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Ukraine protest, stoked by harsh new laws, gives voice to frustration with their leaders Ukraine protest, stoked by harsh new laws, gives voice to frustration with their leaders
(about 5 hours later)
KIEV, Ukraine — Tens of thousands of protesters once again joined a two-month encampment on Independence Square here Sunday, but speakers and demonstrators vented their frustration with opposition politicians for not providing clear leadership or a workable strategy. KIEV, Ukraine — Tens of thousands of protesters joined a two-month-old encampment on Independence Square here Sunday, but speakers and demonstrators vented their frustration with opposition politicians for not providing clear leadership or a workable strategy.
Sunday’s rally was the first since President Viktor Yanukovych signed a package of draconian laws that restrict free speech, the free press and the right of assembly, as well as Internet use. His doing so has re-stoked anger among the opposition. Sunday’s rally was the first since President Viktor Yanu­kovych signed a package of draconian laws that restrict speech, the news media, and the right of assembly and Internet use. His action re-stoked anger among the opposition.
Looking for a fight, several hundred demonstrators armed with heavy sticks and baseball bats broke away and confronted police on the street leading up to the parliament, or Verkhovna Rada. They shot off fireworks and threw flares and stones at the police, who responded with flash grenades and fire hoses, as the temperature dipped into the teens. There were a few pitched fights. Looking for a fight, several hundred demonstrators armed with heavy sticks and baseball bats broke away and confronted police on the street leading up to the parliament, or Verkhovna Rada. They ignited fireworks and threw flares and stones at police officers, who responded with flash grenades and fire hoses, as the temperature dipped into the teens. There were a few pitched fights.
The Interior Ministry told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that 20 Interior troops were injured, four seriously. No word was available on the number of injured protesters. The Interior Ministry told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that 20 security troops were injured, four seriously. No word was available on the number of injured protesters.
The battle pitched strident nationalists — who have been chafing at the lack of direct action — against the forces of authority. A bus was set on fire, a first for Kiev but hardly unusual in the recent history of such clashes elsewhere in Europe and around the world.The battle pitched strident nationalists — who have been chafing at the lack of direct action — against the forces of authority. A bus was set on fire, a first for Kiev but hardly unusual in the recent history of such clashes elsewhere in Europe and around the world.
A speaker addressing the crowd at the scene of the conflict said they were demanding that parliament — which recessed immediately after passing the new legislation Thursday in a brawling, hurry-up session — be called back from vacation to reconsider the laws. A speaker addressing the crowd at the site of the conflict said protesters were demanding that parliament — which recessed immediately after passing the legislation Thursday in a brawling, rushed session — be called back from vacation to reconsider the laws.
One opposition politician, the boxer Vitali Klitschko of the UDAR party, waded into the set-to and tried to stop it, with some temporary success. One opposition politician, the former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko of the UDAR party, waded into the clashes and tried to stop them, with some temporary success.
“Violence leads to nothing but mayhem,” the head of the Fatherland Party, Arseny Yatsenyuk, told the big crowd at Independence Square, known as the Maidan. “With radical actions we destroy our probable victory.” “Violence leads to nothing but mayhem,” the head of the Fatherland Party, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, told the big crowd at Independence Square, known as the Mai­dan. “With radical actions, we destroy our probable victory.”
But the crowd earlier chanted “Leader, leader!” to show its unhappiness at the performance of the politicians who head the three main opposition parties. But earlier, the crowd had chanted “Leader, leader!” to show its unhappiness with the performance of the politicians who head the three main opposition parties.
Klitschko called for a referendum on early presidential elections and said the parties arrayed against Yanukovych’s Party of Regions would begin to set up an alternate government, on the grounds that the new laws were illegally rushed through the Rada. Klitschko called for a referendum on early presidential elections and said the parties arrayed against Yanukovych’s Party of Regions would begin to set up an alternative government on the grounds that the new laws were illegally hurried through the Rada.
“They should have created a provisional government months ago,” said Inna Halak, a protester from a suburb of Kiev who lost her driver’s license Saturday because she was identified by the police as a participant in an auto rally against Yanukovych. “They should have created a provisional government months ago,” said Inna Halak, a protester from a suburb of Kiev who lost her driver’s license Saturday because she was identified by police as a participant in an auto rally against Yanukovych.
What she fears most is that the three political parties — UDAR, Fatherland and Svoboda — are starting to look out for their own interests at the expense of the movement’s. The leaders of all three have talked about running for president at the next scheduled election, in 2015, or sooner if they succeed in forcing an early vote. What Halak said concerns her most is that the three main opposition parties — UDAR, Fatherland and Svoboda — are starting to look out for their own interests at the expense of the movement’s. The leaders of all three parties have talked about running for president next year — or sooner, if they succeed in forcing an early vote.
The laws signed by Yanukovych — one of which requires advocacy groups receiving money from abroad to register as “foreign agents” — borrowed heavily from Russian legislation. If the opposition splits against itself, that will also reflect Russia’s recent history. The laws signed by Yanu­kovych — one of which requires advocacy groups receiving money from abroad to register as “foreign agents” — borrowed heavily from Russian legislation. If the opposition splits, that will also reflect Russia’s recent history.
Klitschko announced that he and the other two party chiefs plan to meet Monday to discuss a strategy.Klitschko announced that he and the other two party chiefs plan to meet Monday to discuss a strategy.
That’s too late, said Halak’s friend, Tamara Demchenko. “Yesterday the police took our licenses,” she said. “Tomorrow they’ll take our cars. The day after tomorrow they’ll probably take us.” That’s too late, said Halak’s friend Tamara Demchenko. “Yesterday the police took our licenses,” she said. “Tomorrow they’ll take our cars. The day after tomorrow they’ll probably take us.”
Organizers of the Maidan camp have posted a video online of the last few minutes of Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech, in Memphis in 1968. Before his famous peroration about having been to the mountaintop, he talks forcefully about not giving in to the police or to the authorities when freedom of speech and assembly are at stake. He also takes a dig at Russia.Organizers of the Maidan camp have posted a video online of the last few minutes of Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech, in Memphis in 1968. Before his famous peroration about having been to the mountaintop, he talks forcefully about not giving in to the police or to the authorities when freedom of speech and assembly are at stake. He also takes a dig at Russia.
“We need such a leader,” Halak said.“We need such a leader,” Halak said.
Volodomyr Viatrovych, who has written a book on 20th-century Ukrainian protest movements, said King, whose birthday is being observed in the United States on Monday, was inspiring because he was a spiritual as well as a political leader. Ukraine “absolutely” could use such a leader today, he said. “And in these tough conditions, such leaders will appear.” Volodymyr Viatrovych, who has written a book on 20th-century Ukrainian protest movements, said King, whose birthday is being observed in the United States on Monday, was inspiring because he was a spiritual as well as a political leader. Ukraine “absolutely” could use such a leader today, Viatrovych said. “And in these tough conditions, such leaders will appear.”
Others weren’t so sure that a single strong leader would solve the protest movement’s problems, but they are nonetheless growing weary of the politicians. “We need to do something else. This isn’t effective. Everybody understands that,” Natalia Starikova said. Others weren’t so sure that a single strong leader would solve the protest movement’s problems, but they are growing weary of the politicians. “We need to do something else. This isn’t effective. Everybody understands that,” said Natalia Starikova.
“We’re standing here for two months and no change,” Yevheniy Pakhnyuk said. “We’re standing here for two months and no change,” said Yevheniy Pakhnyuk.
“We have no legal means” to fight back against the government, given the new laws, said his wife, Anna. “So what can we do?” Maybe, said Yevheniy, the nationalists who went off to pick a fight with the police at the Rada have the right idea.“We have no legal means” to fight back against the government, given the new laws, said his wife, Anna. “So what can we do?” Maybe, said Yevheniy, the nationalists who went off to pick a fight with the police at the Rada have the right idea.
The new laws have not been published yet, so they are not in effect. That will probably happen Monday or Tuesday. People again mocked them — especially one that makes it a crime to wear a helmet at a demonstration — by wearing all sorts of kitchen strainers and saucepans and cake plates on their heads.The new laws have not been published yet, so they are not in effect. That will probably happen Monday or Tuesday. People again mocked them — especially one that makes it a crime to wear a helmet at a demonstration — by wearing all sorts of kitchen strainers and saucepans and cake plates on their heads.
Viatrovych, the historian, said the main difference between the struggle of Ukrainians to be free in the 20th century and the fight against the government today is that now there is no need to raise an awareness of Ukraine as a nation, as there was earlier. Viatrovych, the historian, said the main difference between the struggle of Ukrainians to be free in the 20th century and the fight against the government today is that there is no longer any need to raise awareness of Ukraine as a nation.
“But we have to be prepared for a long fight against the authorities,” he said, though he predicted that it won’t take the 70 years that Ukrainian nationalists struggled in the previous century. “And one of the key lessons is, we don’t have to be afraid of using new methods” — or, he added, finding new leaders.“But we have to be prepared for a long fight against the authorities,” he said, though he predicted that it won’t take the 70 years that Ukrainian nationalists struggled in the previous century. “And one of the key lessons is, we don’t have to be afraid of using new methods” — or, he added, finding new leaders.