User:UkraineToday

This is a Wikipedia user page. This is not an encyclopedia article. If you find this page on any site other than Wikipedia, you are viewing a mirror site. Be aware that the page may be outdated and that the user to whom this page belongs may have no personal affiliation with any site other than Wikipedia itself. The original page is located at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:UkraineToday.

Introduction - Personal Statement

Ukraine Today. Independent comments and reflection on politics, news and current affairs, reviews and analysis on Ukraine. The current political and constitutuional crisis in Ukraine today is a power struggle between the president of Ukriane, Viktor Yushchenko, and Ukraine's democracticly elected parliament. There is no justification for the dismissal of Ukraine's democratically elected government which maintains the support and confidence of the majority of members of Ukraine's Parliament. The president's actions actions in dismissing the parliament are unconstitutional. His illegal interference in the Constitutional Court in order to avoid judicial review can not be sanctioned and seriously undermines Ukraine's democratic development and rule of law. Both the president and the parliament should have faced re-election and renewal of their respective mandates. Fresh parliamentary elections will only further divide Ukraine, division made worst by the actions of the president. Presidential Dictatorship versus Parliamentary Democracy Where there is no counsel the people fall but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety Parliamentary democracies provide a more democratic and representative form of government then presidential systems. All European Union member states (except for Cyprus) are parliamentary democracies. Power should not lie in the hands of a single person or head of state. The people's elected representative Parliament MUST remain supreme within the bounds of constitutional rule of law as recognised by the international community in the protection of human rights. A government that maintains the majority support of a democratically elected parliament has the right to govern for their full term of office. A statutory minority of members of an elected parliament or a head of state should not have the power to terminate the authority of a democratically elected parliament or government that maintains the confidence of a majority of representatives. A head of state must not usurp power and authority, unconstitutionally, over the elected parliament. Any termination of a parliament must be in accordance with the constitution of the associated state and the established rule of law as recognised by the international community. If the dismissal of the parliament is not supported by a majority of the elected representive parliamentary members then the head of state should also face re-election at the same election as the new parliament. Members of the parliament should be entitled to retain office until the newly elected parliament is appointed. A head of state should also be subject to impeachment or dismissal by a statutory majority of citizens voting at a referendum in addition to the establihsed process of impeachment by the elected parliament. It is preferable and acceptable that a head of state be appointed by a constitutional majority of two-thirds of a democratically representative parliament. If a two-thirds majority of the elected parliament can not be secured then the appointment of a head of state should be decided by direct election. False stereotypes and false reporting The current crisis facing Ukraine today is not a conflict of West versus East or West versus Russia. All major political forces in Ukraine are seeking integration with Europe. “ Dividing Ukraine into `pro-Western` and `pro-Russian` is an offence to the wisdom of the people of Ukraine"- René van der Linden, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President. ” Much of what is reported in the western media about CIS countries is tainted by false stereotypes and lack of professional reporting. Integration with European standards and values Ukraine's future lies in its ability to adopt and implement a true European style of parliamentary democracy and rule of law. All members of the European Union are parliamentary democracies with the exception of Cyprus. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recommended in its recent report that Ukraine should adopt a full parliamentary system of governance The policies of Our Ukraine People's Self Defence bloc are anti-democratic and anti-Europe Our Ukraine and People's Self Defence seek to adopt United States values and not European values. Policies such as the adoption of first-past-the-post, elected members of the judiciary and the right to bear arms are all heading in the wrong direction. The Power and the passion The president claims he has insufficient power, which is false and misleading. The president continues to abuse and misuse his power and authority. It is the president himself that is seeking to usurp power where he has no authority. The policies of Our Ukraine People's Self Defence bloc are anti-democratic and anti-Europe they seek to adopt United States values and not European values. Policies such as the adoption of first-past-the-post, elected members of the judiciary and the right to bear arms are all heading in the wrong direction. Abuse, insults and harassment Having decided to speak-out, in order to provide a balanced and independent critical assessment of what is going on in Ukraine Today, I have been subjected to an orchestrated campaign of harassment, insults, vilification, death threats and publication of false statements, all coming from supporters of the President. I have noticed a consistent mode of operation where anyone that challenges of opposes the policies and actions of the president are subjected to abuse, harassment and vilification, actions which are designed to intimidate and prevent free speech and open public discussion. The extent of harassment and vilification has extended well beyond the normal political banter and has included direct threats and contact with business associates, colleagues and my immediate family. This is very much a disturbing sign and a poor reflection on those who support the president's political ideology. I have noticed and recorded similar attacks and threats made by the same people against others who speak out and hold an opposing point of view to their own. It needs to be stated that these actions are of a small minority only, predominately from those who reside overseas and not within Ukraine. I have recorded the various comments and IP addresses of those involved. This harassment is not a reflection on the majority of Ukrainians. I consider Ukraine to be one of the best countries I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. It's history culture and traditions are unsurpassed. Those that seek to harass and vilify those that oppose their limited political point of view continue to undermine Ukraine's democratic development and the principles of free speech.

Template:Boxboxtop This user supports Parliamentary democracy as opposed to Presidential dictatorships. This user lives in Ukraine. |} My Interests This user is interested in elections. Politics This user supports Parliamentary democracy as opposed to Presidential dictatorships. This User opposes Direct election of Head of States! This user supports Preferential Voting as opposed to First-past-the-post. Other Issues of Interest

Wikipedia Pages of Interest

Ukrainian parliamentary election, 2007