Elena Bonner: "I am ashamed of Europe"

Since 18 January, Olivier Dupuis, a radical member of the European Parliament, has been on hunger strike to urge governments of the democratic countries, beginning with the countries of the European Union, to tackle the issue of genocide of the Chechen people with determination. Elena Bonner, widow of Academician Andrey Sakharov, has issued a statement in support of Olivier Dupuis:

"For nearly two weeks I have been following Olivier Dupuis's hunger strike with strained attention and concern, and I feel burning shame. This is akin to the shame I experienced when the USSR blockaded Berlin, scattered the Hungarian opposition, crushed the freedom of the Czechs and Slovaks with tanks, continually fed the flames of war in the Near East, and stirred up world-wide (UN-wide) anti-Semitism.

Now I am ashamed of Europe, ashamed of being a European at the time of this outburst of European anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli feeling. I am ashamed that the eye of the European citizen is stubbornly averted from the genocide of the Chechen people, which is taking place on the European soil, that very territory which every European politician and every person in public affairs is proud to describe as our common European home.

I am ashamed of the USA and the UN, which, in their broad interpretation of the terms of political correctness, are afraid to call Palestinian terrorism terror and the genocide in Chechnya genocide.

Olivier Dupuis, a member of the European Parliament, has gone without food for thirteen days but has received no glance from his parliamentary colleagues, from the Council of Europe, from other European bodies or from the transatlantic UN or White House.

This general silence and distancing from real human suffering proves how unnecessary (and maybe even how harmful?) these numerous international bodies and institutions are for the well-being of the world, as they live for their own Constitutions and Programs, spending our millions in taxes on their bureaucracy, awarding prizes to each other, and failing to notice the blood which is being spilled at this time.

Dear Mr Dupuis, your personal courage, your action is the best hope for the many people who even now add their voice in support of you to break the cycle of general indifference and political cowardice."

1 February 2004

Editors note: See also the article "European Parliament member continues hunger strike in defense of Chechnya".