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Again "extremists"
March 5 2014
In 1988, when tens of thousands of people had gathered in Freedom
Square, Moscow's "Vremya" program was calling them a group of
nationalists and extremists. Were there people among them (us) with
such attitudes? Maybe, I, personally, have not seen. Anyway, it is
clear that it is not important. It is much more important why people
were going to the square, what goals were pursued. When in 2008 people
were gathered in the same square to protest against the rigged
election, "Haylur" was saying that they were lawbreakers, and the then
President Robert Kocharyan, meeting with university students prior to
March 1, voiced direct intimidations addressed to the rally
organizers. (Now, when the ANC "patched up" with Kocharyan, they
prefer not to remember about it). And, after March 1, the official
propaganda was saying that the demonstrators had shot at the police,
and showed different types of weapons, as well as syringes (as if they
were drug addicts). This false concept has found its place even in the
university history textbook. Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin is
interpreting the intentions of the people who came out of Kiev Maidan
in a unique way. Moreover, it is noteworthy that unlike the previous
two cases described above Putin is interpreting the events taking
place not in his but the neighboring country. According to Putin, it
turns out that not inactive people, citizens protesting against the
corrupt government were gathered in Kiev Maidan and other cities of
Ukraine rather than mainly the Nazis and banders who "by the command
of their western masters" were in war against the Russian-speaking
population. Moreover, the "Berkut" fighters were quietly standing on
the streets of Kiev, whereas the nationalists were shooting at them
from the firearm, as well as thrown "Molotov cocktails" on them. Were
there extreme nationalists among the Ukrainian opposition? Of course.
Have they applied to illegal actions and atrocities? Of course. But,
to assert that they are the culprits of 95 victims, would severely be
a distortion of the reality. And, most importantly that the vast
majority of the population of Ukraine, irrespective of ethnic
background, was filled with hatred towards the government and the
Kremlin supported Yanukovych in the first place. On the other hand, we
should not, of course, fall into the arms of Maidan or any other
revolutionary romance. Recently, I was watching a film called
"Cristiada" and it was telling about the events that took place in
Mexico in 1920s. According to this film, the then President of Mexico,
General Plutarch Elias Calles, had decided to close all Catholic
churches and monasteries, persecute and torture priests, without any
reason. Religious people rose against it, and guerrilla operations
began, which was called Cristiada, by the name of fighting warriors,
cristeros name. The fight eventually ended with success, and the
Catholic Church regained its position in Mexico. In reality, however,
everything was not so romantic. Cristeros' fighting methods were not
absolutely spotless, during the Civil War they allowed exactly the
same atrocities as the authorities, in addition, there were rumors
that they were receiving moral and financial support from the Vatican.
So, there are no angels in geopolitical or internal political
struggle.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/03/05/164074/
March 5 2014
In 1988, when tens of thousands of people had gathered in Freedom
Square, Moscow's "Vremya" program was calling them a group of
nationalists and extremists. Were there people among them (us) with
such attitudes? Maybe, I, personally, have not seen. Anyway, it is
clear that it is not important. It is much more important why people
were going to the square, what goals were pursued. When in 2008 people
were gathered in the same square to protest against the rigged
election, "Haylur" was saying that they were lawbreakers, and the then
President Robert Kocharyan, meeting with university students prior to
March 1, voiced direct intimidations addressed to the rally
organizers. (Now, when the ANC "patched up" with Kocharyan, they
prefer not to remember about it). And, after March 1, the official
propaganda was saying that the demonstrators had shot at the police,
and showed different types of weapons, as well as syringes (as if they
were drug addicts). This false concept has found its place even in the
university history textbook. Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin is
interpreting the intentions of the people who came out of Kiev Maidan
in a unique way. Moreover, it is noteworthy that unlike the previous
two cases described above Putin is interpreting the events taking
place not in his but the neighboring country. According to Putin, it
turns out that not inactive people, citizens protesting against the
corrupt government were gathered in Kiev Maidan and other cities of
Ukraine rather than mainly the Nazis and banders who "by the command
of their western masters" were in war against the Russian-speaking
population. Moreover, the "Berkut" fighters were quietly standing on
the streets of Kiev, whereas the nationalists were shooting at them
from the firearm, as well as thrown "Molotov cocktails" on them. Were
there extreme nationalists among the Ukrainian opposition? Of course.
Have they applied to illegal actions and atrocities? Of course. But,
to assert that they are the culprits of 95 victims, would severely be
a distortion of the reality. And, most importantly that the vast
majority of the population of Ukraine, irrespective of ethnic
background, was filled with hatred towards the government and the
Kremlin supported Yanukovych in the first place. On the other hand, we
should not, of course, fall into the arms of Maidan or any other
revolutionary romance. Recently, I was watching a film called
"Cristiada" and it was telling about the events that took place in
Mexico in 1920s. According to this film, the then President of Mexico,
General Plutarch Elias Calles, had decided to close all Catholic
churches and monasteries, persecute and torture priests, without any
reason. Religious people rose against it, and guerrilla operations
began, which was called Cristiada, by the name of fighting warriors,
cristeros name. The fight eventually ended with success, and the
Catholic Church regained its position in Mexico. In reality, however,
everything was not so romantic. Cristeros' fighting methods were not
absolutely spotless, during the Civil War they allowed exactly the
same atrocities as the authorities, in addition, there were rumors
that they were receiving moral and financial support from the Vatican.
So, there are no angels in geopolitical or internal political
struggle.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/03/05/164074/