Omelchenko: 'I said "Let the people in...these are our children, our future"'; education minister asks schools to support striking students
allow demonstrators access to the toilets and eateries located on the first floor of city hall, on Khreshchatyk.
“Last night, when the temperature reached 12 below freezing, I said ‘Let the people in to use the first floor, as these are our children, our future,’” Interfax-Ukraine quoted Omelchenko as saying.
Protests in Kyiv continue forthe fifth consecutive day, and Omelchenko’s ruling means the growing number of demonstrators on the city’s main street will now have access to two cafes, a large cafeteria-style restaurant and four toilets on the first floor.Omelchenko added that he may soon open access to the second floor of the building also.
Access for protesters tocity hall is yet another key boost for the long-term success of the growing demonstrations, where the number of participants now exceeds more than 1 million rotating participants.
Supporters of oppositionist presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko have in recent days gained control over several other key buildings in the city, including Ukrainian House, located on European Square, and the All-Ukraine Union building, located on Independence Square. Yesterday, students stormed the Education Ministry and demanded that all students who have left classes to participate in the demonstration be free to do so without fear of retribution or censure in any form.
BothUkrainian House and the Unionbuildingare currently being used as support facilities for demonstrators and for organizers of what has now clearly developed into a full-blown revolution against the regime of outgoing president Leonid Kuchma and his hand-picked successor Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Yushchenko’s allies have in both buildings set up spaces for demonstrators to rest and wash, as well as booths where they can be fed free of charge and find cost-free housing with city residents.
Demonstrators in other parts of the city have barricaded the Cabinet building and the Rada, or parliament. Lines of protesters five deep have linked arms and surrounded the entrance to the Cabinet Ministry preventing staff from going to work, and the usually high police presence around the Rada has been considerably lessened.
Also on Nov. 26, Education Minister Vasyl Kremen issued a surprise statement
saying he would urge all educational institutions to provide room, boarding
and food to students arriving in the capital for the protests.
Kremen is a high ranking member of the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine
(united), headed by Presidential Administration Chief Viktor Medvedchuk, a
fierce foe of Yushchenko. Kremen’s statement comes a day after demonstrators
loyal to Yushchenko stormed the ministry building demanding his resignation
or support.
