- Title: LITHUANIA: Debate over use of swastika symbol
- Date: 26th May 2010
- Summary: KERNAVE, LITHUANIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BUILDING HOUSING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE CULTURAL RESERVE OF KERNAVE VARIOUS OF MUSEUM WORKER OPENING DRAWER, TAKING BOX WITH RINGS AND PUTTING THEM ON TABLE VARIOUS OF RINGS WITH SWASTIKA SYMBOL SMALL SWASTIKA (SOUNDBITE) (Lithuanian) WORKER AT THE STATE CULTURAL RESERVE OF KERNAVE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND ARCHAEOLOGIST, GINTAUTAS VELIUS, SAYING: "There are adornments which have been found in Kernave and which are from the 13th-14th centuries. The swastika was a very popular symbol in those periods and is presented here. There is an opinion that the swastika was like a symbol of the sun, rotating in a spiral and connected with the highest divinities." VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF KLAIPEDA UNIVERSITY, ARCHAEOLOGIST, AUDRONE BLIUJIENE, AT COMPUTER
- Embargoed: 10th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lithuania
- Country: Lithuania
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2JPAQ4Z4GXQ7KJLUQ0LEY9SWA
- Story Text: While displaying the swastika has been banned in several countries, a recent court case in Lithuania has re-opened debate on the symbol adopted by Nazi Germany which is forever associated with the Holocaust.
On Lithuania's independence day on February 16 this year, four Lithuanian men carried posters displaying ancient artefacts adorned with the swastika. They were charged with displaying the Nazi symbol.
Defending themselves in court, the men said the symbol was in fact a part of Baltic history, evident in archaeological items from the 13th century discovered in the Lithuanian town of Kernave, 50 kilometres from the capital Vilnius.
"We has been wrongly charged, because this sign looks like a Nazi swastika, but indeed this sign is not a Nazi swastika," one of the accused told the media.
The judge appeared to agree, dismissing the charges on the basis that the swastika is party of Lithuania's historic legacy and not a Nazi symbol. Ending the three-month case, the court said that a swastika is a centuries-old symbol representing the sun, and is found on numerous artefacts.
In a soon-to-be opened museum in Kernave, rings and other items which carry the symbol are kept in storage. They are expected to go on display once the museum opens.
"There are adornments which have been found in Kernave and which are from the 13th-14th centuries," said archaeologist Gintautas Velius.
"The swastika was a very popular symbol in those periods and is presented here. There is an opinion that the swastika was like a symbol of the sun, rotating in a spiral and connected with the highest divinities," he added.
Archaeologist Audrone Bliujiene from the Klaipeda University agrees.
"The swastika is a general symbol and appeared in Asia Minor four thousand years before Jesus Christ. Later it spread in Europe and appeared in the Baltics around the 3rd or 4th century," she said.
But she says the swastika is not typical of Baltic ornamentation, and those which have been found in the region are not quite the same as the Nazi symbol.
For Lithuania's Jewish community, the court's decision is unacceptable.
"We know the history of the swastika but the Nazis have used this symbol in more recent times," said representative Simonas Gurevicius.
"We are not living in ancient times, but in the 21st century and the issue of the swastika of today must be understood. The main question, for which there is not yet an answer, is why were these young people carrying these swastikas? Did they want to revisit the history of ancient times or provoke conflict with the Nazi symbol? I think this is the answer which has not yet been answered in the court," he added.
And it seems that for many Lithuanians it is Nazi Germany which first comes to mind when they think of the swastika.
"I have negative associations connected with Nazis and the destruction of people, discrimination, all of which is not acceptable to me," said Simona Bakunaite.
"Is difficult to say, but my association is with fascism," added Ceslovas Jasilionis.
But Milda Andriulioniene said she was aware of the more ancient associations with the symbol.
"The swastika has been used as ancient ornamentation in Lithuania, such as with ribbons and textiles. It is also a symbol of the sun," she said.
And Audrius Sceponavicius said decisions should not be based just on recent history.
. "We must consider the wider period of history. But I don't have any bad associations with the swastika," he added.
Russian news agency Regnam reports that the swastika has previously been publicly displayed at events in Lithuania on at least two occasions, with no action being taken by police. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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