More than 100,000 protesters march in Ukraine over refusal to sign EU agreeement

FOX ^ | December 1, 2013 | AP

[1rudeboy]

KIEV, Ukraine –  More than 100,000 demonstrators chased away police to rally in the center of Ukraine's capital on Sunday, defying a government ban on protests on Independence Square, in the biggest show of anger over the president's refusal to sign an agreement with the European Union.

Thousands of demonstrators tried to storm the nearby presidential administration building, but were driven back by riot police using tear gas and flash grenades, which produce a loud bang but are not intended to cause injury. The standoff continued, with more demonstrators arriving.

The protest was led by prominent opposition politicians, who demanded that President Viktor Yanukovych and his government resign. They also called for a nationwide strike and for tents to be set up to allow demonstrators to remain on the square around the clock.

"Our plan is clear: It's not a demonstration, it's not a reaction. It's a revolution," said Yuriy Lutsenko, speaking from the top of a bus.

Chants of "revolution" resounded across a sea of yellow and blue Ukrainian and EU flags on the square, where the government had prohibited rallies starting Sunday.

The crowd was by far the largest since the protests began more than a week ago. Many of the demonstrators had traveled to Kiev from western Ukraine, where pro-EU sentiment is particularly strong.

"We are furious," said Mykola Sapronov, a 62-year-old retired businessman. "The leaders must resign. We want Europe and freedom."

Protests have been held daily in Kiev since Yanukovych backed away from an agreement that would have established free trade and deepened political cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. He justified the decision by saying that Ukraine could not afford to break trade ties with Russia.

[1rudeboy]

Don't these silly Ukrainians understand that Vladi Putin only has their best interests at heart?

[omega4412]

Didn’t Samuel Huntington predict this long ago? In his book “Clash of Civilizations”, 1996, one of the fault lines he identified was in Ukraine, between the Orthodox eastern part and the Catholic western part.

[Paleo Conservative]

I was across Kreschatik street from the protesters early Monday evening when they were beginning to assemble. I didn’t get any closer to them, because I had flights to the US to catch early on Tuesday morning, and I didn’t want to potentially be detained and miss my flight.

[Viennacon]

Many obviously want their bank accounts plundered, ala Cyprus. Ukraine is better off in Moscow’s sphere than in that of Brussels.

[1rudeboy]

Oh, please elaborate.

[Viennacon]

The EU needs another weak country to plunder from, usually by aiding left wing radicals into the government and extorting huge membership fees. Ukraine will be forced to follow social engineering dictates from the communists in Brussels, and by the end, will be so weak they won’t even have the authority to deport terrorists from their own country without going through the EU’s kangaroo courts.

With the way things are going, I’d rather be in close trading ties with Russia than the ponzi scheme of the EU. Russia has resources. The EU just has bureaucrats and scumbag journalists.

[1rudeboy]

Well, if you look at it that way . . . it might be better to have a single mafia thug dictate to you, and threaten to cut off your heat if you don’t do as he says. Oh, wait, the EU hasn’t learned that method yet.

[Toddsterpatriot]

The EU needs another weak country to plunder from

Which weak countries have they plundered from before? Any numbers to back up your claim?

usually by aiding left wing radicals into the government and extorting huge membership fees.

Membership fees? How much? Link?

[icwhatudo]

Don’t these silly Ukrainians understand that the EU only has their best interests at heart?

[1rudeboy]

Exactly! Putin is anti-homo! He builds churches by hand!

[Viennacon]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-18/banking-crisis-unfolding-in-cyprus/4578536

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/9609984/Britain-facing-new-1.5-billion-bill-to-pay-for-Brussels-pay-and-perks.html

[Revel]

These people are nuts if they believe that the EU will bring them anything other than destitution and sorrow. This whole movement was probably started and funded by the EU in the first place.

[GeronL]

Whatever happened to understanding the value of national sovereignty?

[1rudeboy]

Their alternative is the Russian mafia-state. How would you choose? Bear in mind that the EU has never forcibly occupied the Ukraine.

[1rudeboy]

That is an excellent question to forward to the Kremlin.

[Eleutheria5]

He should send some tanks in to convince them.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Thanks for the links.

Do you have any that actually back up your previous claims?

[palmer]

Which weak countries have they plundered from before?

Basically the banks in the rich European countries are first in line for payment from the poor European countries. The alternatives of inflation or default are not allowed It's a form of plunder. Of course the poor European countries deserve their share of the blame for signing up in the first place. But not everyone wants the cheaper trinkets and short term stimulus that switching to Euros brings.

The Toddsterpatriots in European satellite countries realize that the best strategy is to maintain their own currency and float it lower to stimulate exports, rather than inxreasing imports, consumption and partying in the short run.

[1rudeboy]

Basically the banks in the rich European countries are first in line for payment from the poor European countries.

Which banks are you talking about? The ones who loaned the money?

[Revel]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3097162/posts