LETTER: Only firm action will now stop the slaughter of innocent people

 Dear editor

At the start of the unjustified Russian attack on Ukraine you kindly published my views.

Sadly since then Russia has used its military might to murder thousands of innocent civilians, destroyed Ukrainian towns and threatened the rest of the world with its Nuclear arsenal.

Quite frankly the reaction from Nato and the West to the barbaric actions of the Russian Dictator has been pathetic. The UK response to the refugee crisis too has been miserly compared to the rest of Europe especially Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovak Republic and others.

It would seem that we never learn from history.

In 1938 my parents tried to get out of Czechoslovakia to escape both from the Slovak and Hitlers Nazis. They were too late as the world was closing its borders to Jewish refugees. My parents were taken to Auschwitz and Sachenhausen Concentration Camps but luckily survived.

On the morning of 21 August 1968 I woke up to the shock of Russian tanks lining my street in Bratislava. Russians invaded to destroy Czechoslovak attempt to free themselves from communist oppression. Appeals to the West received warm words but no practical help. Czechoslovakia was overwhelmed by Russian military might within hours and there was very little bloodshed.

It took another 21 years of Russian oppression before Czechoslovakia was free.

My parents succeeded to get me and my brother out. We managed to get to the UK - but only because may mother had a sister here and we therefore had a family connection. Only 30,000 Czechoslovaks escaped in 1968 and very few were allowed to enter the UK.

In contrast Ukrainian civilians are been bombed and murdered in their thousands. Many millions have had to run for their lives already and many more will be forced to follow. Millioans are besieged in bunkers with no heat, water or food. Poland alone has taken over 1.2 million already and what does the UK do in contrast? Once again it imposes 'family restrictions' and has so far only issued a few hundred visas. In the face of this humanitarian tragedy the UK response has been pathetic and sadly typical.

Do your remember the words "We did not know"? That was response to the slaughter of millions of Jews and other people by the Nazis during the 2nd World War. It was the explanation/excuse why he World stood by and did not act.

Today we see what Putin's Russia is doing. We cannot say that "We did not know" as innocent civilians are being shelled and bombed and that thousands are being killed in front of our eyes. And yet our leaders express sympathy and ring their hands and claim that they "cannot get involved".

No one in their right mind wants a war. I never had any grandparents because of the last two World Wars. What is clear however is that we do NOT prevent wars or the killing of innocent people by appeasement of Dictators like Putin. He did not stop at Georgia, he did not stop at Crimea and he will not stop at Ukraine as long as he sees Western disunity and weakness.

In my view Nato and the Western powers should NOT sit idly by and watch Ukraine destroyed and taken over by the Russians. Fine words praising Ukrainian bravery are not enough.

It is time to call Putin's bluff - declare and establish a No Fly Zone across the whole of Ukraine, demand the end of all Russian bombing and the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the whole of Ukraine. Only firm action will now stop the slaughter of innocent people happening in front of our eyes every single day.

 

Paul Lorber

 

[Editor's Note: Letters are the opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Wembley Matters]

Brent stands with Ukraine - how you can help

 

From Brent Council

Brent stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and condemns Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of the independent nation of Ukraine, in violation of international law.

Read more about the statement, which was agreed unanimously at Full Council on 24 February. We have a long and proud history of supporting refugees in Brent and are ready to do so again.

As the most diverse borough in the UK we know that lots of our residents, including Ukrainian and Russian citizens, feel strongly about the situation and will want to help those affected by the invasion.

The council is not collecting donations directly, but we have compiled a list of organisations and appeals that residents might consider supporting.

• The Red Cross has set up the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, which is requesting donations to respond to humanitarian needs through food, water, first aid, medicines, warm clothes and shelter
• Unicef has set up a specific fund to protect children in Ukraine
• The UN refugee agency helps refugees fleeing situations of war and has a specific collection for Ukraine
• Care International is running an emergency appeal to provide emergency food and water
• The Ukrainian Embassy has set up a special fund to support Ukraine
• Choose Love are appealing for donations for supporting projects who are providing vital aid and services to those still in and fleeing the country, including: emergency medical care, food, shelter, clothes, legal support, support for the LGBTQIA+ community and mental health support.

LETTER: WE MUST SUPPORT UKRAINE AND DEFEAT PUTIN

 Dear Editor,

No one wants a 3rd world war. I never had any grandparents. One was killed fighting in the 1st World War and the other 3 were murdered in concentration camps by the Nazis in the 2nd World War.

But innocent people are being killed in Ukraine today by the Russian army and lessons from history teach us that by not standing up to Dictators things will only get worse.

In 1938 Czechoslovakia had a defence pack with Britain, France and other countries. When in 1938  Britain, France, Italy and others signed the Munich pact with Hitler giving in to his demands Czechoslovakia was betrayed and Hitler soon invaded the whole country.

That was the signal to Hitler that those countries were disunited, unprepared and weak and that he could expand his empire and deliver his 3rd Reich. Tens of millions of people died in the world war  that followed, two thirds of my family were wiped out and my parents had to endure the horrors of the concentration camps.

When in 1968 Communist Russia invaded Czechoslovakia to defeat an attempt for democracy and breaking out of the shackles of communism the West did nothing. The country was occupied and subjugated by the Russians for the next 20 years.

I lost my country and all my friends. Although I have been able to build my life in the UK it was not easy and especially tough on my parents. No one becomes by Refugee by choice and the journey to rebuild your life can be tough.

The invasion of Ukraine confirms that you cannot trust Putin and that Russia continues to be a real threat to its neighbours and to world peace. Sadly 'diplomacy' does not work with Dictators.

Despite spending £billions each year on keeping standing armies and on developing new weapons it is not surprising that US, Britain and the rest do not wish to get involved militarily. Iraq, Afghanistan were all disasters and as a result even NATO is ineffectual and was clearly not ready.

So what should we do?

In 1968 the Czechoslovak army capitulated without firing a shot. It is clear that the Ukrainian army is made of sterner stuff. The west should supply Ukraine with all necessary weapons for their defence.

Ukraine should receive all possible humanitarian aid and borders should be open to their citizens under threat of Russian bombardment. Poland, Slovakia and other nearby states should receive assistance from the EU and the US to make this possible.

Russia should be completely isolated. This means that all business, sporting, cultural and educational links should stop immediately. Business should be instructed to withdraw all their employees and all assets from Russia, Russian football clubs should be expelled from all competitions, non Russian citizens in Russia should be given a deadline to leave and all international flights with Russia should stop. All Trade with Russia should stop and all Russian assets abroad should be frozen. World Universities must stop their doors to students from Russia. 

And yes if we are serious we must STOP buying Russian Oil and Gas. We may experience some pain but that is not the same as being killed by unprovoked Russian bombs and bullets.

It is when Russians feel total isolation and suffer economic and cultural pain that they will turn against Putin. 

Putin will not stop with Ukraine. The world did nothing when Russia invaded Crimea in 2014  and this is the consequence. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are next in line. The sooner the western alliance recognises this and builds up its defences along this line the better.

In 1968 Czechoslovaks pleaded for international help. There were fine words but little else. Fine words and softly softly approach will not work against Russian military might or its Dictator. Unless the Russians stop now and withdraw their troops from Ukraine immediately the international community must engage its economic, financial and other strengths to bring Russia to its knees in other ways.

Paul Lorber

25 February 2022.

 

Paul Lorber was born in Czechoslovakia but had to leave his country as a child following the Russian led invasion of his country in August 1968. He has lived in Brent since 1969 and was a Councillor in Brent for 32 years and Leader of Brent Council between 2006 and 2010.