President Yanukovych and security forces vanish from Kiev
Kiev ( AsiaNews) - The office of President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev is empty and there are no guards to guarding it; security forces have also vanished from Maidan and demonstrators seem to have gained complete control.
Opposition members say that no one knows where the president is, but they
want him to resign immediately and elections held no later than 25 May and not
in December, as had been agreed yesterday by Yanukovych and the opposition.
The deal was the last attempt to save the country from an incipient civil war
and economic disaster. Both parties agreed to the decision to reinstall the
2004 constitution of (born of the "Orange Revolution") and launch a
provisional government within 10 days. The deal also included a complete a
constitutional reform by September that gives less power to the president and
presidential elections by December.
But now the pressure is on to immediately dismiss the pro-Russian
president. And that is why the protesters remain in Maidan square, although the
agreement provides for the removal of barricades and a three month halt to the
protests that have dominated global headlines.
Immediately after the agreement, parliament voted yesterday for the
re-installment of the 2004 constitution, an amnesty for the protesters accused
of violence, and the change of a law that could lead to the release of Yulia
Tymoshenko, Yanukovych 's rival in prison for "abuse of power".
The agreement was signed with the support of the European Union; the United
States and Russia want to be involved in seeing it is adhered to.
In recent days, the tension had reached a climax and at least 77 were killed
people, including protesters and police.
The following reflection by artist Olesya Drashkaba was published on the
protesters blog, which we re-publish in full:
"No normal person can remain
indifferent to what's happening in my Ukraine! All of these beautiful faces of
the murdered (you deliberately shoot the most beautiful, you dogs!). All of
this blood, the explosions and gunfire. All this is terrible! Terrible! I weep
over every drop of spilled blood!
BUT I would say that right now, right next to all of this death, I see so much
life!
The toughest young supporters, who sit atop the barricades with such grace,
managing to even strut a little... this is life!
Girls usually decked out in the
latest fashions, as if they had stepped straight off the catwalk, on the front
line in treating the wounded ... this is life!
The "fearsome" grannies, braver than the entire army all together (with all due
respect to the latter! Moreover, the army should have a battalion of grannies
it could learn a lot) who are out their shrouded by gases without any masks (and
don't dare offer them yours they won't accept!) why? Because they are doing it
precisely so "you young people can live better" ... this is life!
Heroic doctors, with their exhausted faces, who closely monitor your meds, to not
accidentally take something that you have already and can be of use to other
doctors ... this is life!
Women who buy medicines at 8 euro per pack (note: in Ukraine the average salary
is 200 euro per month) and press on the pharmacist to hurry so they can return
" before they start again" ... this is life!
The "sex symbol" of
Maidan, those we have named the "Right flank", and to whom we turn in
the most difficult moments for their military organization ("Does anyone
know what the right flank does? ), Who are SO happy when we bring them
chocolates .... this is life!
Housewives who distribute home cooked meals, apologizing for having brought so
"little" ... this is life!
The people in the tents (note: there is always someone sleeping in the streets
to guard the barricades) , who ask you not to bring anything, but only "to
visit them for a chat" and then you learn that when they are not on
Maidan, these are people who go to the theater in the evening and are well
cultured ... this is Life
The people from cities around
Kiev, and who could simply say "what do we care!", but who with their
sticks block the berkut buses (note: armed police) ... this is life!
The grandparents, who throw themselves on the berkut so they "will not
take out the younger" ... this is life!
That extraordinary stuntman who saved so many people from the burning Union building
awaiting the arrival of the firemen, and the people who saw him come out,
shouting "Bravo" : This is a NEW, GREAT, INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND
BEAUTIFUL LIFE !
There are people who see fascism in our patriotism (and many journalists favor
this point of view), or think that nothing will change, or justify their fears
( I understand them: we are afraid too, here in the square) who say "they
will deceive everyone anyway" (it may be so, but so what?!?!?) . But all
this is not about what I've written, this is not Life.
Today in Maidan Square and
throughout Ukraine there is only Life and Death, Good and Evil. Anything else
is superfluous, it is the ranting of people talking of themselves to themselves.
I hope all of us LIVE! All of us: to LIVE!! To do this we only need to recognize
reality, understand that reality is VERY close! I apologize for sounding
somewhat dramatic but in this situation, as our EX President said, we all find ourselves
being a little "romantic".
(Trans. by "Voices from Maidan")
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