Separation was looming, if not clearly, in Ukraine on the 7th day of the election standoff after a pro-Yanukovich meeting warned on Sunday of considering the possibility of holding a referendum on setting up a "Southeastern Republic." 

Yanukovich camp threatens to set up trans-regional autonomous alliance

Around 3500 people's deputies from 14 provinces and one autonomous republic convened a meeting in eastern Ukrainian city of North Donetsk on Sunday, aiming to explore solutions to the current election stalemate.

According to Ukrinform, Ukraine's national news agency, the meeting passed a resolution unanimously, which mentioned to set up a trans-regional autonomous alliance.

In order to enhance the leadership of the alliance, the meeting planned to set up a coordination commission, whose task is to study the proposals put forward by the meeting, including the possibility of holding a referendum on setting up a "Southeastern Republic."

The resolution passed by the meeting also asserted that the declaration, made on Wednesday by the Central Elections Commission, conforms to the Ukrainian Constitution and Yanukovich is the legally elected president.

The deputies warned that if the "illegal president" takes up the presidency, they will reserve the power to safeguard the legitimate rights of Ukrainian citizens.

The rights include holding a referendum on changing the division of administrative regions of Ukraine and setting up a trans-regional autonomous alliance.

The meeting's resolution is completely against the non-binding resolution passed a day earlier by Ukrainian national congress, or the Supreme Council, which asserts that the second round of presidential election is of no legal effect.

Yanukovich attended Sunday's meeting, urging the deputies to say "no" if Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and the Supreme Council fail to take action to end the blocking of governmental buildings and stop the actions that jeer at the Constitution and laws in the near future.

"We should maintain peace and stability, otherwise serious irreversible consequences would take place," he told the meeting.

The prime minister said Ukraine is at the brink of a disaster and the peace in the country is already "fragile", adding that the situation is merely "one step away from abyss."

Yushchenko camp still blocks governmental buildings

However, Yanukovich's rival Viktor Yushchenko warned on Sunday the meeting should not adopt any resolution that might endanger the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Speaking to thousands of supporters in the Independence Square in downtown Kiev, Yanukovich said any person who drives at separating Ukraine will face criminal charges.

The former prime minister also spoke highly of the resolution passed by the Supreme Council on Saturday, but was not fully satisfied with it.

Passing the resolution is not enough and the standoff is still there, he said, urging Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma to prevent the occurrence of violence.

Despite the passing of congress resolution that is in favor of the opposition camp, thousands of supporters for Yushchenko still surrounded the office buildings of the president, the prime minister and the Supreme Congress, blocking every possible entry of the buildings with vehicles.

However, Yanukovich's supporters have left the railway station of Kiev, where they had gathered to show their muscles on Saturday.

Kuchma's remedy

To curb the situation from deteriorating, Kuchma and the top Ukrainian security body, the national security and defense commission, held a meeting to study the current social and political situation across the country since the election crisis emerged last weekend.

Kuchma said at the meeting that the blocking of governmental buildings by the opposition camp is illegal and no democratic nation could allow such act.

"Blocking buildings of central and local governments and congresses is a rude and illegal action," Kuchma was quoted as saying by Ukrinform.

The outgoing president accused the opposition camp of failing to keep the promise it had made at the roundtable on Friday attended by all parties involved and international mediators.

During that meeting, Viktor Yushchenko had promised to stop blocking the buildings of governmental departments and congresses.

Kuchma said he regretted that the blocking was still on and he did not see the goodwill from the opposition camp in this aspect.

Despite this, the governmental organs are trying to maintain operation though it is difficult to keep their work on normal track, said Kuchma.

Finally the meeting put forward a four-point proposal:

l         Urging parties involved to quicken the pace of political dialogue to resolve current election standoff,

l         Blocking of buildings of the presidential office, congress and governmental departments is not allowed;

l         All illegal decisions adopted by local governments and congresses are abolished, and any decision adopted by these organs shall conform to the Constitution and national laws;

l         It is prohibited to resort to force against participants in the protests, so as to avoid the escalation of the situation.

The top security body, consisting of the president, prime minister, congress chairman, defense minister and interior minister, also urged political campaign participants not to violate laws.

Police chief's warning on conduct of police officers

In addition, Ukrainian Interior Minister Mykola Bilokon Sunday issued an open letter to all Ukrainian citizens, warning police officers not to participate in political gatherings and protests.

According to Ukrainian law on the conduct of police forces, police officers are not allowed to take part in large-scale political gatherings.

He warned that some people are attempting to put pressure on police officers.

Local media reported that illegal blocking of governmental buildings and transportation have so far taken place across the country, but there is no report about involvement of police force.

The minister persuaded his colleagues not to show their political enthusiasm and position in their jobs.

In the letter, Bilokon offered "one advice" to police officers: if they want to take part in political campaigns, they should hand in their police badges, police uniforms and police cars.

The minister stressed that the duty of police officers is to maintain social order including the order concerning political gatherings.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2004)