Ukraine's recognition of Crimean Tatars as Indigenous Peoples; a deja vú of the Jones Act?
March 20th, 2014
by: Tai Pelli
When I read the news today saying that the Verkhovna Rada
(Supreme Council of Ukraine) had recognized the Crimean Tatars as Indigenous
Peoples, etc., I could not help but think of when the Jones Act was adopted for
Puerto Ricans!
Today is March 20th, 2014, the Crimean referendum
was Sunday and Russia has been acting upon the results of that referendum. So,
first; what does it means that on March 20th, Ukraine announces the
recognition of the Crimean Tatars as Indigenous Peoples and are pursuing the
changes in their constitution. Is it real, is it valid, or is it a strategy? I
don’t know.
The Jones Act was enacted in 1917 by the United States, one
month prior to WWI. This Act made Puerto Ricans American Citizens. Interestingly, within two
months, as American citizens, they started drafting Puerto Ricans to go fight
the war. They drafted a total of 20,000. You may now see why I thought about
the Jones Act when I read the news, as opposed to how I would have been dancing
the Dance of Joy, had the Crimean Tatars been recognized as Indigenous Peoples
by Ukraine under very different circumstances. Ukraine had been publicizing that
Crimean Tatars would be picking up arms to defend Crimea against the Russians, (before
the referendum). Is this well-deserved recognition as Indigenous Peoples coming
in too late, or is it designed to engage the Crimean Tatars into a conflict
they never wanted in the first place?
Let’s put this into perspective, the Crimean Tatars are the
largest Indigenous Peoples (IP’S) in Crimea, yet there are 3 other IP’s, making
a total of four. The statements publicized speak specifically about Crimean
Tatars being recognized as IP’s , and the others are still referred to as “national
minorities”. Does this have anything to do with the fact that there are
approximately 300,000 Crimean Tatars in Crimea? Just speculation, but
definitely, things that make you go ….hmmmm!!!
