.S. imperialism and the corporate media.

Paul Teitelbaum with Workers World Party and an organizer of the panel explained, “People will never be told the truth of the situation by the bourgeois media. So it's important to gather and learn about the role of U.S. imperialism in creating the crisis in Ukraine and the relationship between the imperialists and the fascists. Combating media lies and clarifying the political character of the events will help us build the strong anti-imperialist, anti-war movement that we need.”

After the presentations, a lively question and answer discussion shed further light on the urgent need to oppose the U.S. efforts that are backing fascists in Ukraine and the malicious expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe. Speakers and participants also drew connections between U.S. meddling in Ukraine, Belarus and Venezuela.

In front of a flag of the newly established Donetsk People’s Republic in Eastern Ukraine, activists demanded “U.S. hands off Ukraine,” and “Victory to the anti-fascist resistance,” and vowed to uphold solidarity with the people of Ukraine in opposing the U.S.-backed Kiev junta.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






This email was sent to [email protected]
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA

[DOOM]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10334435_10152258423644902_5704351963841174337_n.j pg

[Mikula Mali]

You can't understand us Slavs. In my country bigest party is nationalist conservativ party, and around 50% are hard core nationalist and fascist sympathizers. What do you think they think would best represent their interests? I dont have ilusion about Putin, he is also convert, as lot of our "leaders" and he must push someones interests to prevale, but at least he kept some sovereignty to those people. Irony with our "leaders" is, that former prime minister (who is now in jail for coruption) has removed our fascist monuments prior to the joining EU and Ukrainians have started to erect theirs.

[DOOM]

You can't understand us Slavs. In my country bigest party is nationalist conservativ party, and around 50% are hard core nationalist and fascist sympathizers. What do you think they think would best represent their interests? I dont have ilusion about Putin, he is also convert, as lot of our "leaders" and he must push someones interests to prevale, but at least he kept some sovereignty to those people. Irony with our "leaders" is, that former prime minister (who is now in jail for coruption) has removed our fascist monuments prior to the joining EU and Ukrainians have started to erect theirs.

I am actually a Slav and let me tell you that after 91' there was never again a major leftist party, that advocated minority rights in eastern countries. The ex-communist governments have been nationalist-conservative for the last 20 years. This isn't just a recent phenomena, it has been always like this. Putin however instrumentalizes this accusation of fascism to justify his intervention in the Ukraine. The thing is, Ukraine is not fascist and those 2 little "fascist" parties are loosing more and more support (like they ever had any major support). Ukraine's only fascist in the wet dreams of some anti-imps.
God I hate this romanticism for pseudo-anti-imperialist forces like Russia.

[Zukunftsmusik]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10334435_10152258423644902_5704351963841174337_n.j pg

The situations aren't exactly comparable, neither are the European parties mentioned comparable to Svoboda.

[Mikula Mali]

Looks some Ukrainian nationalists *****ing about delaying of jointment with "nations of masters". They probably want some immediate military asistance in order to crush inferior Russians and get control over those mines.

President-elect of Ukraine Petr Poroshenko has asked the EU leaders to postpone the signing of the Association Agreement, Why no one laments the betrayal of "European choice'? It is exactly the same declaration presidet Yanukovych did last November which triggered ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

[Mikula Mali]

I respect your opinion, but by thet there are no fascist among Slavs, and Russia is equal imperialist as western countries. I am slightly in doubt with that. I mean BIAZED claimed fascists are isignificant in Slavic nations, and Russia is equali imperialistic as Western countries, which to me being Slav sounds like oximoron. Slavs could have such aspirations only on the wing of some real imperialists from the west. This here is not that case. It's not that they trying to claim something from Poles.

[Hrafn]

I respect your opinion, but by thet there are no fascist among Slavs, and Russia is equal imperialist as western countries. I am slightly in doubt with that.

I don't really understand what you're saying.

[Conscript]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10334435_10152258423644902_5704351963841174337_n.j pg

What a bullshit chart.

[Sasha]

Whats bullshit about it except that the Ukrainian result was obviously from the presidential elections the week before the EU one?

[DOOM]

What a bullshit chart.

thanks for the nice oneliner, could you please elaborate why you think this chart is bullshit?

[DOOM]

Whats bullshit about it except that the Ukrainian result was obviously from the presidential elections the week before the EU one?

Oh it's a tool of the bad western imperialist bourgeoise to keep us sheeple quiet!

[Mikula Mali]

Try using Google translate like me :) What I meant, BIAZED claimed fascists are isignificant in Slavic nations, and Russia is equali imperialistic as Western countries, which to me being Slav sounds like oximoron. Slavs could have such aspirations only on the wing of some real imperialists from the west. This here is not that case. It's not that they trying to claim something from Poles.

[ckaihatsu]

Ukraine’s phony elections make billionaire new president. Turmoil spreads

By J. Arnoldski

Over the past two weeks, the U.S. and NATO-backed junta in Kiev has persistently pushed Ukraine further down the path of civil war. Regime-orchestrated violence against the anti-fascist resistance is escalating, with a crackdown on both independent militias and civilians in the east.

The ongoing turmoil is part of the aftermath of the Ukrainian presidential elections on May 25. The U.S.-backed coup makers held elections in an attempt to legitimize their fascistic rule and crusade against the independent forces in Eastern Ukraine. While billionaire oligarch Petro Poroshenko won with over 50% of the vote, multiple independent and foreign observers are pointing to an extremely low turnout and election process violations. Right Sector thugs ‘guarded’ polling booths in some areas, while in other places citizens eventually turned to throwing trash in polling boxes rather than cast ballots for an illegitimate regime.

The military operation against eastern Ukraine’s 7 million people was resumed within hours of the election, and some of the worst fighting yet has gripped recently independent Donetsk.

On May 26, just after the results of the election, Kiev’s ground and air forces launched a new assault to capture Donetsk’s international airport, a crucial airport of the region, and penetrate further into the city. Nearly 100 casualties of self-defense fighters and civilians were reported within 24 hours. Many died when Kiev forces opened fire on ambulances transporting the injured to hospitals. Although Kiev declared on Tuesday that self-defense forces had been routed, Donetsk self-defense forces announced on May 28 that the airport and downtown area were retaken. The contention continues, with a Kiev helicopter shot down on the morning of May 29, killing a general.

Donetsk is not alone in being under intensified siege and assault since its successful referendum on independence on May 12. The Ukrainian military has besieged Slavyansk and shelled civilian buildings, including hospitals and schools, including a kindergarten, in an effort to break the resolve of the resistance. Heavy gunfire has also plagued Lugansk.

As Kiev continues its campaign of violence, Kiev’s oligarchs are unsuccessfully ordering workers in the east to refuse to cooperate with the new People’s Republic government. On May 28, however, in an act of courageous defiance, nearly 3000 miners of the Donbas region marched in Donetsk and demanded an end to Kiev’s military operation and the removal of its forces from the area. Miners’ shouts of “Fascism won’t pass!” and “Donbas will not forgive!” challenged the endless noise of gunfire and Kiev’s military airplanes overhead. More miners across Donetsk are joining the protests, with anti-oligarch, anti-fascist revolutionary ideas spreading amongst the people.

The resistance of Donetsk and the east is heroically persevering amidst artillery shells bursting in civilian areas and air force and helicopter attacks on citizen soldiers. With Kiev’s new billionaire president violently tormenting civilians, Putin’s recognition of the Ukrainian presidential election, the announcement of an initiative for reconciliation, and the de facto abandonment of the People’s Republics appeal to join Russia, the people of the East are up against tremendous odds.

Nonetheless, the people’s resistance is refusing to kneel down before the billionaire oligarchs and fascist rulers of Ukraine. On May 24, representatives of the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as other struggling cities, met to establish the state of New Russia and unite resistance territories into a sovereign state with a coordinated military. The fightback of the people of Eastern Ukraine is equally a beacon of light in the struggle against Kiev. The eastern bastions of anti-fascism need progressives’ solidarity more than ever. With the arrival of volunteers to the self-defense forces of Donetsk from Russia and Chechnya and the establishment of New Russia, internationalism must be on the agenda of anti-fascists around the world.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]






This email was sent to [email protected]
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA

[Conscript]

thanks for the nice oneliner, could you please elaborate why you think this chart is bullshit?

Because it's misleading and by no means shows the state of Ukrainian nationalism.

After all, Party of Regions got 3%. Even factoring in the east's low turnout, I don't really trust this election. Especially since Poroshenko's election unleashed renewed assaults on Eastern Ukrainian heroes and newly martyred, and he has since confirmed his opposition to both federalism and the 'terrorists'.

The fact you posted it only suggests you don't have the slightest clue of what you're talking about. Especially since these Euro 'far right' parties are hardly of equivalence to Svoboda and Right Sector. Only the Jobbiks really are.

This chart was probably made by a butthurt Ukrainian annoyed at how the euro far-right has universally condemned them and want to show how more 'moderate' Ukraine actually is (you know, after the Odessa massacre). It's pretty pathetic.

P.S. I'm a slav too, I guess I'm just a little more well-read on the matter (and maybe not obsessed with condemning 'anti-imperialists'). FYI, Svoboda has received double digit numbers in West Ukraine in other elections, and holds 38 seats in the rada, a significant force. They also hold a number of cabinet positions in the interim government, including National Security Chief Andriy Parubiy who organized the national guard, and the Maidan self-defense units inside it. Btw, with those seats Svoboda's larger than the KPU and 1/3 of the size of Ukraine's formerly strongest party, the Party of Regions.

[ckaihatsu]

Newly installed President Poroshenko pledges to militarise Ukraine and crush rebellion in the east

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/06/09/poro-j09.html

[cyu]

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/07/11/on-israel-ukraine-and-truth/

the US mounted one of its “colour” coups against the government in Ukraine, exploiting genuine protests against corruption. Biden came to Kiev, as did CIA Director John Brennan. The shock troops of their putsch were Ukrainian fascists.

For the first time since 1945, a neo-Nazi, openly anti-Semitic party controls key areas of state power in a European capital. No Western European leader has condemned this revival of fascism. Svoboda leader Oleh Tyahnybok has called for a purge of the “Moscow-Jewish mafia” and “other scum”, including gays, feminists and those on the political left.

In Orwellian fashion, this has been inverted in the west to the “Russian threat”. Hillary Clinton likened Putin to Hitler. Without irony, right-wing German commentators said as much. In the media, the Ukrainian neo-Nazis are sanitised as “nationalists” or “ultra nationalists”.

On 2 May, in Odessa, 41 ethnic Russians were burned alive. The Right Sector leader Dmytro Yarosh hailed the massacre as “another bright day in our national history”. In the American and British media, this was reported as a “murky tragedy” resulting from “clashes” between “nationalists” (neo-Nazis) and “separatists” (people collecting signatures for a referendum on a federal Ukraine). The New York Times buried it, having dismissed as Russian propaganda warnings about the fascist and anti-Semitic policies of Washington’s new clients. The Wall Street Journal damned the victims – “Deadly Ukraine Fire Likely Sparked by Rebels, Government Says”. Obama congratulated the junta for its “restraint”.

[Mikula Mali]

Sad thing humanity always get intimidated and submit to the most ruthless people. I was hoping this small community in East Ukraine will resist, but they are under enormous pressure, I hope they will soon get some serious help.

[cyu]

(The situation 5 months ago)

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/04/13/us-irked-as-israel-doesnt-back-their-ukraine-policy/

The US has expressed anger at Israel’s refusal to support a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia over the Crimea.

US officials were reportedly “incensed” that Lieberman suggested relations with both the US and Russia were important to retain, since the US gives Israel billions annually, and Russia doesn’t.

US media has dutifully mirrored government claims of Russian aggression, and claimed anti-semitism among the neo-Nazi Right Sector in the Ukraine as a “myth.” Israel’s media, by contrast, has reported extensively on attacks against Ukrainian synagogues, and the growing emigration of Jews from the nation.

[cyu]

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/german-tv-shows-nazi-symbols-helmets-ukraine-soldiers-n198961

German public broadcaster ZDF showed video of Ukrainian soldiers with Nazi symbols on their helmets in its evening newscast. pictures of a soldier wearing a combat helmet with the "SS runes" of Hitler’s infamous black-uniformed elite corps. A second soldier was seen with a swastika on his gear.

he had asked whether the battalion had fascist tendencies. “The reply was: we are just Ukrainian nationalists”

http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2014_37/656601/140909-ukraine-nazi-02_63a0fd5c7a717bba6d7b7d5b090d91b2.nbcnews-ux-520-200.jpg

[cyu]

http://bayareaantifa.noblogs.org/post/2014/09/02/right-sectors-borislav-bereza-visits-san-francisco/

Saturday night, the 30th, an event was held in downtown San Francisco where people were invited to discuss the Ukrainian fascist group “Right Sector” with it’s very own press secretary, Borislav Bereza.

The event was small, not more than 20 people in attendance, but it is nonetheless troubling that such a relatively high-ranking member of Right Sector could feel comfortable showing his face in this city.

This emergence of Right Sector in the United States is unfortunately not the first. So far this summer, Right Sector has hosted meet ups in multiple cities on the east coast (local antifas can email us for more info, if we haven’t contacted you already) and even held a demonstration in New York City.

[cyu]

The prelude to rigged elections is to outlaw the opposition. Maybe we can have a kinder, gentler fascism.

http://www.ibtimes.com/ukrainian-parliament-member-tossed-trash-bin-angry-protesters-video-1690106

A Ukrainian member of Parliament was thrown into a garbage bin by angry protesters. Vitaliy Zhuravskiy is a member of Yanukovych’s Party of Regions. The Rada approved a bill Tuesday that would throw out all of Yanukovych’s former allies from Ukrainian politics.

Zhuravskiy himself reportedly played a role in passing a bill that limited free speech in January.

many of the protesters appeared to be members of the Right Sector, a radical right-wing nationalist coalition.

The new bill is now in the hands of President Petro Poroshenko, who is expected to sign it without delay ahead of the Oct. 26 Rada elections.

[Hrafn]

Stop misusing the word Fascism, cyu.

[cyu]

I guess these guys http://bayareaantifa.noblogs.org/post/2014/09/02/right-sectors-borislav-bereza-visits-san-francisco/ are more concerned about Right Sector than you are.

[Hrafn]

Cute. You're still misusing "Fascism", you faux-anarchist.

[cyu]

I'm sure there are also Israeli officials that are willing to overlook those in the American State Department who make use of fascists. Maybe they think "the end justifies the means" - at least as long as the US State Department helps protect the Israeli state in the United Nations.

Likewise, I'm sure there are also Israeli officials that would like to protect the Israeli state but want no part in funding the use of fascist gangs anywhere. These are merely different strategies towards a similar goal - that of preserving the Israeli state.

But all ideologies and memeplexes branch. If you go another step back, you might say that the Israeli state is merely one branch of a larger goal to protect the Jewish people in general. Some may believe that the Israeli state itself isn't necessary for such a goal - you'd probably more likely to find such people outside Israel (otherwise they'd probably already be in Israel doing their part).

Surely there are Jewish people who work against racism from outside Israel, and often in a context unrelated to Judaism. Stepping outside even that, you'd find non-Jews also working against racism in various ways ...and of course there are those for whom fighting racism is merely one part of their general humanism or work for equality.

I would expect that the more removed a person is from the Israeli state itself, the less likely he feels compelled to support American policy. But I'm sure there are also Israelis that do not believe they need American support to survive, and already have various contingency plans ready - after all, if your "patron" is starting to make deals with various unsavory groups to achieve their foreign policy goals, you'd be a fool to see them only through rose-colored glasses.

[Hrafn]

What on earth are you ranting about?

[Chainsaw]

ITT: Easily frightened pseudo-left wing reactionaries, with no knowledge of world history.

Ukrainian Nationalism, in this context, is a self-defence tactic, as a struggle against Russian imperialism, as it has been since using the Russian empire as a sanctuary from the oppressive Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which had absorbed the remnants of the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia—the by-product of the Kievan Rus' dissolution after having been attacked by the Golden Horde.

Believe me, Ukrainians are as Anarchism-loving as the Ukrainian Nestor Makhno; no gods, no masters, pardon the cliché.

[sanpal]

http://cs14115.vk.me/c624324/v624324613/c0e6/dH3DDlaVunU.jpg

[White_Sun]

Seems absurd to see the NATO flag with Nazi one...

I'll never wrap my head around why so many Slavs sympathize with Nazism.


US officials were reportedly “incensed” that Lieberman suggested relations with both the US and Russia were important to retain, since the US gives Israel billions annually, and Russia doesn’t.

I don't remember the exact statistic but I believe about a third of the Israeli population can speak Russian and 20 percent were born in Russia. I wonder why Russian relations are important to Israel not to mention all the tourism. :rolleyes:

In any case, real travesty from any angle you look at there.

[cyu]

Seems absurd to see the NATO flag with Nazi one Seems ironic, but then again, a supposed "defender of democracy" like the CIA was good friends with Augusto Pinochet. I guess the only conclusion that can be drawn is that ideology is just something used to fool the noobs, and the only true ideology they (ie. the sociopaths that manage to weasel their way into positions of authority) follow is that of power and domination.

[White_Sun]

Seems ironic, but then again, a supposed "defender of democracy" like the CIA was good friends with Augusto Pinochet. I guess the only conclusion that can be drawn is that ideology is just something used to fool the noobs, and the only true ideology they (ie. the sociopaths that manage to weasel their way into positions of authority) follow is that of power and domination.

The west (particularly the US) support regime change is possibly the biggest thorn in US public relations (aside from actively invading, Israel, etc.). I just don't see that much logic in NATO expanding aggressively. Soft power has had much more success overall than strong arm tactics such as organized regime change that end up in messy conflicts. Libya, Syria, Egypt, Ukraine. I think strategists are still flushed with the success of the 90s.

The Eastern Rebels also have a fair share of Monarchists, who are admittedly less offensive than Nazis.

Worth also pointing out that the Cold War really wreaked of opportunism on both sides of the bloc. Soviets had cozy relations with some bizarre leaders out of convenience as well, take Cambodia for example.

[Sasha]

Seems absurd to see the NATO flag with Nazi one...


during the Gladio days NATO officials worked together with fashgroups and neo-nazi's all over europe; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio
italy, greece, france, belgium, netherlands, basically everywhere they had a stay behind network set up to supposedly fight the Russians if they would invade fash groups where responsible for the non-military sections.
obviously these groups ran amok with all the guns, bombs, funding and guaranteed state cover up when the russians never came. they killed massive amounts of civilians in italy alone; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna_massacre

thats not to say i think the pro-kiev fash groups now are also directly funded by NATO as well, just that one shouldnt think it that strange a connection.

[cyu]

the Cold War really wreaked of opportunism on both sides of the bloc. Soviets had cozy relations with some bizarre leaders out of convenience as well

If the following is true of corporations, it's probably also true of any hierarchical organization - the ascension of Stalin being a prime example. Then again, I suspect it's both a combination of sociopaths drawn to hierarchies, as well as hierarchies producing sociopaths: http://www.revleft.com/vb/showthread.php?t=180387

http://www.bravenewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/hugh.png

[Sandy Becker]

This is a joke, yes? The leadership of the Ukrainian "revolution" is riddled with actual fascists -- including the Right Sector folks and the older line followers of Bandera. It is a correct usage by cyu, to call them fascists. This is not the lazy, quasi-left general epithet usage of the word. These are bona fide, kill-the-jews, gun toting, terror fomenting, fascists.

[cyu]

https://ukraineantifascistsolidarity.wordpress.com/2014/11/25/us-canada-and-ukraine-vote-against-un-resolution-condemning-glorification-of-nazism

the United Nations met and discussed a resolution on Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

115 countries voted in favour, 55 abstained (all of the EU countries) and only US, Canada and Ukraine voted against.

“Expresses deep concern about the glorification, in any form, of the Nazi movement, neo-Nazism and former members of the Waffen SS organization, including by erecting monuments and memorials and holding public demonstrations in the name of the glorification of the Nazi past, the Nazi movement and neo-Nazism, as well as by declaring or attempting to declare such members and those who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition and collaborated with the Nazi movement participants in national liberation movements;”