DON'T LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY!
University of Melbourne Round table on the Ukrainian Holodomor and Genocide

Stefan Romaniw, President

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO)

Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, March 21, 2009

MELBOURNE - The 1932-33 Holodomor in Ukraine was a dark episode in world history and major crime against mankind. The archives are now open and the facts readily available. So why the need to continue to conduct roundtables such as the one held at University of Melbourne on Saturday March 21, 2009 , titled 'The scale and causes of the 1931-33 famine and whether the Holodomor should be classified as a genocide’?

The round table discussion was strongly negotiated by the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) with the organisers of an International Conference on Famine. The AFUO insisted that if the Ukrainian Famine was to be discussed it needed to be done in balanced way.

The moderator was Professor Cormac O’ Grada from University College Dublin. Four academics stood before the audience putting forward their respective positions followed by question time.

SO WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?

The fact that there are newly accessible archives available and thousands of eyewitness survivor accounts of the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-33 seemed to impact little on the presentations by Professor Stephen Wheatcroft - the University of Melbourne and Professor Viktor Kondrashin, Penza Russia. Only archives sourced from the Russian Federation seemed worth serious consideration.

Whilst trying to convince the audience they were not taking a Russian Federation position but an alternative position to Ukraine’s, Profs. Wheatcroft and Kondarshin were very much sending messages very similar to those of the Russian Federation.

In tandum they voiced the position that there is no evidence of Genocide. Holodomor was economically based, others suffered not only Ukrainians, assistance was provided to the starving by Government, and definitely no evidence that it was an attempt to eradicate Ukrainian nationalism...

MANY DISAGREED!
Stanislav Kulchytskyj, a Ukrainian historian from Kyiv and Roman Serbyn International historian from Montreal Canada presented the Ukrainian perspective.

Kulchytskyj took the position that there are two diverse positions taken by Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine argues the intent of the terror Famine that Ukraine was targeted by Stalin. Russia takes an economic position of bad planning the results which affected not only Ukrainians .He argued that evidence and eyewitness accounts are on the public record and they need to be studied by all.

Prof Serbyn strongly argued that Raphael Lemkin, a Polish Jew who coined the term Genocide, himself in an address in 1953 in the US acknowledged that the Holodomor was indeed Genocide. Serbyn listed the evidence that pointed to Genocide yet the Russian Federation continues to do everything possible internationally to down play this fact. The disinformation train continues to run.

Both Kulchytskyj and Serbyn alluded to the fact the archives of Ukraine are open and on the public record. Kondrashin tried to argue that the same applied to Russia. Questions from floor tested Kondrashin on archives and it was obvious that his vision of open archives was a different definition to most. Some examples were provided, but he skirted around the responses

Fact 1. – Archives relating to Ukrainian Catholic Church in the former Soviet Union were falsified and the fact proved a number of times

Fact 2. - Ukraine Security Service Archives (SBU) are open and the Unclassified Memories of 1932-33 are now on public display. . Recent requests from the SBU to the Russian Service to do likewise have fallen on deaf ears.

Whilst claiming not to get politically involved, Wheatcroft screamed at the audience, ‘Look at this!’ holding up the Holodomor Brochure prepared by Ukraine – stating something to the effect, ‘It says 6-10 million, when your own Institute of Demography says 3.5 million perished. This in unhelpful propaganda!’

As a scholar, he overlooked the basics - The source of statement – A Joint Statement signed by 65 member states adopted at the 58th UN Assembly on November 7 2003. not Ukraine. But why let facts get in the way of a good story?

There are various interpretations on figures and there needs to be more clarity –But the question needs to be asked - Do we base the case of Genocide on differing numbers or even on Kondrashin’s attempt to show that it’s not Genocide because of a photo that was allegedly from 1921 and attributed to 1932-33?

Roman Serbyn responded well – Stop playing numbers game – 1, 2, and 5. 10 million is not the issue - the issue is Genocide.

There were different levels of questions. Some appropriate and some less appropriate considering the academic nature of the event.

However one thing was obvious - Most answers to questions from the floor to Prof Wheatcroft and Kondrashin were selective in their responses. If in their opinion it wasn’t worth a response, a snigger and smile was all that was received.

The question was asked after the event- Is it worth having these events? No one convinces anyone as the speakers and audience are polarised? These events are important. It is the academic level that the research of archives takes place and the analysis and interpretation of evidence occurs.

The Holodomor issue is not about apportioning blame on Russians. This point has been made by the President of Ukraine, by the Ukrainian World Congress and by the AFUO – it’s about identifying and condemning the system and the individuals responsible.

Stalin and the Communist Regime perpetrated grave crimes against humanity. Millions died, Ukrainians, Russians and others – But the intent was not to eradicate the Russian people, but the Ukrainian people.

Kulchytskyj and Serbyn spoke of the mass arrests, murders and killing of the Ukrainian intelligentsia, the blockades and bans on travel and movement in Ukraine in search of food, the mass stripping of not only grain but other foodstuffs. These facts cannot be denied. The protocols instructing horrendous acts at the time are on his public record. This is evidence.

WHAT NOW?
There must be academic dialogue that searches for ongoing pathways and roadmaps leading to recognition of the Holodomor as Genocide. The demand by academics for all archives of the former USSR relating to the period be opened must continue.

Sound debate must not be derailed by red herrings, as Prof Serbyn calls them such as issues on numbers that deflect from the issue.

The AFUO will endeavour to keep the dialogue going, whether as part of the Project being conducted by the University of Melbourne with the involvement of local and overseas academics or in other forums.

If we all come to the table with an open mind and take all the facts into account, then collectively we will find the truth that will expose the Soviet propaganda and disinformation. We collectively will help mankind in the future.

It will ensure that those inhumane acts of Stalin are not allowed to be repeated. that the lies by Duranty in the NY Times and his attempt to hide the truth and to discredit Gareth Jones will be judged for what they are.

Events such as Saturday’s Roundtable should encourage us to soul search and strive to ensure that the truth is at the forefront. As Kulchytskyj says in the Foreword of the Bibliography on Holodomor I already knew how Ukrainians died, but I did not why they died.

This is the essence of Genocide, the Intent? – The how has been answered and the intent has been established – The archives, the protocols , the Book of Memory are all reputable sources to seek valid confirmation– But only for those who genuinely want an answer.

On Sunday March 22, 2009 the conversation continued at the Ukrainian Community Centre. AFUO Chairman Stefan Romaniw introduced Prof Kulchytskyj, Prof Serbyn, Dr.Valerij Vaseliev a young historian and Lesa Morgan from Perth who presented on their work.

Lesa Morgan also prepared a very interesting exhibition. Much is being done in many areas with more required. Vibrant discussion from floor was managed by Association of Ukrainians in Victoria’s Vice President Michael Moravski.

Prof Kulchytskyj and Dr Vasilev have now left and Prof Serbyn is visiting our communities in Adelaide and Sydney. The AFUO thanks all four presenters and also acknowledges the support of the Ukraine Studies Foundation in Australia (FUSA) for funding Prof. Serbyn’s visit.
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