Thursday, February 13, 2014

Violent protests in Ukraine


Jiwoo Kim
13/2/2014
Violent protests in Ukraine
Frustrated protesters tired of waiting for reforms commenced attacks on government buildings wielding weapons and throwing Molotov cocktails.

What began as peaceful protests of Ukranian citizens who long for justice has become violent. Both the protesters and the police are assailants as well as victims wielding weapons and firing projectiles. As a result, both sides had to suffer the tragedy of seeing a comrade shot dead or set afire by a Molotov cocktails chucked at them. The protests against Viktor Yanukovych’s corrupted government have been going on for months in two central squares and few neighboring blocks. After constant protests made no significant improvement, the protesters decided that something must be done and fought bloody battles to change their country.

Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovych’s government stood only for the richest few in Ukraine’s highly unequal society. This was the one and only reason for the whole desperate struggle for power between the two forces. After futile attempts to resolve conflicts with peaceful protests, the protesters commenced attack on several government buildings leading to hours of fighting and destruction. After the protest, or rather war had ended, Yanukovych held no power and was being forced to make reforms the protesters had desperately wanted; enough to risk their lives in a bloody battle.

Protests began peaceful but became violent as no reforms were made. In their efforts to make their voice heard, they left many casualties for both sides. When the activists occupied buildings in 10 cities, things had only started to slip off Yanukovych’s hands. The aggressive protesters soon occupied the capital and 

Yanukovych was forced to offer concessions; to make the opposition leader the Prime Minister. However, a former heavyweight boxer and an activist Vitali Klitschko  posted on Twitter “No deal Yanukovych, we're finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you." The demands of the protesters are Yanukovych’s resignation and a new presidential election. This seems to be the only choice for Yanukovych and it seems like the long battle in Ukraine will end and start new with a new leader.

Sources

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