An informative article by Laas Leivat in the January 25-th issue of Estonian Life (“Crimes of Communism officially unacknowledged by the Estonian Parliament”), dealing with the fact that in summer 2001 the Parliament voted down a proposed declaration by 33 parlamentarians on the crimes of the Communist regime of the Soviet Union in Estonia, prompts a follow-up by an interested reader, attempting to place that decision into a historical perspective. This is a matter of the degree of acceptance of the historical facts by some sections of the Estonian society.
Observations are as follows.
ANDRES LANGEMETS’ POINTS
First, Andres Langemets’ article, March 29th, 1995, in “Eesti Aeg” (Estonian Time), “Voting down the historical truth” (Ajaloolise tõe mahahääletamine) deals with the same subject but in terms of the media and the general population perspective. Langemets tries to analyse whether this attitude can be attributed to the apparent general amnesia. (The article was reprinted April 25th, 1995, in “Vaba Eestlane” (Free Estonian).
There is merit is summarizing the Langemets article, enabling us to gauge the development of political awareness in Estonia during the last 6-7 years. We should appreciate that without knowing the past there is no present, without the present there is no future.
Langemets’ summary:
- As a result of the recent general election, a large number of previous communists were returned to power. (54% of the Members of Parliament)
- In the opinion of the people, stories of the communist occupation and local collaboration appear to be exaggerated. - Analyzing the stance of the media during the last four years (1990 - 1993), paying little attention to the Soviet occupation throughout the decades, the present powergrab by the communists is not surprising.
- Now, the democracy protects the communists...
- Very little is known of the past of the previous communists now in power.
- The spiritual debolshevikization of the society is not happening. Soon, all the witnesses will be gone; even the historians would not be able to comprehend what happened during the communist occupation.
- The more powers that the present decision makers will have, the deeper the historical truth will sink into the bog. - People are silent about the Soviet occupation experience. During 50 years nobody dared to speak of pre-war Estonia. It was possible to forget that era.
- Direct quote: “I am afraid that the recent history will disappear, the little clarity which has been received will disappear during the next four years.” (It was written in 1995)
KARL ARRO’S POINTS:
Another historical article about this subject matter was written by Karl Arro (Vaba Eestlane, May 3rd, 1994) : “Raskused on suured” (Difficulties are great). Arro writes “... we have to keep in mind that the Communist regime was applied in Estonia for 50 years, resulting in cultivation of new generations, under the labels of socialsim and communism. Estonians , who grew up during the previous republic, have been either destroyed by the Communist terror, have died of natural causes, or have become old. The leadership of the present Estonia is formed by men and women who are more or less products of the Communist era. Many of them know little of the genocide in Estonia. The destruction of the Estonian people was historically a tragic period, speaking of which would simply irritate the Rusians. It appears that this stance has also been adopted by the Estonian media, which has described some facts of tragic events of the Communist era, but has remained very modest in the condemnation of the perpetrators, and in demands for their punishment.” (End of excerpt.)
This was a variation of similar thoughts expressed by Langemets.
MEIE ELU’S POINTS:
The third article, containing basically thoughts of the same vein, was the leader in “Meie Elu” (Our Life), Sept. 29th 2001, “Läbi pilvise öö” (Through a cloudy night), commenting on the election of the new Estonian President, Arnold Rüütel. An excerpt: “If once upon a time there was a wish amongst the Estonian people to have the ‘good old Swedish time’ returned, then there are now a fair number of people who want to have the ‘worryless’ Soviet time returned - times when pensions were more reasonable; at least in the countryside the life was good, and nobody talked about the lack of consumer goods becasue it was the age of red feudalism. Apparently, these people, with short memories, decided to elect a man from the past.” It concludes: “The country folk will sow in the Spring again. One harvest what one sows. Let’s hope, like the farmer does, that the present dark Fall night will not be grey; that the sun will shine in the future again. It is difficult to believe that the Estonian people have stepped back into the past, instead of choosing a bright future, keeping in mind the changing world. We have not forgotten what the Communist part did. How come, that the electors forgot? Let’s hope that this will not again be a movement towards the East, which would not be surprising, considering the history of the new Estonian president, and that of his supporters.” (End)
COMPARISON, CONCLUSION
These three viewpoints, from various sources, expressing common concern (non-recognition of the historical facts) should give enough material for a reader to compare the historical sitution to the present one. Has it changed? Apparently not, according to the Parliamentarians (refer to the introductory paragraph). Also, polls of that kind are not known to exist. As an arbitrary measure, for instance, a recent Estonian opinion poll indicated that the popularity of President Rüütel has declined from 7.21 points to 6.55 (“Eesti Elu”, March 25th, 2002) Given reasons: internal quarrels within the presidential office; funding irregularities for his political party (Rahvaliit); and too expensive draperies for the presidential castle (!). This poll may reflect a limited general interest or concern for the principled political issues.
A conclusion could be formed that the aforementioned political decision by the Estonian Parliament (in Summer 2001) may indicate that very little evolution has occurred in the growth of the collective desire to tell the historical truth. This is a mistake in the long term: history resents being ignored or changed, whatever the motivation. Even if all witnesses will be gone, the untruth would still linger around, hampering the reconstruction of a politically progressive and democratic Estonia, not to speak of personal and community relationships.
A sincere and courageous political action (acceptance of the proposed declaration acknowledging the crimes of the Communist occupation) by the Estonian Parliament would provide the needed leadership, being a short term pain for long term gain, welcomed by the democratically thinking Estonians all around the world. It would clear the air: Estonia should not remain treading the water in terms of historical-political credibility, and justice.
Opinion: Voting down the historical truth II
Arvamus
TRENDING
