While several hundred thousands of Ukrainian democrats made their demands clear for the fifth day in Kiev, some fifty Ukrainiens joined by representatives from approximately ten different organisations did the same outside the Ukrainian Embassy in Oslo today.(26-NOV-04 )
In solidarity with the demonstrators in Kiev, the protesters in Oslo, who kept standing outside the Embassy for about an hour, all wore orange coloured t-shirts, bandanas or armbands.
From the doorstep of the Embassy, the latest news from Kiev was shared by all, including the amusing fact that hundreds of those brought in by the authorities to match the numbers of people protesting the outcome of the elections had actually joined the latter instead. Also, loyal to her own convictions rather than to the lies of the regime, the sign language interpreter on the State broadcast tv news had informed all deaf Ukrainians watching about the severe fraud and the rigged result. Needless to say, this was not what the news anchor himself had just informed the nation.
On Henrik Ibsen´s street
Incidentally, the demonstration in Oslo took place only 30 meters down the street from Henrik Ibsen´s apartment, now an open museum, from where the famous late 19th century playwright, himself a strong spokesperson for the rights of the individual, for freedom of speech and for equality and democracy, wrote many of his most powerful plays in this regard.
Banners, slogans and appeals
Naturally, the Embassy did not respond to the demonstrators´s request to get in. Their presence was nevertheless made clear to the Embassy staff through the showing of banners, through several appeals and through slogans shouted in favour of democracy and the handover of the Presidency to the true winner of the election, Mr. Viktor Justshenko.
HRH present
On behalf of the Ukrainian demonstators , Victoria Savchuk informed about the fact that the Ukraine´s Supreme Court will not publish the presidential election results as official until it has considered an appeal filed by the opposition candidate.
Representatives from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights House Foundation (below) took part in the demonstration.