Ukraine 'Marshall Plan': A Letter to South West UK MEPs

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Dear Sir Graham Watson, Julie Girling, William (The Earl of) Dartmouth
and Trevor Colman,

May I remind you of earlier communications regarding our work in
Ukraine on a strategy for microeconomic development and social
enterprise in Ukraine known as A 'Marshall Plan' for Ukraine. It
described the application of business for social benefit, particularly
children who are institutionalised and greatly neglected. It would be
better known today as social impact investment.

The shared financial investment of 1.5 billion dollars with full cost
recovery, would have been precisely one tenth of what Russia has paid
to keep Ukraine within its sphere of influence.

In December 2008 it was submitted as a proposal for the EU Citizens
Consultation.

In February 2009 it was an issue raised with MEPs Caroline Jackson,
Glyn Ford and Piers Merchant.

In September 2011, again with Sir Graham Watson, Trevor Colman, William
(Earl of) Dartmouth and Julie Girling     

As you know Ukraine is now in a state of civil conflict and I would
like to bring you up to date with recent developments 

A few weeks ago an international group of academics called on their
governments to support a 'Marshall Plan' strategy for Ukraine.

At Davos, in a panel discussion chaired by Tony Blair, the crisis in
Ukraine opened a discussion on social business which included Sir
Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Muhammad Yunus.

On Saturday in Munich at a meeting with US Secretary of State, John
Kerry, opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenuk called on US support for a
'Marshall Plan' for Ukraine.

We learned this week from Catherine Ashton that the EU and US are
working on a plan to support Ukraine.

Finally the NGO Maidan who assisted our work on the 'Marshall Plan' and
discovered the body of my deceased colleague, published an open letter
requesting the support of MEPs

{quote}

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

The severe situation of Ukraine is a direct consequence of the
systematic crime of the Yanukovych regime. The nation suffers from the
serious violations of human rights, abuse of power by authorities and
heavy corruption. On 16 January 2014, the government demonstrated
obedience to the regime and even legalized abuse, torture and murder.

People in Ukraine bravely stand up for their rights, fighting state
terror and often fall victim to it. The official, far incomplete list
of kidnapped, beaten, tortured, arrested and murdered people, among
them journalists and politicians, already numbers thousands. In
addition to deploying thousands of police to suppress resistance, the
regime also cooperates with groups of anonymous bandits who brutally
attack “suspected” demonstrators and even random people in the streets.
Many organizations including Transparency International, Human Rights
Watch and Amnesty International, have sharply criticized the actions of
the government and protested against the massive human rights
violations in Ukraine.

President Yanukovych has not taken any steps towards a real dialog with
the opposition and protestors; he only accepts the language of power
and money. He and his close associates embody impunity, corruption and
severe abuse of power. In order to put an end to the despotism in
Ukraine, the corrupt structures must urgently be deprived of power.
:
We kindly ask you to urgently get active especially with regards to the
following:

    1.      Release and full rehabilitation of all political prisoners:
Demand that unlawfully arrested people are immediately released.
Without justification they are kept in so called “isolators” which have
worse conditions than the Soviet Union labour camps; each day of
waiting brings affected people irrevocable harm. Additionally, many of
them are injured and need urgent medical help.

    2.      Assist in restoring justice: Support a proper investigation
of the cases of imprisonment, kidnapping, torture and murder. Those who
instructed the bashing of peaceful demonstrators have to be punished.
Do not allow the Yanukovych regime to escape punishment for the
thousands of victims of its terror. Help to establish nonpartisan and
trustworthy courts.

    3.      Initiate immediate medical aid for the victims: Assist in
providing proper medical aid. International assistance is required and
may be carried out via the United Nations and Red Cross. Also, help to
protect injured protestors from being kidnapped and arrested in the
hospitals.

    4.      Introduce targeted sanctions especially to stop money
laundering: Prohibit that banks continue operations with the Yanukovych
regime and associated people until further notice, especially until
clear evidence is provided, that the assets are not stolen. Freeze or
help to freeze their personal and their related enterprises’ bank
accounts and assets. Withdraw visa granted to them and stop them from
residing in foreign locations. Consider further targeted sanctions

    5.      Assist the democratic process: Be present in the Ukraine,
witness, enter into dialogue with representatives of the civil society
and churches, support development projects

  6.      Support political reforms and economic development: When the
new government is in place, support Ukraine financially to get on a
path of sustainable economic revival. A kind of „Marshall Plan“, can
bring long-term economic benefits to Ukraine and save it from otherwise
imminent long-term default.

We would like to call you to do everything in your power as a MEP to
assist Ukrainians to win this vehement fight for their rights and
values for which Europe stands for too.  We kindly ask you to discuss
these issues within the European Parliament during the discussion on
Ukraine and raise them with the EU institutions, EU member states and
international organisations who may assist Ukrainians in their struggle
for justice, citizens’ rights and return to political and economical
stability.

Nataliya Zubar,

“Maidan Monitoring” Information Centrer, Chairman of the board,
Journalist, Member of Independent Media Trade Union

{unquote}

Yours sincerely,

Jeff Mowatt
for People-Centered Economic Development

Following this letter one of the MEPs, Sir Graham Watson has spoken about the military option to defend Ukraine/ This is not what we requested.

Jeremy Corbyn on the other hand is against war.