About elections, values and the choice

20.08.2008

The position of the LSDS on war between Russia and Georgia

There have been  told many ideas in connection with the war between Georgia and Russia, there have been said positions of citizens and politicians. In addition to this, let us remind the historical facts especially to those who try to present themselves as social democrats.  Particularly  the Socialist position of Steponas Kairys (famous Lithuanian social democrat, 1878-1964 - the transl.)) in response to the events of that time.

Extract from the monthly magazine "Socialdemokratas" of March 1921:

"Now it became finally clear - at Moscow's command, the Russian military attacked Georgia,  crushed down the small Socialist Republic  and is establishing  there  now  by  bayonet a communist order. Karl Kautsky, who had visited  the country short before the Russian attack,  describes the events in Georgia as follows:

"What yesterday has been  announced as a rumor - says Kautsky - today  the news of friends from Tbilisi confirmed it -  the Bolshevik army has  attacked Georgia without any war declaration.

It is a terrible situation - not only for the unfortunate Georgia, but also for the entire international socialism. The fact is  that one Socialist Republic attacks another Socialist Republic.

In Georgia, as in Soviet Russia, too,  the governmental power is in the hands of workers. However, Georgian workers  practise  different governmental methods -  that means,  democratic and not  terroristic methods - and they have achieved good results.

Of course, the Bolshevik terrorists did not like the order in Georgia. But should be therefore  a peaceful neighbour - Georgia -  drowned in blood?

Georgia  is existing already three years as an independent country.

The Government  there is in the hands of the Social Democrats. This Government is  supported  still by the revolutionary workers and peasants.

On the first day already the Government of Georgia expressed that it does not want to fight with anyone. It has held its promise  until recent days, although  it was not easy  to preserve the neutrality (not to be involved in the war).

At first Georgia was occupied by the Germans, then appeared several adventurers of the Entente. Denikin was also in Georgia invaded. Every of them intended to bring over Georgia to his side and to implicate it into the war. Georgia was able to free itself from all.

In the last time Georgia has got two new neighbours: the Soviets and Azerbaijan - both communist republics.

Georgias situation , however, did not improve. The Soviets wanted to make Georgia to their subject. Georgia has decided against the aspirations of the Soviets.

Because Georgia has kept its neutrality,  it  therefore became an opponent of the Soviets. Despite of all efforts to live peacefully side by side with the Soviets, Georgia did not succeed  to realize this.

As the Russians were not successful  to organize there communist insurgencies in Georgia, in May 1920  was finally signed a contract.

This contract with Georgia brought a great benefit to the Russians, because they got the opportunity to trade with the West. Even Lenin had this acknowledged. The Bolshevists as well as the imperialists in the West, however, continued to keep the violence in the first place. Georgia has fulfiled the peace treaty  honestly, however not Russia. Immediately after the signing of the Peace Treaty the Soviet army invaded Georgia, - but was beaten.

Then the Russians tried again to plot revolutions in Georgia. Despite the gigantic sums of money that flowed from Moscow, the Communists found no support by the workers and the peasants. After this, the Russians stopped the supply of oil, although they had  promised the supply in the Peace Treaty. By this way they tried to destroy the industry and the railways of Georgia.

When the Turkish nationalists, led by Kemal Pasha, invaded  Armenia,  there has arrised   a danger from a third party to Georgia.  But we did not  lose the hope. The Georgians hoped that the Russians  would not trample the right to self-determination  and would not attack the Republic.

The Georgians were pleased,  as  they  got the message by the Russians  that they finally wanted  to fulfil the Peace Treaty. And indeed. The Russians stated that the Georgians are allowed to set in motion their wagons and locomotives to Baku, and that they would receive the necessary oil. This renewed  Contract was already signed when I left Tbilisi. I was full of hope, but I became disappointed.

I had left already  Georgia, when the newspapers published that this contract  had been a trick. The aim of the Treaty was, to require the Georgian wagons and locomotives and to take them in possession. Two hundred tankers and a larger number of locomotives, which the Georgians had sent on their way to Baku, were confiscated  by the Russians. The Georgian  railway men had also been detained - they have had to suffer a lot of inconveniences.

After all that one must not be surprised that the Russian Red Army, without declaration of war, invaded Georgia, where pillages, murders and arbitrary had taken place.  How dreadful was this brother war,  which was caused among  the workers by the  apostles of the Third International. Nobody can imagine a larger disdain of the idea of socialism and  revolution.

Our Georgian brothers are waiting for moral assistance of all workers in the world. With the sympathy of the Socialists of all countries they are more persistent in the obstinate struggle. They need sympathy, however, especially of those socialists, where socialism and the liberation of the working people is a living ideal and not only the pretext, in order to achieve the power for leading of  robbary battles " (So far Kautsky - the translator).

The International Workers, which was founded on 21-25. May 1923 in Hamburg during the International Congress, at which had participated 620 delegates from 30 countries and which represented the former member parties of the International Bern and Vienna, adopted, among other things, a resolution on "Imperialistic Peace Treaties and the Tasks of the Working Class". It was outlined in wich way  there should be defended the national and religian minorities. It was demanded: to resist against the colonialism and the adoption of secret war treaties and alliances. In addition, to try to reach a general disarmament, as well as require from Russia,  to deduct the army from Georgia and  grant the right to self-determination for Armenia and Georgia.

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) was represented there by Steponas Kairys.

It should be noted that the history of relations of Russia and Georgia is repeating. The Social Democratic Union of Lithuania (LSDS), is continuing  the Social Democratic policy, loyal to principles of Steponas Kairys and supports Georgia's resistance against the imperialist intentions of Russia.

Arvydas Akstinavičius
Chairman of the Social Democratic Union of Lithuania

Translation from Lithuanian language
Translated by Irena Dikšaitienė

The speech of Mr. Arvydas Akstinavičius to the Lithuanian Social Democratic Union (LSDS) Conference on Dec. 15th, 2007

Dear Guests and Friends of the Conference,

with  this Conference the Lithuanian Social Democratic Union  is entering  into the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament)  elections Marathon of the year 2008.

In the Seimas election of 2004 the parol of  our LSDS was “Stop the Nonsense!”.  The things which we could regard four years ago as nonsense, to day, however, we can signify as the conspiracy against the State.  Therefore our parol should be transformed into: “Stop the Conspiracy against the State. Everyone to the election!” Everyone should participate in  the election, because by this democratic way  the Lithuanian citizens will be  not only able to stop the conspiracy against their  State, but also grant the possibility  to the improving alterations of their own lives.

The actual Lithuanian political situation, its condition,  calls to our mind the period  of 1939/40. The Head of the State (the President) lost,  undecided,  evidently showing that there will not be taken any measures or activities in order to improve the situation.

What does it mean when  his Excellence  says: “I am with the teachers”,  when  without any veto, without any protest  the Budget was signed which affects  education  and science,  which is antisocial and which leads the State into the burden of debts?  The speech to the nation which followed after it, we only can regard  as raising of the white flag - this means capitulation.

What means the so-called “three-head-dragon”  for Lithuania?  I would say,  the common Energy Act between the merchant class and the Government reminds the pre-war years with Ribbentrop-Molotov-Pact by its spirit.  The parallel is evident: the Atomic Electric Power Station - in the territory of Lithuania, the energy - in the  energetic space of Russia. The one who will  rule the energetic, this one practically will rule the State.  In this case one can make use of the very suitable saying: “Vilnius belongs us, we belong the Russians”.  The consequences are also obvious: the price for  energy will rise and increase in an enormous way.  The people's standard of  living and its quality , however, will decrease.  So the increasing of the social distinction is already pre-programmed.   Their wealthy life will  be able to continue only these persons, who are having it till now, as, additionally, the ones, who furthermore will have high profits by such three-headed or similar dragon projects.

I would like to draw the attention to the fact, that such “dragon” projects are absorbing giant sums not only from the State Budget but also from every of us,  whereas  many a one  is deriving profit from them. Therefore there is arising a lack of money for Education,  the Medical Health Services,  the cultural work, pensions, etc. The privatization example of the same  Western  Distribution Net  Work is typical.

The emigration of Lithuanian people is still continuing and will go on furthermore.  The number of  foreign emigrants will increase.  I doubt whether anybody who belongs to the present Government  would give a signal at the moment when this process will pass over the critical boarder and  will rise the danger for the national  security.

The present Party system reminds also  the Lithuanian political situation of 1939-1940.  At that time there has been active only one  Governmental party - the Tautininkai (nationalists). The remaining parties were closed, driven away,  forbidden or  not recommended.  At present time we have the same situation. And what structure presents  the Lithuanian Parliament  nowadays?  It consists of only one Governmental party with some sections:

Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Konservatives,  Farmers, Liberals, Liberal Democrats and  Worker's Party.

And where are the other ones? Though they are not closed or  driven away yet, but they are prohibited by the party  or otherwise not  recommended. However the “not recommended” parties  were  sticked together already: the Nationalists and Christian Democrats with the Conservatives, with the Centrists or elsewhere:  at this moment it is not possible to say, where. Thus the Parties  were destroyed,  Parties, which have had some political  values and to whom ideologie was important, etc.

I would like to draw your attention  besides to the  fact,   that the Social Democratic Union, inclusive some more active societies,  Trade Union Organizations and single  active citizens practically remain alone by themselves.

We feel angry about Russia. How undemocratic it is, the elections there- only a farce,  and the dictatorship and censorship are more and more establishing there. The party of V. Putin is in the Duma,  included its three satellites.

And what happens with us? Here it is  nearly the same.

Please, look at the communication system.  There are a few publications and a few patriotic, good humored journalists. That is all. Against the journalistic monster of the Government! Is this not similar to Russia?

That what I have mentioned when I have compared the political situation  with the period of 1939-1940 is in no account  a farce. I must admit that the period of 2008-2012 will be really very important to Lithuania. Important  in that sense,  that in case   everything will remain as it was till now -  I do not know where we will arrive.

Is there  any possibility at all to straighten ourselves again?  Undoubtedly - yes! I am wishing so much  that we should  assume the  responsibility which falls on the Social Democratic Union,  without any doubts about our possibilities.  The responsibility for Lithuania, its citizens and last not least the responsibility for ourselves. Without us and without  the participants of this meeting there nobody exists more who would be able to change anything.  They are  therefore not able, because they do not want it;  the possibility to change things can possess only these people, who want  changes and have the know how, what and why is necessary to change.

Our program is not fully riped yet. There will be a plenty of work and improvements. It is not true that all political programs are centralized. We must  say the truth to the people and not things which they might like to hear. I understand that they would wish to have the improvements quickly, to day, without any delay. However this means, never.  Under our Government people would feel the positive alterations in some years only.  I imagine it this way, at least.  So, their option will be as follows: in some years or never.

Now I must reproach that a part of  our sections have been somehow relaxing after the  elections of the Local Administration. Now it is just the time in order to start an intensive work.  We shall not forget the political testament  of our Social Democratic patriarch Steponas Kairys - what is good for Lithuania, must be  good also for the Social Democrats.

Translation from the Lithuanian language
Translated by Irena Dikšaitienė