There
is no reason for bloodshed in the Ukraine, nor is it likely. Dividing
the country, with part rejoining the Russian Federation, is not a good
idea. It is constitutionally and geographically and politically very
difficult and would be to the detriment of both parts. The Ukrainians
will sort out their difficulties. Their justice system will need to
rise to the occasion, and much good may come of it. If there has been
electoral fraud and interference on the scale widely claimed, the
appropriate judicial authority shoud demand a regional or even a total
re-run of the election, so that the result is then acceptable to the
population. That is all there is to be said. It is important that good
relations are maintained between the Ukraine and the Russian
Federation, regardless of who becomes head of state or prime minister.
Addendum Nov 26 at 22.07 GMT - It appears this is what is being
suggested by the
opposition leader, so logic is being applied. The situation is still
critical, but there is reason to hope for the proper outcome to be
reached peacefully.
UPDATE DEC 3 2004 (Reuters):
Friday
December 3, 04:33 PM
|
|
Ukraine election ruled
invalid
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's Supreme
Court
has ruled that a disputed presidential election officially won by Prime
Minister Viktor Yanukovich was invalid.
Chairman Anatoly Yarema, delivering
the court's ruling after five days of deliberations, said a "repeat
vote" was required.
He
said this ballot should take place
three weeks counting from December 5 -- meaning December 26 --
suggesting it would be a re-run of last month's run-off vote which
opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko alleged was rigged by
authorities.
Judges backed arguments by
Yushchenko's
camp, which have brought tens of thousands out on to the streets of the
capital Kiev, that the vote had been subject to systematic fraud.
The
ruling on Friday, greeted by
applause
in the courtroom, appeared to run counter to what beleaguered outgoing
President Leonid Kuchma had sought in nearly two weeks of bitter
wrangling.
Kuchma had pressed for a completely
new
election, which would have required up to three months to be organised,
with him remaining in office. Kuchma had secured the backing of Russian
President Vladimir Putin for his position in talks on Moscow on
Thursday.
Yushchenko's camp, hoping to
capitalise
on the momentum of mass demonstrations in Kiev, had dug in their heels
in favour of a quick repeat of the November 21 run-off.
UPDATE DECEMBER 27th
One month later there is cause for some satisfaction. Logic has
prevailed, the right actions have been taken. It looks like Yushchenko
has won but there will be some legal challenges of before this
is made final. Then will come the hard part, to unite the population
behind a new leader of whom too much will be expected by both
supporters and opponents. But it is the people themselves who will have
to 'deliver', and they can. At the end, it does not matter who wins as
long as the election was adequately well organised and fraud limited.