The three political opposition leaders and the
demonstrations need victories. This did
not happen in parliament where, not having a majority, they failed to win a
non-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his
Cabinet. True, had the Communists
supported them or the ruling Party abandoned ship there might have been a
victory. If, if… Now, the opposistion
leaders will ask President Yanukovych to use his constitutional authority to
dismiss the Cabinet. Fat chance.
The revolution has strong endorsement inside Ukraine: the
President’s regime has a mere 13 % support.
Internationally there is nearly universal blessing. Poland lit up it’s tallest building in blue
and yellow colours in honour of Ukraine.
The demonstrators gained a moral victory when Russia’s autocrat
President Putin called them extremists.
But this is support for but not the end of the protests. There are monumental tasks ahead.
There are some that would like to see the demonstrators to
stand down. Former presidents Kravchuk,
Kuchma and Yushchenko are calling for a roundtable. They appear more interested in calm than a
people’s victory against the regime: their assets are protected by the status
quo. Mr. Yushchenko’s messages are the
most damaging. Several times now he has
applauded the demonstrations’ non political nature. This is false; the protest is a political act
by the people of the highest order but he knows full well that without
political leadership a throng of demonstrators is doomed to failure. He is not
interested in their victory. Recall how
he helped Mr. Yanukovcyh win his first presidential election against Yulia
Tymoshenko by 3.5%. by urging voters to
spoil their ballots by voting against all candidates. They shoud not be heeded.
Having created the mess, without apologizing or cleaning it
up President Yanukovych beat a retreat to China. Are the people angry enough to barricade the
airport and prevent his return to Ukraine?
Can the three opposition leaders capitalize on the power
handed them and deliver the goal of the people: bandu het! Out with the
criminals! So far they have worked
within the established political framework– peaceful demonstrations, votes in
parliament. Their road-map is defined by
three goals –cabinet resignation, special parliamentary and presidential
elections, and freedom for political prisoners.
Yet it is hard to believe that the institutions controlled by Yanukovych
clans or Moscow will allow such victories.
Meanwhile, the government is bringing security forces from
outside Kyiv—Russia?- to remove the blockades.
If the regime is true to form it will provoke and use violence to
succeed.
The government’s perversity knows no bounds. Currently its asking for understanding of
its atrocities: they’re intended to preserve peace. Meanwhile 10 beaten-up kids are missing,
hospitals are filled with gassed-up demonstrators. One of them has been questioned and tortured
while his lawyer was denied access. An
official statement from doctors asks the police to refrain from beating
demonstrators in the stomach, kidneys or crack open their heads. The president is absent. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov alludes to a European
agreement sometimes in the new year providing demonstrators give up their last
trump; the blockade of the presidential
buildings. Trips to Russia by senior
officials abound.
Opposition leaders are criticized for not taking enough
advantage of the power the huge throngs give them. Each has strengths. Arsenyj Yatseniuk does solid analyses; Dmytro
Tyahnybok provides fiery motivation; and Vitali Klitschko has a global
understanding of what it means to be a champion. However, few doubt the advantages of having a
force like Yulia Tymoshneko with them.
Are the people angry enough to storm the penal colony where
she is into her ninth day of a hunger strike?
Save her life and with that act free themselves and Ukraine? From day one she urged them: take power into
your hands. This could mean:
** Not letting the President back into Ukraine
** Opening the prison gates to release political prisoners
** Establishing a provisional government which will
immediately sign-up for European integration, take over the machinery of
government and work on a transition
**Call an election in three-four months
Ukrainians have
revolted many times against autocratic rulers: World War II insurgency still
rankles today’s ex-Communist autocrats.
If today’s revolutionaries are to
succeed this time they must heed Stalin.
As he slaughtered, starved and exiled Ukrainians by the millions for
standing up to his regime he opined, Ukrainians will sing, shed a few tears and
go home.
The opposition leaders must lead.
Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is an opinion writer.
