I ask this simple question because of the recent voting in Crimea to rejoin Russia and our government's response.
John Kerry: Crimea Vote Will Not Be Recognized By U.S., International Community
The U.S. and EU say the Crimean vote violates Ukraine's constitution and international law. If Crimea votes to secede, the U.S. and European Union plan to slap sanctions as early as Monday on Russian officials and businesses accused of escalating the crisis and undermining Ukraine's new government.
More discussion below the fold.
How truly odd, the neocons in our government seem to want war with Russia. "Sanctions against Russian officials" BECAUSE the people of another region voted honestly and legitimately to rejoin Russia.
How's this make any sense? Punish Russia because the people in Crimea voted as they saw fit?
As for the empty rhetoric about the vote being against the Ukraine Constitution. Where were we or where was the "international community" when the armed rioters stormed the castle and forcibly removed their constitutionally elected representatives?
The Ukraine Constitution, Title II, Section 34:
Article 37. Everyone shall be guaranteed the right to freedom of thought and speech, and to free expression of his views and beliefs.
Article 37. Foundation and activity of political parties and public associations shall be prohibited if their programme goals or actions are aimed at the liquidation of the independence of Ukraine, change of the constitutional order by force, violation of the sovereignty and territorial indivisibility of the State, undermining national security, unlawful seizure of the state power, the propaganda of war or violence, fomentation of inter-ethnic, racial, or religious enmity, or infringement of human rights and freedoms or the health of the population.
Political parties and public associations shall not have paramilitary formations.
It seems
we allowed and supported the coup and NOW we say their constitution must be followed, after the fact?
So, again, I ask:
Do people have the right to self-determination or not?
Since it's clear we didn't support the Ukraine constitution before or during the coup. What makes any rational individual believe it's actually valid now?
Since the Ukraine Constitution is null and void, the next lawful document that would bind our actions would be The UN's Universal Recognition of Inalienable Right to Self-Determination Most Effective:
Universal recognition of the inalienable right to self-determination was the most effective way the global community could guarantee protection of fundamental freedoms, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) was told today, as it concluded discussion on several human rights issues.
“Whether this right is taken away by military intervention, aggression, occupation, or even exploitation, the world cannot condone its deprivation from any peoples in any region,” the Maldives representative said.
All States facing questions of self-determination must include broader ethnic and linguistic groups in decision-making processes, said delegates, as the Committee heard from some 35 speakers in a day-long debate that concluded its consideration of the elimination of racism, and the right of peoples to self-determination, then moved on to consideration of human rights protections.
I guess our position would be contrary to these "internationally" agreed upon ideals then.
The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes a similar point:
Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Sadly, it seems the right of "self-determination" is merely
an illusion our corporate overlords have led us to believe in.