(Vatican Radio) Organizers of a massive pro-European Union protest in Ukraine have
set up an association that they hope will eventually force Ukraine's leadership to
resign and bring the former Soviet nation closer to the EU.
The announcement
came after as many as 100,000 demonstrators braved the cold on Sunday in the capital,
Kyiv.
Though demonstrators gathered for a fifth-consecutive Sunday, organizers
acknowledged they have to extend their movement.
The new Maidan People’s
Association has been named after what is also known as Kyiv's Independence Square,
which has been turned into a massive protest camp.
DEMANDING RESIGNATION
Protesters
have demanded the resignation of the president and government because of their refusal
to sign the EU Association Agreement and choosing closer ties with Russia instead.
The association also aims to promote a new constitution and to remove
of what it calls “corrupt judges and prosecutors”.
Opposition leader Arseniy
Yatsenyuk says the association will be open for all parties, non-governmental organizations
and millions of individuals.
“This is the place for real places. This is
the place for freedom. It will be something like [the] Solidarność (Solidarity) [movement]
in Poland” under Communism, he said.
HALTING PROTESTS It underscores
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s failure to halt protests despite his concessions,
including releasing some jailed opposition activists and suspending several top officials
over a police crackdown on demonstrators.
Yet Yanukovych’s stance was strengthened
last week by a pledge from Moscow to buy $15 billion in Ukrainian government bonds
and to reduce the price Russia charges Ukraine for natural gas by one-third.
Observers
say keeping up the momentum will be difficult for protest organizers, especially in
this holiday season.
Ukraine celebrates Christmas on January 7, according
to the Julian calendar. The holiday, suppressed during the Soviet era and celebrated
at church or with family, may draw many protesters home.