Open Letter from Canada to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Dear Prime Minister,   I am Russian-speaking Canadian and proud supporter and carrier of the true Canadian democratic values such as freedom of speech and equal human rights. Having said that, I am concerned about the direction you are leading Canada in regards to what appears to be a civil war in Ukraine. The stance that you are taking is far from reflecting the true state of affairs in that region. You are trying to convince the Canadian public that conflict in Ukraine is a conflict between Ukraine and Russia completely neglecting the fact that the present Ukrainian government is BOMBING ITS OWN PEOPLE in the regions that are opposing the new illegitimately elected government of the Ukraine. It is a civil war going on between Eastern Ukraine whose majority are Russian speaking people fighting for their own independence against Ukraine government. Eastern Ukraine had a referendum on the question of independence and 89.07% voted for it. That entitles them to independence within Ukraine in the same way as Quebecois are given rights to organize their cultural and political independence as well as integration within Canada. As Canadian citizens we would like to point out the dangerous path Canada is taking regarding this foreign conflict. Supporting the Ukrainian government by shipping equipment that can detect the movements of military forces, and other military gear, you are encouraging further military escalation between the Ukrainian government and people of Eastern Ukraine. As a result of the current aggression of the Ukrainian government against the people in the East, thousands of civilian lives have been lost. It is a humanitarian catastrophe with over 500,000 refugees who have fled to Russia from Eastern Ukraine seeking shelter, and thousands displaced within Ukraine. Almost 850,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of Kiev’s military operation in the country’s southeast, of whom 730,000 have found shelter in Russia, according to data reported by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. I am concerned.'