The “new” Lithuania by Dr. H.Gill.
During the years 1918-1920, when seeking to liberate themselves from Soviet rule and establish the independent Lithuanian state, the Lithuanians turned to the Jewish community and promised “the earth” in return for the Jews’ support for their cause. Such an occurrence was to repeat itself six decades later as the Lithuanians sought once again to disentangle themselves from Soviet domination. The Jewish community did not ask for autonomy as it had done on the previous occasion since there were very few Jews left in Lithuania following the wholesale destruction of Lithuanian Jewry by Lithuanian militias and partisan groups during World War Two. But once again, as in 1920, the politicians and activists of the day went out of their way to secure Jewish support for the cause of independence. And once again, as in 1920, when the then Lithuanian government abandoned its promise of autonomy for the Jews once independence had been secured, the pro-independence movement of the 1990s subsequently turned its back on the Jewish community, allowing traditional anti Jewish sentiments to rise to the surface once again.
In 1989, two years before the end of the Gorbachev era, pro-independence activists in Lithuania formed the Sajudis movement to campaign for independence. The “movement” needed Jewish support to make a “good impression” among Russian dissidents (some of who were also Jews). To achieve this and prove its democratic credentials to western states whose backing would be essential in securing independence from the Soviets, Sajudis leaders, together with a group of 55
Lithuanian intellectuals, published a joint “Declaration of Contrition,” in which they expressed their sorrow over the tragic fate that befell Lithuanian Jewry during World War Two and reiterated their commitment “never to accept claims made by anti Semites that the Jews caused harm to Lithuania.”
This approach was subsequently adopted by the new regime on assuming power after the departure of the Soviets. The newly formed Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, passed a resolution stating, among other things, that the “legislature’s economic and political decisions would be framed so as to respect the rights and dignity of all minorities.” A statement issued by Seimas members on the destruction of Lithuanian Jewry during World War Two expressed “profound sorrow over the collaboration of Lithuanian citizens with the Nazi regime,” and insisted that “the Lithuanian republic would not tolerate anti Semitism in any form.”
But this spirit of rapprochement did not last long. With western recognition of independence secured and the institutions of government in place, the new regime did not take long to distance itself from the reassurances made earlier to Jews. Statements echoing the old style anti Jewish rhetoric soon became commonplace again. A new public announcement by seven of the intellectuals (who were signatories to the previous announcement issued jointly Sajudis) wondered, among other things, why “people are reluctant to mention the ‘fact’ (which was, of course, a total fabrication), that in addition to the hundreds and perhaps thousands of Lithuanians, Russians and Poles, there were also Jews who participated in the genocide against the Lithuanian people.”
The anti Semitic press has flourished in Lithuania. During the first ten years of independence, more than one thousand virulently anti Semitic articles appeared in the Lithuanian press. Several years ago, a neo-Nazi political party was formed. Gravestones in Jewish cemeteries and monuments at mass killing sites have been vandalized. Anti Semitic graffiti can frequently be seen on walls on streets in cities and towns throughout the country.
Successive governments promised to bring criminal charges against murderers of Jews. These individuals have never been held to account for their crimes and enjoy hero status in Lithuanian society. They are believed to total around 23,000 and are thought to have murdered nearly 450,000 in Lithuania, Poland and the Soviet Union during World War Two. The Lithuanians repeatedly failed to deliver on such promises and we have yet to see any real changes for the better. Not only have no prosecutions been brought but known war criminals have even been rehabilitated and now receive generous pensions and other allowances. The record of the Seimas has also been abysmal. In a resolution passed several years ago that bore little resemblance to the conciliatory tone of the early 1990s, it declared that the Lithuanian people endorsed the declaration originally issued by the far right Lithuanian Activist Front in which it “expressed gratitude to Hitler for liberating Lithuania from the Bolsheviks.”
Anti Semitic incidents have continued to increase in number despite there being only a few Jews left in Lithuania today (there around 1,000 families, many of whom have been diluted by intermarriage). One event worthy of note, was the publication in 2000 of a series of fifty anti Semitic articles by the “quality” newspaper “Lietvos Aidas.” The tone of these articles shocked the small Jewish community of Lithuania.
Lithuania was one of those countries to be admitted recently to the European Union and NATO. State authorities, in the run up to the approval of membership of these organizations, made sure to tone down the ferocity of the anti Semitic rhetoric of leading media organizations. They also launched a number of initiatives aimed at convincing the outside world that the country was indeed turning a new page in its history. But as on previous occasions, all this was soon abandoned once the goal of securing membership to the aforementioned institutions had been achieved. It was not long before the traditional anti Semitic vitriol resurfaced again, as was evident by the publication by “Respublika,” the second largest daily, of a series of anti Semitic diatribes, whose tone bore a stark resemblance to the hideous diatribes produced by the Nazi organ “Der Stuermer” before the outbreak of World War Two.
Following are a selection of quotes from a series of anti Semitic articles entitled “Who runs the world?” written by Vytas Tomkus, editor in chief at Respublika and which appeared on February 20 through February 23 2004:
“They (the Jews and the gays) waste people’s savings, spend millions of euros and make banks bankrupt.”
“They lie, they privatize, they dictate all our thoughts. They send leaders of our states all over, like errand boys. They do not respect our laws. They want harmony and stability. Is it really worth our while to tolerate them?”
“We should be especially careful with Americans, because America is ruled by Jews and Jews are very cunning. We Lithuanians have much to learn from them, for example tolerance towards one another.”
“However, Rolandas Paksas faces impeachment not because of this, but because Kikalishvili communicated in Miami with Josif Kobzon, also know as “The father” of the Russian mafia. Besides, he is a Jew, which means he is a representative of the most powerful and influential nation in the world.”
“People, be alert! Do not let yourselves be provoked! Let us think together how it happens that the policy of genocide is being mixed not only with business but also with the international mafia.”
“My dear readers, who would have imagined that Mafiosi from international criminal organizations would start covering their murderous deeds by the memory of the victims of the Holocaust? It is difficult to imagine an act of sacrilege more awesome than this – the tragedy of the genocide serves criminals of Jewish origin.”
“Even America has finally realized that the Mafia is not a form of nationalist movement, but instead has become an international organization with close contacts with terrorists. Jewish nationality and the memory of genocide victims have provided a good cover for impunity.”
The above are but a small sample that reflects the atmosphere in the Lithuania of today. This is how this country looks and this is how its citizens think. They were breastfed anti Semitism at birth. Such is the Lithuania of 2005 which was recently welcomed into the European Union and other international organizations.