Protesters in Ukraine remind us of the priceless benefits of being EU members

[lordtiberius]

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-jan-19-live-updates-335218.html

I called this a Revolution in November.  Your thoughts?

[Dewed]

Sort of the classic.. People have no interest in doing X, until you tell them X IS NOT ALLOWED !  Then X is suddenly as popular as pizza. Oddly the same happens here. hrm

Still, IMHO, this is not quite a revolt, but a violent protest against a recent policy change rather than the government as a whole. A slight distinction, that possibly exists only in my head, but you did ask for thoughts, so there ya go .

[lordtiberius]

I just hope no one is seriously hurt and that there is no property damage.  And yes, I know how futile that hope really is.

[tfcrew]

Protestors in Kiev are protesting that protesting is now illegal

Reuters  |   Posted: 01/19/2014  8:33 am EST  |  Updated: 01/19/2014  3:37 pm EST  200,000 March In Kiev Over Protest Ban
* Opposition calls for people to reject Yanukovich
               
* Protesters inflamed by anti-protest legislation
               
* Sunday's protest biggest of 2014
               
By Richard Balmforth and Natalia Zinets
               
KIEV, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Up to 100,000 Ukrainians massed in  the capital Kiev on Sunday in defiance of sweeping new laws  aimed at stamping out anti-government protests.
               
The rally, the biggest this year in a cycle of pro-Europe  protests convulsing the former Soviet republic for the past two  months, was spurred by the legislation rushed through parliament  last week and which the opposition says will lead to a police  state.
               
Significantly raising the stakes in the confrontation with      President Viktor Yanukovich, opposition leaders announced a  plan to gather people's signatures expressing no confidence in  his leadership and that of parliament.

w/video

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/19/ukraine-protests_n_4627047.html

[tfcrew]

Several videos..

http://news.yahoo.com/ukraine-protests-turn-fiery-street-battles-211927510.html

[lordtiberius]

What do you think?

[Muzh]

Sort of the classic.. People have no interest in doing X, until you tell them X IS NOT ALLOWED !  Then X is suddenly as popular as pizza. Oddly the same happens here. hrm

Still, IMHO, this is not quite a revolt, but a violent protest against a recent policy change rather than the government as a whole. A slight distinction, that possibly exists only in my head, but you did ask for thoughts, so there ya go .

Your assessment is way off. Reevaluate.

[lordtiberius]

Your assessment is way off. Reevaluate.

explain

[Dewed]

Wrong? I was asked for my opinion.... I swear, it is indeed mine.

[Muzh]

Wrong? I was asked for my opinion.... I swear, it is indeed mine.

Okay, if you say so.

[mendeleyev]

The gov't promised last month that there would be no prosecutions and all forgiven.

As things quieted down the gov't began selective prosecutions anyway. Then they passed a new law banning such protests.

The public reacted predictably by again protesting.

The gov't is now using cell phone GPS and call records to note who is where, to be used for later arrests.

The people are even more pissed off.

Moral #1: Gov't is stupid if it thinks that it can ignore giving people a voice and instead, passes laws to silence their voices. The gov't is getting what they deserve.

Moral #2: Take the battery out of your phone if you don't want NSA types following you around. Even with the phone turned off the GPS functions until the battery is removed. This is technology as old as the late 90s and especially the youth who understand technology should know better by now.

[Muzh]

I was just reading that Yanukonvict has no clue about the uprising started on 19.01.2014.
 
Literally, he has no clue. As in not aware it ever happened.

[jone]

While I am not as close as many members who are from Ukraine or who have spouses and their families who are from Ukraine, I could feel this summer, and do feel the undercurrents of pre-revolution occurring now.  I think people should include the distinct possibility that such will affect travel plans and, possibly, future communication as this ongoing revolt continues to ratchet up.

[lordtiberius]

I agree.

Kreshchatik is looking more and more like a war zone.

[Muzh]

The tale on the street is that La Mierda is going to hit the fan at 6PM Ukie time.

[tfcrew]

I agree.

... a war zone.

Ukraine prosecutors: 2 dead men hit by live ammo          Ukraine prosecutors: 2 dead men hit by live ammo-Image1  The Canadian Press, 2014 A police officer beats a protester during clashes in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Police in Ukraineís capital on Wednesday tore down protester barricades and chased demonstrators away from the site of violent clashes, hours after two protesters died after being shot, the first violent deaths in protests that are likely to drastically escalate the political crisis that has gripped Ukraine since late November. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)       KYIV, Ukraine - Two people whose dead bodies were found Wednesday near the site of clashes with police were shot with live ammunition, prosecutors said Wednesday, raising fears that their deaths could further fuel violence on the streets of the Ukrainian capital after two months of largely peaceful protests.
 Medics at the site said a third man also died after he fell from a high point near a sports arena at the site of clashes, but Natalia Vishnevska, spokeswoman for the city health department, said that man survived the fall and was being treated in the hospital.
 The protesters' deaths fuelled fears that daily protests aimed at bringing down the government over its decision to shun the European Union for closer ties to Moscow and over human rights violations could escalate and turn even more violent.

http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/4328105-3-die-as-police-protesters-clash-in-kyiv/

[jone]

The gov't promised last month that there would be no prosecutions and all forgiven.

As things quieted down the gov't began selective prosecutions anyway. Then they passed a new law banning such protests.

The public reacted predictably by again protesting.

The gov't is now using cell phone GPS and call records to note who is where, to be used for later arrests.

The people are even more pissed off.

Moral #1: Gov't is stupid if it thinks that it can ignore giving people a voice and instead, passes laws to silence their voices. The gov't is getting what they deserve.

Moral #2: Take the battery out of your phone if you don't want NSA types following you around. Even with the phone turned off the GPS functions until the battery is removed. This is technology as old as the late 90s and especially the youth who understand technology should know better by now.

It is my understanding that the government is now going to select two children from each of the Oblasts in Ukraine as a penalty to the people to prove that the government remains in power.   These children are to fight a battle to the death and the one remaining will be granted great riches as a sign of the benevolence of the government. 

(At least I thought I heard it.  Maybe I heard it somewhere else?)

[Muzh]

No, you got it right.

[Anotherkiwi]

It is my understanding that the government is now going to select two children from each of the Oblasts in Ukraine as a penalty to the people to prove that the government remains in power.   These children are to fight a battle to the death and the one remaining will be granted great riches as a sign of the benevolence of the government. 

(At least I thought I heard it.  Maybe I heard it somewhere else?)

No, you got it right.

In the words of the great John McEnroe: "You cannot be serious!" 
 
If you are, then I fear that, within a year (a few months?  a few weeks?) there will be no Ukraine as we know it today.  Perhaps Yanukovich and his cronies should look westward and remember Ceaucescu, because it will be the whole of the country against the government, not pro-Russia versus pro-EU.

[Dewed]

It is my understanding that the government is now going to select two children from each of the Oblasts in Ukraine as a penalty to the people to prove that the government remains in power.   These children are to fight a battle to the death and the one remaining will be granted great riches as a sign of the benevolence of the government. 

(At least I thought I heard it.  Maybe I heard it somewhere else?)

This is a reference to recent movie "Hunger Games", based on fictional books, where such a government exists.. eg; the post is sarcasm and not to be taken seriously.

[Anotherkiwi]

This is a reference to recent movie "Hunger Games", based on fictional books, where such a government exists.. eg; the post is sarcasm and not to be taken seriously.

Unfortunately, as I'm sure you know, there are various leaders around the world whose level of understanding is rather less than you would expect hope from a person in such an eminent position.  I'm quite sure there is more than one who would think this an excellent idea.

[Muzh]

Sorry AK, I thought you knew about the "Hunger Games" trilogy.

[Muzh]

In another news, scores of Automadians have been kidnapped and tortured. Torture includes cutting their butts.

[tfcrew]

The tale on the street is that La Mierda is going to hit the fan at 6PM Ukie time.

The cease fire didn't work.
Protests erupt in Lviv.

 

Tensions in Ukraine spread to second major city Posted: Jan 23, 2014 2:32 AM CST Updated: Jan 23, 2014 9:04 AM CST KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Tensions in Ukraine spread far from its embattled capital on Thursday as hundreds of people in the city of Lviv stormed into the regional governor's office and forced him to write a letter of resignation.
Kiev, the capital, has been the epicenter of two months of protests against President Viktor Yanukovych after he turned away from closer ties to the 28-nation European Union in favor of getting a bailout loan from Russia. The protests have turned violent this week as pro-EU demonstrators feel Yanukovych has ignored their demands to resign, call a new election and rescind his harsh laws against protesters.

http://www.whbf.com/story/24525673/tensions-in-ukraine-spread-to-second-major-city

[mendeleyev]

Kyiv is burning and Prime Minister Azarov has offered to resign.

Meanwhile media reports say that wounded protestors who show up for treatment at hospitals are "disappearing."

Photos and details at the Mendeleyev Journal: http://wp.me/peVMt-39K