[list]Pro-Russian protesters who seized the regional government building in the Ukrainian city of Donetsk are reported to have declared a "people's republic".
The rebels have called for a referendum on secession from Ukraine by 11 May.
Ukrainian security officials are being sent to the eastern cities of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv after pro-Russia groups occupied government buildings.
Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov called the unrest an attempt by Russia to "dismember" Ukraine.[/list]
Some interesting comments on a recent BBC article on Ukraine:
[list]5. Sepka
37 MINUTES AGO
I think the fair way to proceed is to hold elections in each district of the Ukraine, and let the people who live there decide for themselves whether to stay with the Ukraine or join Russia.
6. go west young man
24 MINUTES AGO
Is the protection of English speaking people the world over, the responsibility of England? Likewise, Spain for Spanish speakers, France for French speakers, Germany for German speakers? No, of course not. Why then do Russia, think they have the right to invade a foreign country for that very reason?
7. WoeIsMe
13 MINUTES AGO
I'd have thought that it should be in Russia's best interests to keep Ukraine (and other such countries) whole. That way, the ethnic Russian / Russian sympathizing populations can positively influence the host country in Russia's favor. Going the Napoleon route will surely backfire on Putin eventually.
8. Scott0962
7 MINUTES AGO
Looking at the photo's of the protester's barricades in Donetsk I was struck by the abundance of shiny razor wire that tops them. Where would protesters acquire rolls of apparently new razor wire? That's not the sort of item you can pick up at the local hardware store. A gift from Putin's "piece keepers" perhaps?
9. being
JUST NOW
Sepka, If that is fair, then Russia should also allow all of its districts to vote, too. Besides several Caucasus states which have fought for years to be free of Russia, some other regions may appeal to Russia's neighbors. If China wanted a few of Russia's vast eastern provinces for their energy, and sent in "secret" soldiers to stir up separatism, would Russia agree to let them go?[/list]
Does anyone here support the legality of what Russia is doing?
The first commenter has a good idea for Ukraine's moral stance, though it could make the government look soft and weak-willed, especially in the eyes of all pro-Ukrainians who don't want to see their country further split-up.
The second guy has the best point in that the "protecting Russian speakers" is totally absurd. Russian citizens, perhaps, if they're being actively persecuted or harmed. But using military force to protect a language group... that's both retarded and Sudeteny.
You can't have a referendum for independence or annexation for one region that excludes the rest of the country from the vote and call it fair, because the act of splitting up the country will have an economic and political impact on the entire country, not just the region in question. This is the fundamental flaw of the "let the people decide" philosophy if it focuses only on local concerns and aspirations.
Just today Spain's legislature voted on the right of Catalonia to have a referendum for independence and shot it down. The argument was the same one I just stated in this post. In both Catalonia and East Ukraine you have an economic powerhouse region that wants independence from an impoverished nation, and while you might sympathize with their plight, you also have to respect the will of the rest of the country who'd be adversely affected by them splitting off.
Originally posted by Stealth MooseWhat are you waiting for us to seize some government buildings? Hurry up already. I can see those mustachioed Frenchmen across the way eying my precious language.
There's English-speaking people in Canada (mostly), so we're coming to annex you to protect you from those French Canadians.