War in Donbass on Russia’s Doorstep: 3,600 Civilians killed …

Written on September 11th, 2016 in politics Comments Off

… by Ukrainian Forces and Neo-Nazi Militia since Minsk II Agreement – Published on Global Research.ca, by Theo Russell, Sept 10, 2016.

After the February 2014 coup in Kiev, an ‘Anti-Maidan’ movement rapidly grew in the largely Russian-speaking Donbass, Odessa and Crimea regions, which sought to prevent the far-right groups which hijacked in the ‘Euromaidan’ protests entering their towns and cities.  

Their fears were confirmed by the Odessa Trade Union House fire on 2 May 2014, in which at least 50 Anti-Maidan supporters died when the building was surrounded by a far-right mob and petrol-bombed.

There are reports of civilian casualties caused by Ukrainian strikes on the rebel republics on an almost daily basis. On 28 August, according to residents of the Petrovsky district of Donetsk city, a Ukrainian sniper shot two women dead.

It was hoped that Minsk II, which followed the September 2014 Minsk Protocol and was signed by Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Francois Holland and Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, would bring the war in eastern Ukraine to an end, paving the way for elections and separate status for the two Donbass ‘people’s republics’.

However low-level clashes have continued unabated for the past 18 months, with increasing warnings of escalation and a build-up of forces and equipment by the Ukrainian side in recent months. Tensions were heightened three weeks ago by allegations of armed incursions by Ukrainian forces into Crimea … //

… On 3 August the UN assistant secretary-general for political affairs Tayé-Brook Zerihoun reported to the UN Security Council that the total number of conflict-related casualties since the Ukrainian government launched its ‘Anti-Terrorist Operation’ in April 2014 was 30,729, including 9,333 killed and 21,396 injured.

But the report provides no breakdown of where the casualties have occurred other than “in the conflict area”, and there is no indication of which side was responsible.

According to the latest figures from the UN Human Rights Office and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, from February 2015 to June 2016 261 civilians were killed in the conflict on both sides – far fewer than the DPR’s figures would suggest … //

… It is important to bear in mind that the ‘Armed Forces of Ukraine’ include 84 far right and neo-Nazi militias who were incorporated into the AFU last year. These forces are extremely undisciplined, and to this day they continue to run amok across Ukraine, mounting racist, anti-semitic, anti-communist and homophobic attacks, murdering journalists, threatening and intimidating judges, and frequently kidnapping defendants when they are released by the courts.

These militias have played a major role in the ongoing clashes on the contact line with the Donbass, as well as deliberately targeting civilians on the DPR and LPR side in various ways.

The latest ceasefire announced on 1 September announced by the ‘Trilateral Contact Group’ (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) showed promise of holding for several days, building hopes of a return to talks on the implementing of Minsk agreements, but already the Ukrainian side is alleging violations by the DPR and LPR.

Despite the problems with obtaining a clear picture of casualties in the eastern Ukraine conflict, what is clear is that up to now the fighting has continued with civilian and military casualties on both sides, and this has blocked any prospect of a resolution allowing separate status for the Donbass republics.

Given the huge variations in figures given by the various parties, the latest very detailed data from the Donetsk People’s Republic authorities should be given serious consideration by observers.

(full text).

Links:

Bolivia Prepares Literacy Programs in 36 Indigenous Languages, on teleSUR english, Dept 10, 2016: since Evo Morales took office illiteracy has been reduced from 13.3 percent to 2.9 percent, the lowest rate in the history of Bolivia;

After 50 Years, Some FARC Leaders Now Have Colombian IDs, on teleSUR english, Dept 9, 2016: with Colombia close to achieving peace, guerrilla members are transitioning to political life;

Inter-Capitalist Rivalries and Political Rebellion against the US Multinational Corporate Elite, on Global Research.ca, by Prof. James Petras, Sept 8, 2016:
rebellion in the Suites: Tax Collectors and Businesspeople;

HMRC needs radical reform to break the hold of big business – Labour, on Left Foot Forward, Sept 8, 2016: a panel of experts has proposed deep reform of the department. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is not fit for the 21st century and must be radically reformed, according to a new report launched by the Labour Party today …;

A Conference To Clear The Mind Of The 9/11 Brainwashing, on Paul Craigh Roberts.org, by blog owner, Sept 5, 2016: see also: A 2-Day Symposium, Sept. 10-11, 2016, Sept 10, 2016, Cooper Union New York City. If any of my readers are still brainwashed about 9/11, they need to attend this conference. Tickets are still available …;

Three Factors Behind a Fragile Fall, on Outsider Club, by Adam English, Sept 3, 2016;

Eight Ways Organizers Are Putting Our Secrets to Use, on Labor Notes, by Dan DiMaggio, Aug 31, 2016: Labor Notes’ new book Secrets of a Successful Organizer is flying off the shelves. Since its release in April we’ve almost sold out our first print run, 5,000 copies, and we’ve just ordered a second printing. That’s record speed for one of our books …;

L’ordre mondial est terminé, dans Réseau International.net (d’abord dans STRATEGIKA 51 … cette phrase, lourde de sens, a été prononcée en juillet 2016 par Xi Jinping, Président de la République Populaire de Chine, lors d’un discours tenu à l’occasion du 95e anniversaire du parti communiste chinois. Aucun média atlantiste n’a jugé utile de reprendre cette information …;

Who Profited From the $440 Billion Greek Bailout? Not Greeks, on teleSUR english, by Jack Rasmus, Aug 22, 2016: hundreds of billions of dollars in loans haven’t helped the Greek economy or its people;

Global Capitalism: Economics of this Presidential Campaign, August 10, 2016, 107.17 min, uploaded by Democracy At Work, … with Richard D. Wolff;

Déclaration choquante d’un initié du domaine médical, dans Réseau International.net, par Petrus Lombard, le 23 juin 2016: un aveu choquant de l’éditeur de The Lancet, la revue médicale la plus estimée au monde, a été pratiquement ignoré par la grande presse et les médias dominants. Le Dr Richard Horton, rédacteur en chef de The Lancet, a récemment fait une annonce disant qu’un nombre scandaleux de publications d’études sont au mieux, peu fiables, quand elles ne sont pas complètement mensongères, en plus de frauduleuses;

… et encore ceci – concernant notre santé:

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