Faina Kukliansky: You are silent again, as most were silent in 1941



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I have met Rakučiai often, they all repeat the same thing. It is terrible that today “rakučiai” is already boldly speaking in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, is being printed and quoted in public, repeatedly accusing those who were escorted by their neighbors to meeting points – synagogues, and from there – to the desert – in 1941. and gravel pits.

I have met Rakučiai often, they all repeat the same thing.

It is said that the columns that ran through the streets of the towns in the light of day were observed in silence by the rest of the Jewish men, women and children. And now the situation is similar: there is little reaction to the “cellular” lie. Too quiet. The kind reprimands from fellow party members, some surprises, and reflections that “Rakutis was wrong” are far from equal to the precise, curt and uncompromising reaction shown by foreign embassies.

There is little reaction to the “cellular” lie. Too quiet.

The ambassadors of Germany, Israel and the United States were among the first to publicly and unequivocally condemn Rakaku’s speech. The European Jewish Congress and communities living abroad also responded. The words of the Member of Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania did not escape the eyes of any Western state: there direct or covert manifestations of anti-Semitism and the distortion of history react without evasion or compromise.

And in Lithuania? Commenters on portals and social networks responded more actively here. Read, ladies and gentlemen, what Lithuania writes. Hundreds of Rakučiai. What counterweight did Lithuanian leaders, public leaders and politicians offer them? How much attention did the Lithuanian media pay to deny the obvious lie? Several occasional items have faded in the face of sad reality; there are still those in Lithuania who believe in the Rakaku narrative. Worse still, there are very few here who openly and boldly want to resist, condemn, and shame him. Finally, we sincerely and openly remember those people, those Lithuanian citizens who were killed.

Read, ladies and gentlemen, what Lithuania writes. Hundreds of Rakučiai. What counterweight did Lithuanian leaders, public leaders and politicians offer them?

To commemorate the sad anniversary of the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust, we have asked few public leaders. Join the global campaign #WeRemember / #Remember, publicly, boldly and clearly, that the memory of the victims of the Holocaust is relevant and alive.

It’s easy to be brave knowing that you won’t be condemned.

Few responded. Rakučiai and what was again more active, faster and more famous than the Lithuanian leaders and politicians. They were also braver, because it is necessary to have the courage to say publicly on International Holocaust Remembrance Day that the Jews themselves are to blame for the massacre of Lithuanian Jews. By the way, and like other European Jews, perhaps Professor V. Rakutis shared his thoughts on the 6 million victims. It’s easy to be brave knowing that you won’t be condemned.

International Holocaust Memorial Day has come and gone. Lithuanian politicians and public leaders will probably breathe easier today: the opportunity is over. Those rare ones, sometimes even late, were finished, such a feeling that someone from the team reminded me of that day, occasional statements, occasional registrations, occasional photos.

Lithuanian politicians and public leaders are likely to breathe easier today: the opportunity is over.

For some of those who still remember “on the occasion”, the year will now be quiet, until the next opportunity. Until the next “rakuitis” – because without receiving a clear and uncompromising condemnation, this narrative will not wait for an opportunity, it will fall into the public consciousness every day. And Lithuania will continue to wait for “opportunities” for important work that shows that we truly remember and understand the Holocaust.

Politicians for 30 years are looking for the opportunity to create a national monument to the victims of the Holocaust, to build a memorial to Jewish rescuers: those who were contemporaries did not think that the perpetrators of the Holocaust were Jews themselves, or that they finally had a coherent history of the Holocaust. educational program. The “rakučiai” and their silent followers create monuments, monuments and education in Lithuania.

Reprimands don’t satisfy us.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Lithuanian Jewish community, I demand that the Ethics and Procedures Commission of the Seimas initiate an investigation into the conduct of the Seimas member V. Rakutis, the Ministries of Education, Science and Sports and National Defense to investigate whether V Rakutis is suitable for the post of Professor and Attorney General for pre-trial investigation into Holocaust denial and distortion (Article 170 of the CC).

Reprimands don’t satisfy us. We, the citizens of Lithuania, the Jews who live here, demand the rule of law and the protection of our fundamental rights. After all, be ashamed of those whose blood is soaked with the land of Lithuania.

Faina Kukliansky is the president of the Lithuanian Jewish community (Litvak).



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