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23-12-2004 15:20 Maidan-INFORM
Victorious Road to a Defeat?

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It is quite probable that in the next parliamentary elections in 2006, Ukrainian citizens will find in their ballots, among other parties, political party “PORA!”. We can even assume that among the top five party members on the list there will be a famous TV presenter Danylo Janevskyj who – as it turns out – is a “PORA!” activist.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that civic campaign “PORA!”, which made its brand well-recognised and well-known, will disappear. Actually, this would simply be the logical shaping of the current situation in the surroundings of this civic movement.

Perhaps you paid attention to the fact there are two types of head bands of “PORA!”: black with a white logo and yellow with black print. Such differentiation is not a “matter of taste” of the person wearing the band, as one could assume, but a statement of affiliation (according to the colour of the band) with a so-called “black” or “yellow” “PORA!” respectively.

We do not exclude the possibility that one of these colours (yellow) will be adopted by a political party in the near future and the other (black) will stay with the civic movement.

“PORA!” activists themselves talk reluctantly and with reservations about the division into “yellows” and “blacks.” The arguments vary from “this division is imaginary,” to recognition that the activists of both – especially in the regions – are often the very same people. Therefore, people on the periphery, and even the media, are simply not aware of the “two PORAs” and do not distinguish between them.

On the other hand, “PORA!” activists fear that calling attention to certain differences between two organisations could be perceived by many as proof of a “rupture” in “PORA!” and consequently, this would lead to disappointment and would thus only harm the common cause.

The question is, can there be a “rupture” where in fact there are two parallel structures in existence?

Popovs and Marconis
“PORA!” is viewed at as an analogy of the Serbian “Otpor” or Georgian “Kmara” – movements of civil resistance which to large extent (each in its country) contributed to bringing down corrupt and uncontrolled regimes, Milo?evi? and Shevardnadze respectively. It is even coming to accusations of “exporting the revolution” and foreign meddling in the internal affairs of the country.

There is no doubt that the above-mentioned movements became the acts for the Ukrainian civic campaign to follow. Further, the activists of “Otpor” and “Kmara” did organise trainings for the Ukrainians, teaching them the methods of nonviolent resistance, and transferring organisational knowledge and skills on mobilisation of the citizens etc. However, in order to be correct and objective, we should say that trainings carried out by the “exporters of revolution” were embracing only one “PORA!” – the so-called “black PORA!”.

At the time of the first encounter between the Ukrainians and Serbian trainers took place in autumn 2003 (it actually happened in autumn 2001 – correction by “black” PORA!) “yellow” Pora still did not exist. To be objective, we should point out that “black” PORA! did not exist either, at least publicly. However, trips to Serbia to gain experience, organisation of training seminars in Ukraine, and preparatory organisational work on developing the structure of a future campaign was all done by the people who subsequently have been working in “black” PORA! and still continue to do so. This gives us grounds, though to certain extent conditional ones, – to “paint” all the preparatory work a “black” colour.

The launch of the “public” phase of activities of civic campaign “PORA!” took place on March 29, 2004. That night - daylight savings time - the all clocks moved forward one hour (the date was clearly chosen for its symbolic significance), and in most regional capitals of Ukraine black stickers simultaneously appeared bearing one single question “What is kuchmizm?” and the web-address http://www.kuchmizm.info. The text under the rising sun inside the triangle read “PORA!” (“It's time!”).

The “yellows” insist that they also launched their activities in March of this year. Whatever the truth is, their first appearance took place during the mayoral elections in the western Ukrainian town of Mukacheve (in mid-April 2004 – remark by the translator). Afterwards, yellow stickers with the “Pora” logo, in which the letter “o” was appeared as a clock indicating quarter to twelve, could be seen in many cities as well as on the young men and women wearing yellow “Pora” bands at virtually all demonstrations in which Viktor Yushchenko participated.

The world knows multiple examples of incidents of simultaneous inventions and discoveries. The Russian Popov and Italian Marconi practically simultaneously invented radio, the English Swan and the American Edison simultaneously invented the light bulb and even the planet Neptune was discovered by Adams and Leverier independently of each other as an outcome of their calculations.

We can, therefore, freely assume that even in the area of civic activity, the same idea can come to the minds of very different people virtually at the same time. Somewhat stranger is the fact is that this idea has been expressed with identical titles. But such is the reality.

“Civil marriage”
The aim of the activities of both “yellows” and “blacks” was, in fact, identical: construction of a civil society and the struggle for truth, justice and freedom (in other words – struggle against the regime). Therefore, the decision to unite both movements, which was made in August 2004, was natural and logical. It was made public at the unification forum on August 19, 2004. Even the logos of both factions were merged into one.

In theory, any merger should lead to an increase in strength and power. On top of that, the two Poras complemented each other nicely; the “blacks” had broader “street” experience and “yellows” were apparently better at media relations.

Nonetheless, it was not long before the process of merging slowed down drastically. The “blacks” say it happened because the “yellows” did not adhere to one of the fundamental principles (incidentally taken from “Otpor”) of the civic campaign: leaderless and horizontal structure. For instance, it is frustrating that one of the coordinators of the “yellows,” Vladyslav Kaskiv (who is also a chairman of NGO coalition “Freedom of Choice”), keeps appearing in media as leader or chairman of “PORA!” (while no surnames of the activists of “black” PORA! were ever released to the media except for in the cases of arrested activists, when it was crucial to ask for help from the public - correction by “black” PORA!)

“We are like sand,” explains one “PORA!” activists. “We consciously chose this niche, where nobody has an opportunity to take advantage of our movement.”

“Nobody” does not imply “outsiders” only. The campaign’s activities have been independent of sponsors' money (that comes mostly from Ukrainian business and from individual people, as stated by “PORA!”) and this fact has been viewed from the start as something self-evident. A leaderless organisation (there is a coordinating council for which members rotate) by definition would not allow an opportunity for anyone to subordinate it for one’s private purposes or to earn personal political benefit. According to the “blacks,” even the rule not to disclose family names primarily serves this aim and is not a security measure.

More than that, PORA! activists assert that most of them will never go into politics and will not become (career)civic activists. Therefore, they are working not to for personal benefit but because it is here and now that they are needed most.

Still, even if this is the position of the majority, there are alternative opinions inside “PORA!” about the future of individual members and the future of the campaign. The “heat” of the imminent discussions could be clearly felt during the civic campaign “PORA!” forum that took place last Sunday, December 19. It is quite illustrative that, for instance, at one point, Mr. Kaskiv was hailed as a “locomotive” of the campaign and yet minutes later, a large part of the audience was screaming “Shame!” at him. Let's look at what happened, step by step.

What next?
During his presentation at the forum, Jevhen Zolotarjov, one of the central figures of “Pora” (apparently the author means “yellow Pora” as the activists of black “PORA!” do not disclose their family names and do not present themselves as “central figures” – correction by black “PORA!) – mentioned that the campaign had four alternatives for its future:
- “suicide”, i.e. to cease to exist;
- keep the current set-up or become an organisation which will control the election processes;
- create a foundation or centre for assistance for “weak democracies” (no need to search for those – Russia and Belarus are around the corner, and Azerbaijan is also not far away);
- create a political party

However, there are rumours that leaders of the “yellows” have already made their choice in favor of the last alternative. They have allegedly made phone calls to some regions and portrayed the possibility of creating a party on the basis of “PORA!” which they have offered to join. What one of the activists (who made a presentation at the forum) found most disturbing was the fact that complete outsiders were approached with those proposals in the regions, behind the backs of actual “PORA!” activists. In this respect an angry activist even stated that “this is treason!”

Even if we do not take these accusations into account and only consider the speeches of the Forum's Kyiv participants (who are the most influential and best-known), we come to a conclusion: it all leads to the formation of a political party.

This conclusion is confirmed by Kaskiv’s suggestion that “we will most probably be forced to take complicated organisational decisions,” which was uttered after a statement that “PORA!” gave birth to a new wave of politicians who will participate in politics and should be shaping them in a few years.

A statement by Janevskyj about the “fight for human dignity” is probably in line with the above. He said, “It's time to say that only “PORA!” can do it. It's time to say we will do it.”

A statement by the director of the Institute of Mass Information Serhij Taran (who was presented as “PORA!” activist) can hardly be understood in a different way. “There is no political force in Ukraine that would go to the end, which would advocate radical reforms. In this sense, “PORA!” is a unique political force.”

At the same time, the attitudes in the regions seem to be largely different. Those were voiced by Ljuba, a “PORA!” activist from Kherson: “We have been fighting for Ukraine, for freedom and not for a political name. To gain personal benefits from the revolution is immoral."

Andrij from Lviv adds to this: “I am a “PORA!” activist and not a politician. We can wake up the nation, the people who believe us. And they will believe us until such a time that they see that we are like them and not like the government.”

A resolution proposed by those oppositing “partyfication” was very positively received and supported by loud applause. It states that “not a single person or group of people have the right to monopolise the achievements of civic campaign “PORA!” and present themselves as the “leaders” of the Campaign.” It also rejects any possible “statements about change of the structure or design of activities” of the campaign before the president’s inauguration, and states that such a decision should be taken “with the participation of representatives from all regional branches.”

The resolution was not put to vote, however, and Vladyslav Kaskiv assured Forum participants that “pending December 26, no question regarding the establishment of a political structure has been or is on the agenda”.

But there is less than a week left until December 26. And if Yushchenko wins in the presidential election, the coming period will become the most difficult one for “PORA!” regardless of whether or not they manage to avoid internal opposition (actually, one can currently observe the desire for agreement within “PORA!” circles).

On the other hand, the question is whether Kaskiv is wrong in asserting that “PORA!” cannot exist in its current form after the presidential election. Any manager will tell you that the “horizontal structures” that the campaign is so proud of are not efficient, nor are they built to last. At least they cannot stay efficient in the long run.

Won’t the mission of the civic campaign cease to exist altogether upon the completion of election, which had a clear task in not allowing a victory for “kuchmizm” - personified by President Yanukovych?

Here I can contradict myself: “yesterday” in “new Ukraine” is not limited to Yanukovych and Kuchma only. Actually, Yanukovych will not just disappear and one and half years from now will most probably try to gain victory in the parliamentary election by leading a political party or bloc.

Thousands of “kuchmists” remain in the government, who, according to Viktor from Zakarpattia, will now say that they’ve had “an orange flag hanging in their closets for 10 years.” Therefore, “PORA!” as a “Cerberus of democracy” will have more than enough to do.

However, a desire to take advantage of a political brand is quite pragmatic. “PORA!” is sufficiently well-known at the moment. If the current pace is maintained, it will stay so until the parliamentary elections. But to be recognisable and even popular does not necessarily bring victory in the elections.

According to the latest research on “party brands” carried out by the Razumkov Centre, only four parties would gain over 3% of the votes today: Our Ukraine, the Party of the Regions, the Communist Party and the Socialist Party. For instance, Narodnyj Rukh (People’s Movement) would pick up only 0.6% and its former “fragment”, today’s Ukrainian People’s Party – 0.4%.

Incidentally, many old Rukh members still believe it was a strategic and irreparable mistake to transform Rukh from an NGO into a political party (in the beginning of the 90s – note by the translator), which Vjacheslav Chornovil insisted upon.

There is another, “maternal,” example from abroad, which is referred to by those who support the future of “PORA!” in the form of a resistance movement. Serbian “Otpor” had 100,000 activists and enjoyed huge popularity and authority (“PORA!”, according to the most optimistic estimates, can boast 20,000 members). After “Otpor” was transformed into party, it managed to win less than 1% of the votes (actually 1.65% of the votes - correction by the translator) in the parliamentary elections.

P.S. According to information (unconfirmed to date) articulated by one of the “PORA!” coordinators, an NGO with the name “PORA!” was recently registered in Kyiv.


Ivan Hajvanovych
Ukrajinska Pravda
20.12.2004
Original article in Ukrainian can be found here

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