Those Not Up to their Posts Should Step Down
Ternopil and Khmelnytsky regional offices
of the Into the Twenty-First Century with
Yevhen Marchuk Association open
A week ago, while those in power were promoting Zlahoda in the Ukraine
Palace of Culture, dozens of parties in different Ukrainian regions volunteered
to join the Twenty-First Century with Yevhen Marchuk Association, and Ternopil
and Khmelnytsky oblasts organizations were established.
Yevhen Marchuk is showing a dynamism that may eventually refute skeptical
allegations about his losing precious time at the starting gate. He is
gaining momentum, doing so confidently, even though barred from government-run
radio and television programs and periodicals.
Below The Day reports on Mr. Marchuk's visits to Ternopil, Kremenets,
and Khmelnytsky.
UKRAINE NEEDS GOVERNMENT THE PEOPLE
SUPPORT
March 21 saw over a thousand 21st Century with Yevhen Marchuk supporters
who voiced their trust in the man and encouraged his candidacy in the coming
elections. Those present appreciated his pragmatic and consistently liberal
stand, especially his implacability with regard to the clannish-racket
structures now prevalent in upper state echelons.
"Those not up to their posts should step down," declared Mr. Marchuk,
adding that Ukraine needs new ideas and a strong government truly supported
by the people, reports Volodymyr TARASENKO.
The audience's general feeling was that Ukraine could have a chance
to get out of the abyss of its social and economic crisis if Yevhen Marchuk
became President, reports Oleksandr VILCHYNSKY.
Entrepreneurship, especially private business, could be the most effective
consolidating factor in bringing Ukrainian society back into shape, Mr.
Marchuk told his Kremenets audience. Relying on private business interests,
one could hope to develop an effective vehicle to attract Western and Eastern
European resources and establish an recreational complex in the Crimea
to revive the national producer and stabilize and improve the national
climate, reports Liubov LEVYTSKA.
KHMELNYTSKY DECIDES TO CANCEL
WORLD'S END
"Point of return. Pilots know what this means. Ukraine has approached
the point of no return and the current President seems to believe that
the end of the world will come in 2000 when he will not be answerable for
anything," Yevhen Marchuk told his audiences in Khmelnytsky and Kamianets-Podilsky,
noting that the authorities are trying to use power structures (in response
to a question from a businessman) and he believes that such a practice
is bad for everyone concerned. It has thus far produced the worst effect
on businesspeople. He added that they were drawing up a list of businesses
that had suffered from the authorities to be tentatively titled the Black
Book of Business. The list numbers over a hundred entities and most
of the victims had just supported the wrong opposition and found themselves
in bad odor. We must reckon with our harsh realities: those now holding
high office are like the Golden Horde, always out for a quick grab, whatever
they can lay their hands on, stressed Mr. Marchuk.
The situation within Ukraine, being played out by the scenario written
and imposed from on high, is a thorn in the side of one and all these days.
Even the militia details assigned to keep law and order during the opposition
leader's meetings seemed to forget about their immediate duty, eagerly
listening and even applauding. A soldier and father of four was quoted
as saying in the lobby, "I know they will skin me alive for coming over
to take part in the constituent meeting, but I had to..."
Anatoly Voitov, presiding over an officers' meeting in Khmelnytsky,
declared, "They are stealing millions and billions from us, yet they refuse
to pay our wages and pensions. Thus we must rally round a man who has a
conscience and will really care for the people. If we vote for the wrong
candidate again we will all be in for total disaster..."






