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Black and white in orange

 

As is well known Paolo Coelho insisted on his last novel – “Zaire” – being translated into Ukrainian first. The novel was proved weak, frankly weak – it seems the book has been written only to have something to translate. The country from where Coelho has brought himself a vyshyvanka (Ukrainian national embroidered shirt) and where the Orange revolution has won, seemed to needencouragement.

Yet here is a story: young lady on the book market selling “Zaire” says guiltily and at a loss: “Unfortunately, there are no copies in Russian. There will be, but later. And, of course, more expensive. So, if you do want – take (disgustedly) this...”.

No, one of the three most popular writers in the world has understood nothing about this country! So he started a novel with recollection of battle of Stalingrad, the people’s enemies, Kazakhstan steppes, communist regime and so on all for nothing.

Revolution loves her heroes deep in her mind. Truth to say, very deep...

And now about the authority. Although, at first a few words more about the book, but about another one this time. At the end of last week Myroslava Gongadze, wife of murdered journalist Georgiy Gongadze, while completing her visit to Ukraine held a presentation of her book “The torn nerve”. The thing, that came out is not a story of Myroslava and Georgiy – protagonists, parted from each other by the “country where people get killed”, as their children say.

It is not the chronicle of the case of Gongadze, it is not the collection of decipherings from major Melnychenko as well. Written by Myroslava is rather an outline of the events that started in Ukraine at the end of the year 2000 and lasted till spring of 2001. It is “Ukraine without Kuchma” grasped from the space and time distance...

Even on the cover of the book there is a “picture” from the events of the 9th of March 2001, chosen obviously not by chance, but on purpose – to announce its content additionally by sight.

So, those times of `Ukraine without Kuchma` with the clashes on Bankova Street and political prisoners still hurts people. And it hurts “on the highest level”. Activist and inspirer of “Pora” Mykhailo Svystovych, present at the presentation, put in a remark when he had the chance that he had heard himself how Viktor Yuschenko paid his respects to the “revolution” of 2001, without which, he says, our nowaday oranges wouldn’t have grown ripe.

It is quite a true idea. And a pleasant fact for the participants of those events as well – the president remembers about them. For bigger pastorality I shall add something more: the president used to remember about the political prisoners while being the oppositioner, whose political force was preparing to fight for victory in the past parliamentary elections. In February 2002, in Lviv region, Yuschenko said: “Those guys are doing time for Ukraine”.

Yes, they were really doing time for Ukraine, and have done as many years as Ukraine (=Kuchma) has sentenced them to. Now Ukraine (=Yuschenko) doesn’t even have to bother about releasing them - the new leader has altogether not much trouble – only to rehabilitate political prisoners with his decree, cancel their convictions – in order to stop words about “those guys” being empty air beating.

Yet Yuschenko doesn’t do it. Yes, the president has lots of troubles with the country which has elected him. But, in my humble opinion, there are simply important obligations, very important obligations and obligations number one.

To the latter belongs the fulfilling of promised by V.Y. to Lesya Gongadze. As early as the beginning of winter the president asked Georgiy’s mother what he could do for her. She begged about a single thing – the final examination of “taraschans’ke body”. And started waiting for the promised. I know for sure from Mrs. Lesya herself that she has been waiting till now – for three month one after another, whereas nobody has even bothered to start the examination of genetic samples...

Is it possible that Yuschenko doesn’t care that his words begin to look just like those orange baloons that flew away into the sky on the day of his inauguration? They are beautiful, bright, longing into heights... and they vanish without leaving a trace, gone in a flash! Why not hold them for descendants, tying to this beauty the weight of real deeds?

Why, for example, was Ukrainian parliament’s voting for inquiry to the president in “the case of the 9th of March” so strained? It’s author – MP Andriy Shkil, that “guy did time for Ukraine`, together with the others like him now wish for such a natural thing – that certain persons should be held accountable for the bogus `investigation`, for trial, for sentence, for prison skilly, for broken ribs of “ukrainophiles”.

That’s what, in fact, his inquiry was about. It passed in the sessional hall from the second attempt, and only after the harsh shaming of MP’s souls:

“I’m surprised that factions haven’t voted for this easily. Socialists haven’t voted almost with its full complement, half of “Out Ukraine” as well... I understand, that you all do not care about the destiny of those boys who were imprisoned and after all these years can`t adapt to today’s life. But try to show at least a formal concern to your electors by pressing a button. I understand that the problem with conscience exists, try to show that there is no problem at least with honour...”, – said Shkil then.

Problem with conscience is one of eternal problems. And eternal plots. In the book of the above-mentioned Coelho, most likely not in vain, floundering in his own ocean of fancies and contexts from time to time emerges with the mention of Joanne of Arc.

It seems that something was dreamt and was heard by the recent guest of Ukraine, or, maybe, flashed across his mind – a kind of a thought about everlasting royal “gratitude” to those who in one or another way brought the king closer to his crowning / inauguration / sacralization...

Should you address to Zvarych for the tender on “funny army”?

Yet let’s leave history lessons alone, together with the semantics of Coelho, and the button-pushers from the Ukrainian parliament... We can approach to revaluation of the past from the other side as well: yes, there are those who forget yesterday’s partners quickly, but very few are those who as thoughtlessly approach a relationship with recent enemies.

The latter are remembered at least due to the instinct of self-preservation. And are done away with – if not physically, then at least morally – at the first opportunity. It has been so since the ancient times: woe is beaten or devil take the hindmost!

And, maybe, not at all woe? Maybe, quite the contrary, soul’s holiday and heart’s bithday? Everybody knows that while somebody was doing time “for Ukraine”, from under the gates of still Kuchma’s Bankova Street crawled the so called “Ukrainian National Assembly” of Eduard Kovalenko.

Crawled from under, developed a paunch, occupied a cool office on Shovkovychna Street (closer to the masters), pulled on fascist symbolics and started “PR-ing” Yuschenko on the eve of the presidential election! Everybody remembers UNA’s last summer appearances on Kyiv’s streets and squares, don’t they? All those well-fed “leaders” (those who are simutaneously with Viktor Andriyovych and Adolf Aloizovych) faces, processions with swastika and all that idiotic “defaming” of “Our Ukraine”?

Here are several appraisals coming from the then candidates for political offices: “With the start of electoral campaign forces that profess fascism, national and racial intolerance have abruptly livened up” (written by Yuschenko to Kuchma, demanding L.D.’s interference in the situation and drawing his attention to the fact that “the law doesn’t fulfil its duties”, “central TV channels popularize the activity of radical profascist structures” and “their participants themselves do not hide the fact that they are being financed by people from high authority’s offices”).

And here is message of Olexander Zinchenko to premier Yahukovich. In it – the demand to investigate the activity of UNA, that “distributes materials and leaflets, containing proclamations to spreading ethnic hatred”.

“Authorities have arranged a tender between UNA of Kovalenko and “Bratstvo” of Korchyns’ky: who will occupy the honourable place of the army of clowns in struggle against Viktor Yuschenko”, – mentions Mykola Katerynchuk, adding, that what Kovalenko needs is imprisonment, nobody has banned criminal code of Ukraine yet, you know.

There were appeals of Tymoshenko to Prosecutor General Vasyl’ev, Bezsmertny’s - to the chief of Security Service of Ukraine Smieshko, Zinchenko’s – to Interior Ministry minister Bilokin`, Tarasiuk’s – to justice minister Lavrynovych... It’s natural that then the authorities in no way reacted to the protests of oppositional political forces.

And today`s authorities – what have they done? Where is Eduard Kovalenko now? Pasturing brown bears in Siberia? Praying for forgiveness of his sins in a monastery? Or just mourning over his personal Waterloo somewhere on political outskirts?

Nothing of the kind – he’s on the website of that very Justice Ministry, which half a year ago has been appealed to by plenty of “Our-Ukrainians”, including “the son of Auswitz prisoner”, who “hates fascism in all of its manifestations”...

I repeat: Kovalenko is mentioned by department of Roman Zvarych as a leader of officially registered party, party that is going to take part in elections-2006.

Any comments needed? I have none – neither regarding Kovalenko, nor regarding judge Ivan Volyk, who has signed a sentence in “the case of the 9th of March” (and now continues to wear out his mantle by sitting in Holosiyivs’ky court), nor regarding public prosecutor Olexander Kuzovkin, who at those times supported governmental prosecution and demanded up to ten years of imprisonment for the accused (his track is lost, but they say Kuzovkin is in turn for career advancement)...

Natalia Lebid UP (translated by Tetyana Vodyanytska , 12.05.2005, 21:16)

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