Re: Article about Ukraine
The similar situation happened also in my country Croatia as Avala described it. We did not have revolution but after the "independence" banks were sold instantly to french, austrian and italian banks. The interest rates were instantly doubled, tripled in comparison to their home countries. Recently there was a scandal because many people borrowed money in swiss francs years back and the swiss franc raised so they had to return enormously more then they bargained for. Judge made decision for people and against banks on court but now the banks are complaining. It was all orcastrated move by banks because they knew the franc will raise.
All industry was privatised not so much by outsiders but amongst goverment, and machines and equipment sold so people ended on street en masse. Debt kept raising and now it is the biggest in comparison to other former countries in Yugoslavia. Now it stands at about 200 billion dollars and what is funny then before the war they were complaining how the Yugoslavia was so indebted but it debt(for which US was responsible) was only 16 billion dollars(industry was more advanced then in those countries like Italy, Spain and other western countries. Heck, even Sweden borrowed and implemented it s social model. Slovenia and Croatia were the most developed industrialy). And that was all of Yugoslavia, today s 6 countries(or 7 if you call Kosovo a state) and 2 autonomous provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo. When it all begun people bought propaganda by new goverment if they gain independence that they will become like Switzerland. Now it is real Switzerland for sure, total opposite of it. Energy bills, telecomunication, social services and public transportation kept raising from then and is still because of debt. I remember in late 90 s how the bus ticket was about one dollar and now it is 3 dollars and that is half the price that set protesters in Brasil. Telecomunications being privatised by t-com and other private foreign companies that raise prices as they wish. They were privatised through lobbying as usual because those in power know they would not be there forewer so they grab as much as they can for themselves before next elections. Same with oil industry that was sold in a same way and there was even scandal and footage of prime minister being bribed through text messages on mobile phone and he is know in jail(scapegoat while those that were with him have still political roles, not mentioning that he kept some paintings that were stolen and sold on black market and had very expensive watches he could not afford with his paycheck. Also being bribed to take more expensive contracts of companies then cheaper ones because of deal to share state money with that company later. But like my father says ther are many more prime ministers like this walking free). Shipping industry is destroyed because it iwas rival to european. All the hotels on the Adriatic coast sold to Germans and other foreigners, and some islands. And even bigger catch is to come it seems when we are now in EU. Many industries were destroyed even prior to EU but this small measure of native industry that was left will be surley destroyed with eu cheaper goods and unlimited privatisation. There are valuable natural resources left like clean ground water and tourism is probably a next target. One day you will come to beach or island and some foreigner, German or other will tell you Nein, nein this is mine in your own country, that is if you will even have money to get to the sea if from mainland. Now there is a fuss about monetization of highways. Landscape is rich but poorly used and goverment keeps buying cheaper foreign agro products while native producers are to expensive, of course because goverment does nothing to support them financially so the price would not be so high if it did like big eu countries do. Another deal with those western companies for sure. Sad thing is people know all that through some media that covered many political scandals and life experience but they are all more or less passive. Just keeps you wondering when food shortages come from what they will feed population. No agriculture, all gold reserves sold but they keep buying pate in tons like that will be enough. I have to admit that I laughed after hearing that and had no doubt anymore they are all psychos.
And when it comes to democracy when there was a referendum for EU, goverment implemented law that if there was 51 percent of voters that said yes it passed. There were 43 percent of voters that went to vote and from that 66 voted yes and 33 no(I being one of them and only time I went to vote). So here you have very democratic process in which not even 1/4 of population said yes. Funny thing was that both governing and opossition parties were very consolidated and united when it came to EU membership. How would they not be because when I did some math and take into account that EU is attractive to those politican from poorer countries because pay is big when converted in native currency. I calculated that for one year of "work" in EU birocracy when pay in euros is converted in native currency their year salary is somewhat more that 1 million in native curency. Millioners in one year in other words. And of course that both parties got their seat there. And it seems people that voted yes did not learn anything from previous manipulations because they thought EU will be all milk and honey, but now they are realising that it is not. I knew it will happen and even had a seminar about it on my college about what will exactly happen. My father is still bitter and nevr forgot break up of Yugoslavia and says I do not have any country anymore, my country has gone long ago and the people got what they wanted and asked for. He is in a way right but I do not even care about things happening as they do in usual way, nothing can be done anymore, it is not my problem - look on myself and those close ones and those that see things as they are.
Having hope where there is no ground to having it is I think deluding yourself. Things won t get better for Ukraine or any other country but will get much, much worse. If there was any hope we would not be in this mess in the first place. But in this stage of game it does not really matter because one more demon before coming hell does not make much difference.
There was political debate on the TV, worker's union previously had strike because workers were loosing jobs en masse and they complaining that they have no money to pay for the bills, have no money for the kid's school, have no money even for the food. One female representative of the government (bleached hair, pumped up breasts and lips, botoxed face and creepy hollow eyes) said on all of that: "Sure, I understand, if you said so, but look it from the bright side. Before you couldn't go anywhere (US and EU held Serbia in blockade during Milosevic), and now you can have a WEEKEND IN BARCELONA whenever you want"
It reminded me of event I had on college when one professor said how now things are much better then in medieval times because then you could not travel as a serf. I said but if you do not have money today you also can not travel. He was silent for a moment and said if you think that way you have nothing to do here. It was funny in a way because his construct was proven wrong and he did not took it lightly.
it is believed that the country's transformation from a unitary to a federal country may help her
in fact, many regions of Ukraine want more independence
maybe it was a solution to the existing split :/
I think it is quite of opposite because it will give way to independence, that is some parts gaining independence. In Yugoslavia in federal constitution there was a right for every country to split if wanted and based on that many countries based they right for independence. It is all calculated from outside because they know where it all leads.
brutal beatings everywhere, and most importantly - often organized by police chiefs, sporty young people with hammers and batons beat people, and police JUST WATCHED it, being close.
It seems they used cunning tactics learned from Putin in Russia that used it in a same way. Recruting hooligans to do the job of goverment and in that way having their hands look clean for world public in a way.
and the police (Bercut), and protesters - all of us in life neighbors
ie people with different viewpoints live in one country and must negotiate
the only legitimate way to regime change - is a new election
Are all of those beatings by goverment done by berkut, (correct me if I am wrong but are they not special police unit recruited from ex paratroopers and marines, going back from soviet OMOH, today s special riot police in Russia) or by ordinary police also? I am interested because most of atroceties are done by the special police units and russian OMOH was also involved in massacres in Chechnya.