The last couple of years the situation in Latvia felt the roof-to such an extent that some of its inhabitants began to seriously wonder: rather than become the territory of the Republic in the near future, the scene of armed clashes? Every month the number of “combustible material” is increasing-so the question is, is there such a madman or an offender, who podneset to the match?
There is enough “spusknyh valves”?
Experience shows that any, even the most stable society, for a certain length of time, you may wish to “warm up” to an explosive state constantly attacking the vulnerable points. Accordingly, in Latvia there was a potential for social and inter-ethnic conflict. So much so that the Republic has its own tradition of violent confrontations. Suffice it to recall the revolution of 1905, when Riga, Daugavpils and turned into pure hell-heated hot street battles with police, rioters gendarmes and soldiers. If someone soothes the remoteness of those events in time, you can recall, January 13, 2009-what happened then, can be seen as a “rehearsal” for even more massive disturbance. So much so that over the past one and a half years discontent people power only increased. Have the politicians and public figures of the mind prevent it before the explosion?
Most political pundits started talking about a possible conflict, when Latvia was the first blow of the crisis three years ago. It was the year when January 13, 2009 event in old Riga, suppress riots have occurred that have had to use tear gas, batons and rubber bullets, have exacerbated such feelings. Police detained then about 137 rioters, most of whom had not previously seen in the field of law enforcement and does not belong to any radical organizations. The trial of some of them is continuing now.
That’s so far and new street riots happening on social grounds, “guilty” of two factors. One of these factors is in conversation with BakuToday mentioned the famous Latvian politician Vladimir Linderman: “the main reason here-mass emigration from the Republic in which leave young and very active. I am sure that if the French or Greek was an “other France” or “another Greece”, which could move and receive for their work several times, it is unlikely that they went to the streets to protest multi-million-dollar. Therefore, the mass exodus of people from Latvia is not particularly worried by the authorities. I have noticed that they show only the delannoe concern-without the tragic grief. Power aware that if these people were here, she would have come, power, kranty. Besides, same January 13 rebels later learned that society and the MASS MEDIA are not prepared to protect them, defend them right, and that’s the power of the grave risk of reprisals. Broke glass stone and is able to Thunder for a few years in prison … Into force of this set of reasons people don’t revolt among us … “
The second reason for the lack of mass street riots is the fact that during the past three years, the people of Latvia was able to “let off steam” in the ongoing elections. Hiking to the calming effect at the polls many potential troublemakers. In June 2009, municipal elections were held October 1st 2010-legislative, in September 2011-go-early parliamentary. Especially the last played the role of a sort of “airbag”-as says Latvian political scientist Kristians Rozenvalds“The power and the privilege of their discontent with the situation in the country could express at the recent referendum on the dissolution of the Saeima. Yes, I believe that the referendum was a kind of way to vypuskaniâ steam. Illustrated and the extremely high turnout, though people knew that the quorum in this referendum and the result is already predetermined. Now people fired steam and hope for improvement after early elections. Thus, social tensions were settled “.
However, “spusknyh valves” in any case, there may not be enough-as evidenced by the statements of officials. Thus, the Chief of the State police Int Kûzis, commenting on summer street riots in London, announced that in the London squat initially police had to increasingly use force because “the action of these people were not well intentioned”. I. Kûzis also remembered that after January 2009 Riga riot-”Latvian Police received very good feedback from foreign colleagues for fast and effective removal of strife”-then it all ended just two hours. Force had been used at the right time and with the right intensity, summarized the main police the country, reminding at the same time that the State and now is ready to use at any time.
Indeed, the Latvian Police has a rich tradition in this regard. Suffice it to recall the March 3, 1998, when police using truncheons broke up a demonstration of pensioners chaotic (mostly Russian) in Riga, who protested against his miserable existence.
In turn, socioantropolog (now Minister of education) Robert Kilis, commenting on the British event, suggested that the riots in urban areas are already regular and predictable world phenomenon: “in Latvia, too, need to look at indicators of social and economic dissatisfaction and prevent the possibility of something like this. In place of the Government I would set up a special unit on a mission to figure out what to do in such a situation, and what sort of things can bring to her. Latvia The Working Group should determine what preventive measures should be taken. “
In General, experts agree: it is questionable whether in the nearest years in Latvia will be able to eliminate the social base of possible street riots and widespread poverty, lack of clear prospects for a large part of the population-and restore social benefits at the same level. On the contrary, power vbrasyvaet in society from time to time about new initiatives-about a further rise in retirement age, cut pensions themselves, the final abolition of social benefits, etc., of course, the State, which is mired in huge external debts, which is in the hands of EU directives, requiring a “economical domestic policies”, and was not able to do otherwise. But such a policy the only thing that can shield the country from massive street riots are just the infamous police batons.
Increase in inter-ethnic tension
However, it is now much more relevant is the other reason for a possible conflict, inter-ethnic. It is approached, scheduled for 18 February referendum on the question of recognition of the Russian language as the second public-and hardly “somehow settle down” after he held, regardless of its outcome.
In particular, public figure, radical-nationalist wing Janis Seales (who is also a member of the civilian militia “home guards” with the right to carry weapons) on your personal Web page scares ethnic clashes and urges Latvians preparing to defend itself. Seales writes that in Latvia along with economic problems worsened, and ethnic relations. Reason is the behavior of the “fifth column”. A chilling mixture of economic and ethnic problems have become “explosive”-”and” approaching critical temperature. Seales encourages Latvians urgently to think about their security, particularly those who “lives in Russian regions”. Radical claims that he has every day feels like growth of aggressiveness on the part of the Russian-speaking. Further, he calls causes increased “aggression” on the part of the Russians of Latvia. The first is, in his opinion, resentment over what political association “Center of Concord, which is largely Russian-speaking, falling into the Government. Secondly, the expected failure of the referendum for the second gosâzyk. Thirdly-confidence that through peaceful, legal means, through compromise, nothing can not be confirmed. The radicalization of Russians, according to the Seals, and in the light of the presidential elections in Russia, and in connection with the approaching March 16, traditionally non-date marches Waffen SS veterans in Latvia. The culmination of the same “Russian aggression” is version 9 May celebration, Silsa.
Janis Seales leads and possible scenario “Russian revolt”. He believes that after the celebration of the 9 May at the monument to the liberators by “18-40 year old representatives of the bearded” may decide to stroll through the old town to show who is the boss, which will cause crashes. “Unfortunately, the police are prepared for such situations, quite a bit”, said publicist and urges Latvians, not hoping for the police, be prepared to defend itself.
“What I can advise? Depending on the status and capacities of each solution can be different: a) establish contact with moving Tēvijas (Latvian School of law-martial arts); b) begin a workout on a hand-to-hand fight; in) to acquire weapons; g) engage in “home guards”; d) together with friends to create self-help groups and self-defence “.
According to Silsa, best to merge all the options-that is, at the same time to master the techniques of close combat, arm themselves and form a group of self-defense. The explosive situation in the country could not be altered. So it only remains to Latvians brace for future clashes. Note that your article Seales named “Para Bellum”, recalling that this word from the famous Latin sayings: “Si vis pacem, para bellum”-”If you want peace, prepare for war”.
A good indicator of the growth of ethnic hatred and the Internet is where people can express themselves in relative anonymity. Comments under the online versions of articles in the local media are filled with hatred-in Latvian, English version. The other day, one of the leaders of the “mother tongue”, conducting a campaign for the recognition of Russian the second State, Vladimir Linderman asked the police to find the authors of anonymous comments, threatening him with death. Cause for such treatment actually exists more recently on the Internet there were numerous comments in the Latvian language, contain threats or incitements to murder Lindermana. Here are typical examples of such comments:
“Ja nošautu, kāds mūdži šo nebūtu sodāms, bet tas gan Dievam tīkams job (” If this scum to shoot someone, it would not be punishable and bogougodnym case “).
“Ja atļautu likvidēt viņu vien man, es to izdarītu ar prieku” (“if I allowed it to eliminate, I would have done it with joy”).
“Viņš varētu būt tikai simpātisks man, bet būdams nogalināts vai miris” (“it could have been me cute, but only being murdered or dead”).
“Priekš kam valstī ir drošības dienesti? Nevar tādu Lindermanu vietas-zem nolikt pie vilciena vai tml.? ” (“Why in the State security services? This cannot be put in place Lindermana-under the train, etc.?).
“Lieku 10 Ls, ka līdz Jāņiem šitas te purns nenodzīvos” (“Put 10 lats, which to this day Yanov outlast muzzle”).
“Brīnos, ka šis nav vēl nošauts” (“I am surprised that this has not shot”).
As stated by the Vladimir Linderman BakuToday, he has been related to the issue of life and death “in philosophical simplicity: two deaths but once, and one did not pass”. Furthermore, according to Lindermana, “90 per cent of the few online are usually kicked the panties, boâŝimisâ to go out in the evening”.
However, the leader of the “mother tongue”, a great cause for concern remains: “in the” incubator “can be born and something like” chicken ” Brejvika. Not necessarily Lindermana may be given their guns: we remember the Norwegian tragedy. “These people the same ideology as the Norwegian killer-radical nationalism. This ideology States that every people had established a specific piece of land territory, and all the others here living, dangerous and harmful strangers. And if they start something “vâkat′” about their rights, they can and kill. After all, it would be the “bogougodnym” affair, according to an anonymous commenter “.
Whether communities will be able to agree?
A similar request was addressed to the police and the head of the control of the State language Anton Kursitis -According to him, due to the fact that last December he too fell down threats. These threats have appeared once for violating the law on the State language was fined public organization in Rezekne, welcome Christmas event in the Centre of the city in English. As stated by Kursitis himself in an interview with the publication of Latvijas Avīze, this penalty was absolutely justified, “not only Santa Claus, but the Mayor of Rezekne there stood and spoke only in Russian. As this is not a private event, and public, organizers had to translate. Well how did feel Latvian children which led to this event, and they do not understand anything? Unfortunately, the Russian MEDIA is rotated so that the evil linguistically controllers fined Santa Claus. After the publication on the Internet in the comments there are threats to abduct my daughter. We have already sought and State police, and the police security, but I do not know whether something has moved in a month “.
Kursitis added that with verbal threats against workers regularly face inspection language-and, even more recently. However, he said, the police are usually not informed as to prove what happened virtually impossible. Their point of view on this problem for BakuToday voiced by renowned psychologist, co-Chair of the Committee to combat totalitarian sects Victor Jelkins: “my wife, a kindergarten teacher, every evening, talks about the depressed mood in their team. The reason this sentiment was renewed after collecting signatures for Russian language activity Office Kursitisa. One of the new objectives of the “linguistic inquisitors” are the teachers and employees of kindergartens. According to unverified information from the workers themselves, some even have enough nerve to inspectors openly ask the leadership of the team participated in the collection of signatures for the Russian language. Well, willing to believe it. The real purpose of the renewed “punitive expeditions” I never doubted.
Kursitis and its ilk regularly affect the lives of ordinary people and their children. Only, unlike the nerds writing online threats, and vylezaûŝih from the nearest shop virtuala no further, they do really well. And you are well aware that the Russian teacher kindergarten, unless, of course, the power is not engineered to translate all kindergartens to Latvian, a language simply does not need a category. Requirements of the same Act were written specially for the humiliation of Russian officers and stripping them of pre-school education.
I am sure that most often the real motivation for the choice of “linguistic Inspector” is the hidden desire and satisfaction of sadistic banal compensation own insignificance. “See what I have meaningful, in front of me these people off the pile and with fear waiting for my verdict. And I am now going to bring their fate … “. I will not hide from this awareness I didn’t have time to meet with the Inspector on the eve of the kindergarten and škodlivogo the cat, the škirku throw out outside the territory, where my wife and learns to my daughter. For navostrivših ears fans write complaints “about the appeals to violence” stress: this is just a wish. How would I personally was not a “linguistic pedophiles”, I never wish harm to their children. And thank God that a child of Anton Kursitisa from happening no troubles! I sincerely wish that the police caught and punished, threatened to kidnap his daughter. But if Kursitis really fear for the child, and not launched this information to show prior to the referendum, citizenry, “what Russians become bandits”, it means fate gave him a chance to pause and reflect. Now, perhaps, for the first time in his life, he could understand and feel that having other people from its activities … “
The Latvian society has accumulated enough “combustible material” for the conflict in conversation with BakuToday confirmed and famous Latvian politician Ināra Ostrovska: “the most dangerous thing that just might be a collision of large numbers of people on national or religious grounds. And we certainly face. So much so that such things are not only we have now deteriorated in many parts of the world, national or religious strife. This is a global trend. Still good that residents of Latvia are fairly conservative people’s mentality. If such passions as we now have flared up in a southern country, there would be a conflict. In General, God forbid, of course … Now the inhabitants of Latvia lacked dialogue. (A) lack of communication leads to misunderstandings, seeking to demonize an opponent. Moreover, the adverse effects of the crisis in our society, the traditional Christian values. We need to give up the pride with which both parties look at each other, will learn to respect each other regardless of nationality. And only then the danger of civil war back down … “
