EL on the displacement of the World War II memorial in Tallinn
On the occasion of the EL Executive Board meeting on the 28th and 29th of April in Tallinn the Executive board expresses its deep concern and condemns the use of force and massive arrests against the peaceful demonstrators in Tallinn that lead to new violence and tensions in the streets of Estonian cities. We demand the immediate liberation of the arrested demonstrators.
The Party of the European Left is actively committed to creating a European common space of tolerance, nondiscrimination, nonviolence and peace. As a consequence, the EL is very concerned about any events that could endanger these values in Europe and everywhere else in the world.
The EL condemns and protests against the recent decision of the Estonian government to displace the World War II memorial in Tallinn. We deem unacceptable any action by public authorities aimed at minimizing the value and the memory of those who fought against fascism. We consider this provocative action of the Estonian authorities as a dangerous precedent for the Europe and the whole world.
The EL is extremely concerned about the permanent condition of social and political exclusion of minorities in Estonia as well as about the indifference of the EU institutions vis-à-vis this issue.
We call upon European institutions to offer prompt and effective reaction on the actions of the Estonian government and to influence it to stop fueling tensions, to respect the rights of ethnic minorities, to prevent and diffuse any attempts of interethnic dispute in the Estonian society and to start civic dialogue.
The only solution for the Estonian authorities is to respect the rule of law, basic human rights and democratic principles.
Eurpean Left 29.4.07:
