A monument commemorating the millions of Ukrainians who died during a
Soviet-era famine was unveiled in the U.S. capital, in a ceremony that brought
back horrific memories for survivors.
"The famine was an attempt to force the Ukrainian
people to their knees, to deprive us of our dignity, to destroy our national
identity and to kill our hope for the right to create our own destiny in our
own land," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told the crowd in
a taped video address.
"This memorial is proof that neither hard times
nor the criminal intent of our enemies will conquer our nation as it seeks
truth, freedom, democracy and peace on its own soil and in its own
country," he added, according to an English translation provided by
organizers.
Exactly how many people perished is unclear.
The U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide
Awareness 1932-1933, citing scholars, puts the number in the three million to
five million range while noting that some journalists who were in Ukraine
during the 1930s gave higher figures.
The ceremony comes amid a conflict between Kiev and
Moscow that erupted in the aftermath of 2014's pro-democracy revolt and has
killed thousands.
"The Kremlin, once again, as in times of
Holodomor, is trying to erase Ukraine from the map. Once again the threat of
death is coming from the east," Poroshenko said.
The White House issued a statement in remembrance of
the Holodomor, saying that despite decades under totalitarian rule, Ukrainians
"refused to abandon their drive for freedom and independence."
"And as the Ukrainian people face new threats to
their territory and well-being, they have once again demonstrated their
resolute commitment to human dignity," it said.
Legislation adopted by Congress and signed into law in
2006 authorized the establishment of the memorial on federal land.
No comments:
Post a Comment