Friday, January 17, 2014

Ukraine Strikes Against Free Speech and Other Civil Rights

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signed into law a heavily controversial law, on Friday.

Mere hours before, the bill passed through a parliament which saw fights break out as the debate over it carried on.

Under the bill, any protest can be banned, freedom of speech is limited, freedom of the press is cut, the government is allowed to ban citizens from using the internet, and it classifies advocacy groups as "foreign agents" if they receive money from abroad.

Opposition leaders accused Yanukovych of trying to cement a dictatorship by following the ways of Russia and North Korea.

News of the bills passing was met with condemnation from much of the world, especially the EU.

Continuous protests have been taking place in Kiev, and elsewhere in Ukraine, for several months now,with crowds as large as two hundred thousand, in Kiev's Independence Square alone.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters in December, and their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, his once again breaking his word has only heightened the calls for his removal from office and led to many to call him a traitor and warn that he should never return to the country.

The opposition had called for the government to replace him, but their lack of movement on the issue has led to calls for their removal as well.

So far, the protests have been almost completely peaceful, but that could change as anger continues, and this new bill will only fuel that.

US Army: Sergeant Daniel T. Lee

Sergeant Daniel T. Lee, twenty-eight of Fort Wright, Kentucky, died on January 15.

He was killed during combat in Parwan province, Afghanistan.

Lee was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group Airborne out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

It was his second deployment, between Afghanistan and Iraq.

Among his completed courses were: Basic Combat Training, Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course; Special Forces Qualification Course.

His decorations include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Globral War on Terrorism Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Basic Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab.

Wyoming National Guard: Chief Warrant Officer Andrew L. McAdams

Chief Warrant Officer Andrew L. McAdams, twenty-seven of Cheyenne, Wyoming, died on January 10.

He and another soldier were killed when their airplane crashed at Bagram Airfield, Parwan province, Afghanistan.

McAdams was assigned to Detachment 53, Operational Support Airlift Command, Joint Force Headquarters out of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Hawaii National Guard: Sergeant Drew M. Scobie

Sergeant Drew M. Scobie, twenty-five of Kailua, Hawaii, died on January 10.

He and another soldier were killed when their airplane crashed at Bagram Airfield, Parwan province, Afghanistan.

Scobie was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery out of Wahiawa, Hawaii.