Ukraine's laws criminalise communism and glorify Nazi collaborators
Details: Public protest against Ukraine's new laws to criminalise communism and glorify Nazi collaborators. Stand up to support Ukraine's communists and antifascists. Wear a red item of clothing or carry a red flag. Further details: Ukraine's laws criminalise communism and glorify Nazi collaborators Protest at: The Embassy of Ukraine, 60 Holland Park, London WS11 3SJ http://goo.gl/maps/QTkX3/> Nearest Tube: Holland Park Date:Saturday, 25 July 2015 From: 11.30-13.00hrs EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Objective Two new laws banning communist symbols and honouring Nazi collaborators came into effect in Ukraine on 17 May 2015. A 'static protest' will be held outside the Embassy of the Ukraine, 60 Holland Park, London WS11 3SJ on Saturday 25 July 2015. The objectives of the protest are to bring solidarity to communists in the Ukraine currently facing extreme provocations and state repression to bring together a broad demonstration in defence of full political rights for the communist opposition and antifascists in the Ukraine and against the state honouring of Nazi collaborators to provide a focus for protest against anti-communist revisionism, which seeks to restore the political legitimacy of Nazism and neo-Nazism and to ban communist and left wing political organisations. Goals: To bring together a colourful and visible protest at the Embassy of the Ukraine in London in line with the stated objectives. Participants should be asked to attend from 11.30am for a 'static protest' (this does not require police permission). The protest is intended to be filmed and photographed for use in a social media campaign and elsewhere to publicise the appeal made by the Communist Party of Ukraine to bring to public attention that the ruling Ukrainian regime is flagrantly violating the rights and freedoms of its citizens, cynically violating generally accepted standards for protection of ethnic minorities, political opposition and dissidents, and breaking UN and PACE resolutions condemning the social genocide and propaganda of Nazism and fascism. Communist Party of Ukraine appeal to Communist and Workers' parties on Tuesday, 23 June 2015: "We urge you to use all your influence to ensure consideration of the so-called "De-communisation Laws" by the Venice Commission (of the Council of Europe http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/events/), as well as to put all possible legitimate pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to prevent the introduction of a neo-fascist state in Ukraine in the centre of Europe and to prevent the incitement of a new world war." [see full statement below]. Participants are asked to wear red clothing and/or bring a flag or banner with a clearly identifiable communist symbol. The protest aims to be a vivid demonstration of the dangers to democracy from red-baiting and anti-communist banning orders. The main slogan will be from the Pastor Niemoller poem: "First they came for the Communists" #FTCFTC alongside two demands 1.) "NO Ukraine honours for Nazi/Banderite war criminals" 2.) "STOP political persecution of communists in Ukraine" Project Outline: The first law “on the condemnation of the communist and Nazi totalitarian regimes” forbids both Soviet and Nazi symbols, making something as trivial as selling a USSR souvenir, or singing the Soviet national hymn or the Internationale, punishable by up to five years in prison for an individual and up to 10 years in prison for members of an organisation. It also makes it a criminal offence to deny the “criminal character of the communist totalitarian regime of 1917-1991 in Ukraine” in the media or elsewhere. The second law recognises controversial nationalist groups – including the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) – as “independence fighters” and makes it a criminal offence to question the legitimacy of their actions. While these two groups at different times fought both Soviet and German forces, they also collaborated with the Nazis and took part in ethnic cleansing. One of the authors of the law is the son of UPA leader Roman Shukhevych. https://ukraineantifascistsolidarity.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/ukranian-parliament-bans-communist-symbols-and-legitimises-nazi-collaborators//> https://ukraineantifascistsolidarity.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/ukranian-parliament-bans-communist-symbols-and-legitimises-nazi-collaborators//> http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/21/ukraine-bans-soviet-symbols-criminalises-sympathy-for-communism/> http://newcoldwar.org/poroshenko-approves-law-banning-communist-symbols-equating-ww2-nazi-collaboration-with-ukrainian-independence/
24 Jul 2015 - 13:24 by WDNF	Peoples Movement | comments (0)