Quisling legacy: Siim Kallas

                                 At my father's grave in Viljandi, Estonia, with my son in 1990.


On January 11, The Telegraph reported that Maarten Engwirda, a former Dutch member of European Court of Auditors for 15 years and who had retired 10 days earlier, has alleged that abuse of EU funds was swept under the carpet by an auditing body that was supposed to expose wrongdoing.

Mr Engwirda accuses Siim Kallas, the European Commission's vice-president who was responsible for anti-fraud measures from 2004 to 2010, of putting "heavy pressure" on investigators to tone down findings of abuse.

On the following day Estonia’s Päevaleht Online reported the news story out of UK and quoted Kallas’ representative: “The accusation against Siim Kallas is totally libelous. We are seriously considering turning to the courts.”

The likelihood of litigation emerging from this matter cannot be ruled out, except that Kallas’ activities as the Commissioner in charge of checking fraud in 2004-2010 are more likely to become the object of investigation than Mr. Engwirda.

The news in The Telegraph should not come as a surprise.  Siim Kallas’ name has a long association with fraudulent activities, the most conspicuous being the disappearance of USD 10 million when he headed the Bank of Estonia after the country’s independence was restored.  Although there are people in the country who have first-hand knowledge about that occurrence, the political atmosphere is such that attempts to hold Siim Kallas accountable fail.  Quite the contrary, his persona is promoted and his career advanced.  Currently, he is serving as an EU Commissioner and Vice-President a second time.

Domestically, I was personally offended several years ago when I heard the news that Estonia’s cathedral (Toomkirik) was going to give Siim Kallas the congregation’s highest recognition, Virgin Mary Award.  In protest, I sent the cathedral’s council the following letter:

Virgin Mary Cathedral Council                                                             

Kiriku plats

Tallinn
November 14, 2005

Honorable Cathedral Council members,

The concert to mark the opening of events celebrating Tallinn’s Cathedral Days took place on October 29 and the program included bestowing of the Virgin Mary Award on Siim Kallas. One can read on the program sheet that the award is given to Mr. Kallas in recognition of his activities, among them the protection of fundamental ethical values, the support of marriage and family.  The sheet includes also a short biography which mentions his term as the president of the Bank of Estonia 1991-1995.

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed on the door of the Wittenberg castle church his protest against the sale of indulgences by the Vatican, thus giving birth to the Lutheran Church.  Martin Luther has been a major historical figure to me since my school days and it is by the example he set that I send you this letter.

I ask you as Christians how you can overlook the alleged crimes of Siim Kallas and consider them as protection of fundamental ethical values. It is well known that Siim Kallas has been accused of stealing 10 million US dollars, and although the court did not find him guilty due to the statute of limitations that does not mean that he was not the culprit. Many instances can be cited in legal history where guilt cannot be proven in court and the accused walks out a free man.  A quite recent example of that was the infamous case of O.J. Simpson in California.  He was tried for the murder of his wife and her friend and found not guilty (a later judgment against Simpson for their wrongful deaths was awarded in civil court).

The theft at the bank caused family tragedies. The automobile accident that left Urmas Kaju, the legal counsel at the Bank of Estonia at the time of the incident, permanently disabled is clouded in suspicion to this day.  A manager at the Põhja-Eesti Bank was assassinated on the street in front of his home.  The families of these two men suffered terribly and the incidents remain shrouded in silence.

As I sat in the church, observing the award ceremony in front of the cathedral’s main altar, I thought about my father who had gone to the War of Independence as a schoolboy. Throughout his life he had been an uncompromising opponent of Communism. He had been sent to Stalin’s gulag, and having survived and returned to his homeland, he studied to become a Lutheran pastor.  He was ordained in front of the very altar where now the congregation’s Council was awarding an ex-Communist who had made a career in a destructive regime. The program sheet states that Siim Kallas studied finance and credit at Tartu University, graduating cum laude in 1972, but it does not say what he did between graduation and 1991.   

I also thought what is happening to the Estonian Lutheran Church when in the house of worship are praised falsehood and lies. The church as an institution has to stand up against lies. Is it not written that blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness?  In the program sheet one can also read that a previous recipient of the Maarja award was the president and academic Lennart Meri.  Indeed, he was the President of the Republic of Estonia, but he was never an academic according to an academic institution’s definition of the word.

Unlike the former fascist regimes, Estonia and other countries that became free of the Communist totalitarian power when the Soviet Union collapsed have had, and continue to have, in their power structures former Communists and this has created many challenges.  Emerging from the very difficult years of the occupation, the Church should not compromise herself.  It is during the challenging years of recovery and the seeking of truth that the country needs an institution that stands firmly for justice and morality.

The poet Hando Runnel wrote during the Soviet occupation that Estonia’s countenance is beautiful when wiped of everything that is false.  In a totalitarian system it was almost impossible to wipe away lies, but now we have an independent country and we are free to do it.  It is reprehensible to speak in church of Siim Kallas as a protector of ethical principles, if for no other reason than that it would harm the church’s reputation in our society.  It is reprehensible, if not absurd, to extol in a free society Siim Kallas’ role in the European Commission when information about him is available.  My daughter and her family live in Brussels and I visit them.  Since my son-in-law holds a high position in a large company, I find myself among prestigious people during the visits.  After Estonia joined the European Union, I asked at one of those gatherings about the Estonian Commissioner.  There was a moment of reflection, and then the reply, “Oh yes, that former Communist.”

I would submit that it is not a sin for Siim Kallas to have been a Communist, but it is a sin for him not to have confessed and repented. A Christian would do that. No doubt, church doors should be open to sinners which we all are, at least according to the Lutheran doctrine, but before one is sanctified, the sinner has to walk to Canossa instead of buying a purified identity.  Martin Luther protested against the sale of indulgences.  What took place at Tallinn’s Virgin Mary Cathedral on October 29?  Was it not a sale of indulgence?  /..../ It is difficult to believe that the Council members were not aware of Siim Kallas’ past.  In a situation like this a Christian would acknowledge his mistake and ask Siim Kallas to return the award.  I would like to believe that you see the necessity of such a step.

Sincerely yours,

Ilvi Jõe-Cannon

Political Scientist

When the above event took place, the majority of the members of the Council were also members of the Reform Party, to which Siim Kallas belongs.  Over the years, I’ve thought a lot about the fact that former Communists are in positions of power in the republic.  The political party with the highest percentage of former Communists in its ranks is the Reform Party. 

In an interview a Norwegian asked an Estonian activist after the restoration of Estonia’s independence what is the leadership going to do about the prominent former Communists and whether they would pursue a policy similar to the one adopted in the formerly fascist regimes.  The Estonian replied in the negative, saying that they would do it differently.  To that the Norwegian said ‘”Then you are going to suffer a long time.” 

The Norwegian was right: our political recovery has been made difficult by our quislings.

P.S. Siim Kallas was not asked to return the Virgin Mary Award..

An observation about the parliamentary campaign

The current parliamentary elections campaign has reminded me of Edward Lucas’ (International Editor of The Economist) article that appeared on December 10, 2009 in the daily, Eesti Päevaleht, titled „The new Estonian story: without good news?“It’s quite true that we haven’t had good news.  According to an observation the financier Indrek Neivelt made last fall, Estonia’s GDP is back at 2005-2006 level and only the size of the debt is significantly larger. Inequality has increased, especially in wages; the country has the largest gender wage gap in the European Union.  Even the adoption of the euro at the beginning of this year was greeted internationally in the context of eurozone’s financial crisis and the pessimistic predictions about its end.  Why do we have such a situation? The reason is that the result of the neo-liberal policies has been a plutocracy, and if the politics in the country do not change, we cannot expect good news from Estonia for some time.

I agree with businessman Hans Luik’s observation that it’s been evident already for some time that an elite group has developed in the country.  It has wedged itself into the top, gathering the economic arteries under its control, and it does not want new arrivals into its space.  That is plutocracy.  Part of its politics is the prevention of the development characteristic to a democratic society - a robust opposition - and we have witnessed destructive internal rifts in the political parties out of power.

The parliamentary elections campaign had its opening act before Christmas when the government’s coalition (Reform and IRL parties) accused the Chairman of Centrist Party of having asked money from Russia for his party and they demanded for the Estonian Security Police (ESP) to make this information public.  Thus a governmental institution was dragged into politics (considered an abuse of power in law abiding states) when ESP posted the declassified document on its website.  According to the daily Postimees Online (Dec. 21, 2010) „The President of the Russian Railroad, Vladimir Yakunin, promised to give Edgar Savisaar, the Chairman of Centrist Party and the Mayor Tallinn, and to Deniss Boroditsch, the Deputy Mayor of Tallinn, 1.5 million euros for the support of Centrist Party’s election campaign.“

After that, the picture became confused and muddied.  Terms like „country’s traitor“, „influence agent“, „criminal charges“ were thrown around, and a „truth committee“ was established.  Both the Prime Minister and the President practically lectured the public on ethics and democracy, despite both of them having skeletons in their closet and pursuing policies to protect plutocracy.

It cannot be said that I favor or protect the political party under verbal assault.  I am an unaffiliated democrat of long standing.  It’s just that following the events in Estonia as a political scientist, certain questions come up.  In this case, I ask myself: why has a frenzied activity erupted in the media about Edgar Savisaar when, for example, in the spring of 2010 the disclosure of Toomas Sildam’s KGB past did not create equal clamor?  Sildam is not a man on the street, but the public relations adviser to the President of the Republic, which means that he has access to information concerning state security.  Does the KGB have „former“?

The above disclosure led to a request sent to Peeter Ernits, a well-known journalist at the weekly Maaleht, for a discussion of this matter in the media to which Ernits replied: „Estonians have become so thick-skinned that, unfortunately, nothing surprises them any more.“  Apparently it is so, because the scandal involving MP Jaanus Rahumägi’s hidden wealth and unknown money sources has not prevented his Reform Party from running him for re-election.  About the only objection heard so far has been the warning that should he be returned to the parliament, he no longer can chair the ESP Committee which has access to state classified documents.   

Several days ago the public learned that Eerik-Niiles Kross is Green Party’s candidate for the parliament. When one considers Mr. Kross’ past illegal and unethical activities, it is quite clear that the powers that be think nothing surprises Estonians any more.  He plans to be elected and even appointed the Minister of the Interior.

Due to scandals not associated with Centrist Party being treated lightly by the  media, it can be deduced that the furor surrounding Edgar Savisaar is part of the election campaign, especially when considering that the serious accusations leveled against him have not been verified and the explanations offered by the head of state are not convincing.

Constructive criticism not only requires looking at problems and deficiencies, but also recommendations for solutions.  How our society could develop from a plutocracy into a democracy is a complicated matter which has to be addressed separately.

The book "Carrying Linda's Stones"

Perhaps my biggest undertaking so far has been the book „Carrying Linda’s Stones: An Anthology of Estonian Women’s Life Stories.“  The project surfaced unexpectedly. 

In the latter part of 1998, almost a year after the move to Estonia, I decided that I could become involved with civil society building.  The renovation of the 1997 purchased apartment in total disrepair – the location was of paramount importance, and at the time practically all housing built during the Soviet occupation, or for that matter, all that had been built earlier, was in need of renovation – was completed. 

I live about a block from the National Library and I heard that the book „Naised suudavad“ (Women Can Do) was being presented at the library by the political party „Möödukad“ (now Social Democrat) which I had recently joined.  The book had been translated from the Norwegian with Norwegian funding; Ambassador Lie and his wife were present.  The book presentation was followed by refreshments and the customary socializing during which I met the ambassador’s wife, Suzanne.  When she asked me what I was doing in Estonia, I replied that I’ve come to volunteer in civil society building. 

Suzanne invited me to volunteer at the Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre which she and Eda Sepp, an Estonian-Canadian, had helped to found. Sometime before Christmas I went to the Centre and started going there regularly.  Usually Suzanne and I ate lunch at the university’s cafeteria (the Centre is located at Tallinn University, formerly named Tallinn Pedagogical University).  In such cases where people are thrown together from different parts of the world, as was the case with Suzanne and me, the discussions inevitable include getting to know each other.  I told Suzanne that before leaving the States I had written a chronicle of our family’s journey and rather than my talking about my background, she could read that chronicle.  She agreed. 

After reading the chronicle, Suzanne said to me „You know, your mother’s story made me think that we should write a book containing Estonian women’s life stories from the war.“  Suzanne, a sociologist and academician, had co-authored several books and I had had limited experience with book-writing; her suggestion appeared plausible and I agreed.  That was the beginning of „Carrying Linda’s Stones“ – seven years of challenging work in a society emerging from Soviet occupation!  By the way, it’s not easy to find a title for a book.  We searched and searched until one day Rutt Hinrikus suggested “Carrying Linda’s Stones” and my reaction was “Eurika!”

During those years, we had different partners in the project (the original ones who prevailed to the end were Suzanne, Rutt Hinrikus and I; Lynda Malik came on board when the life stories were ready for editing and the sociological chapters were to be written) and I’m not sure I would have stayed with the project had Suzanne not had the tenacity and perseverance which I’ve found to characterize the people from the American Mid-West.  Suzanne was a Hoosier.

The obstacles we had to overcome were emotionally exhausting.  An example of the last one:  we were finally ready to go to print in 2006, except that we had not yet secured the cover picture.  By way of background, I had told Suzanne circa two years earlier about the classic „Linda carrying stones“ drawing by Kristjan Raud and suggested that it could make a suitable picture for the cover.  She agreed.  I had met the artist’s daughter at an event held at the Kristjan Raud Museum and I contacted her. We met, and I told her of our interest in using her father’s drawing on the book’s cover.  She consented to its use. Actually, she seemed to be pleased that her father’s picture would be displayed in international settings, and although we offered to pay her for the right, she refused to accept payment.

The drawing was in a museum in Tartu and the artist’s daughter cooperated in contacting the museum, giving us permission to have it photographed.  I recruited a photographer in Tartu to take the picture for us.  The publisher thereafter designed the cover with the drawing and a lawyer drafted a contract to be signed by the artist’s daughter and the Women’s Centre.  When it came time to signing the contract in the spring 2006, the daughter telephoned me and said that she refuses to sign it.  I could not believe it!  After two years of cooperation and an amicable relationship, she blocks the publication! 

I phoned Suzanne in Oslo and told her the devastating news.  Her tenacity surfaced.  She asked me to contact Jarõna Ilo, an artist whose work she admired, and ask her to draw the cover picture.  I did.  Jarõna’s immediate reaction was that she is not of equal stature to Kristjan Raud and, therefore, could not provide us with a cover photo.  After some persuasion, she said that she is committed for the summer, but would try to draw us a picture.  She drew the picture, we liked it, and put it on the cover.  

The book was a product of volunteer work by the four persons named on the cover, but we needed money to have it printed and presented.  I turned to friends and family who contributed generously, generally in memory of a significant woman in their lives.

The presentation took place on September 25, 2006 at the Occupations Museum.  It was a well attended event which included four of the life story authors.

The book has been well received and it has had two reprints.  It is generally considered the best English language text on Estonia’s recent history.  It can be purchased at:

amazon.com

Lakeshore Press in New London, NH, contact@lakeshorepressbooks.com

The Nordic Press in NYC, NY, talitus@vabaeestisona.com

Estore in Toronto, Ont., ekn@ca.inter.net

and at the following locations in Tallinn, Estonia:  Occupations Museum, Museum of Estonian History shop, Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Centre, and the bookstores Rahva raamat, Apollo, Raamatukoi.

All proceeds from the sale go to support the work of the Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Center, a non-profit organization.