Long debate draws damnation of war on Ukraine

Thursday 31 March 2022

The debate on Guernsey’s response to the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine gave deputies a chance to each condemn the ongoing conflict.

The States’ Assembly spent the majority of yesterday’s meeting sharing their thoughts on the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine. It culminated in a vote to condemn the actions of the Russian government.

The Policy and Resources Committee submitted a policy letter asking the deputies to: “affirm that the States of Guernsey stands with other democratic parliaments, and governments, in condemning the unwarranted and unjust acts of aggression of the Russian Federation against the sovereign state of Ukraine and its people…”.

37 deputies voted for the original proposition, while two members were absent from the debate and the vote.

In laying the proposition, the President of P&R, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, received a round of applause for his introductory speech.

“This Bailiwick is a bastion of decency, integrity, freedom and democracy and in the people of Ukraine we recognise kindred spirits,” he said.

“These are the actions of an evil man and a war criminal. The invasion of the Russian Federation… with no respect for democracy and free speech, is the responsibility of [Vladimir] Putin and his closest advisors."

Pictured: “we are a decent community, and we must express our support for Ukraine and the condemnation of the acts of war against them,” said Deputy Ferbrache.

Two amendments were laid against the original proposition. One added several additional propositions, ranging from commending the generosity of the public in supporting the Bailiff’s fund, to commending the actions taking by P&R in imposing various sanctions.

A second amendment was added to simply note the impact the war may have on Guernsey and its community. Both were proposed by Deputy Gavin St Pier.

Both amendments were approved by the States, however proposition seven in the first amendment was rejected. It requested P&R to come back to the States with potential changes to legislation allowing refugees and asylum seekers into the island.

It was criticsed by the President of Home Affairs, Deputy Rob Prow, who said this type of proposition should’ve come to his committee first, as is sits within HA’s remit. The proposition lost 21/15 with one abstention and two absent.

Pictured: “I never thought I’d see this in Europe and I am appalled,” said Deputy Peter Roffey.

The amendments and the original proposition gave the assembly ample time to condemn the war.

“More than 10 million Ukrainians have fled their homes and the true humanitarian disaster is not yet known,” said Deputy Neil Inder, whose mother-in-law has escaped the fighting in Odessa and is now in Guernsey with her family.

“This is a war on women and children… it is a war on culture and a war on language and it is worse than you think it is,” he said, citing second hand accounts of looting and raping by Russian soldiers.

Despite widespread condemnation, some deputies were concerned with "grandstanding".

“I don’t like agreeing to things that look like we’re patting ourselves on the back,” said the Lead Member for External Relations & Constitutional Affairs, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq.

“I think it’s enough for us to make a statement of solidarity,” he said, suggesting some of the amendments may not be necessary. 

Pictured: Deputy Le Tocq said: “I commend the words of the Chief Minister and I agree totally with condemning Putin and his associates and those who have supported this action”.

Deputy Andy Taylor was the only member who was reluctant to vote through the original proposition.

“I do support the original proposition, reluctantly, and that doesn’t mean I condone Putin at all - but I wonder if this is something we should be doing,” he said.

“I’m conscious that there are multiple conflicts in the world that we don’t talk about and we don’t give any comment on, to single this one out… are we going to start commenting on all of them?”

Pictured: “There needs to be peace, and I think we all hope the talks underway are successful… this nightmare has to end,” said Deputy Heidi Soulsby.

Many topics were covered in the debate. These included making sure Guernsey doesn’t lump all Russians in with the actions of the Russian Government.

Additionally, the similarities between the occupation and the refugee crisis in Ukraine were touched upon multiple times.