Rein Lang: Difference between revisions
Somebody has taken out 'Artificial'. I wonder why? |
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{{cquote|1=The Ministry of Culture can only be tidied up by a grenade, thrown in through its window.<ref>[[Keskpäevatund]], quoted in [http://www.delfi.ee/archive/article.php?id=11516527&categoryID=120&ndate=1130864089 Sõnavabadus internetis ohus]</ref>}} |
{{cquote|1=The Ministry of Culture can only be tidied up by a grenade, thrown in through its window.<ref>[[Keskpäevatund]], quoted in [http://www.delfi.ee/archive/article.php?id=11516527&categoryID=120&ndate=1130864089 Sõnavabadus internetis ohus]</ref>}} |
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=== Artificial birthday party controversy === |
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On [[July 4]], [[2007]], Rein Lang celebrated his 50th birthday at a beer restaurant in Tartu, Estonia.<ref name='ee-juubel'>[[Eesti Ekspress]] [[July 4]], [[2007]]: [http://www.ekspress.ee/viewdoc/9DC2BBB5B3E1EEB4C225730E0023D9BE Langi juubelil "Adolf"] by [[Alan Proosa]]</ref> The invitations to the celebration said that the high spot of the program would be a performance of the play [[Adolf (drama)|Adolf]], a critically acclaimed [[anti-fascist]]<ref>[[Pip Utton]], describing the play on a [http://www.pip-utton.com/putton/adolf.htm promotional website].</ref><ref name='epl-lang-review'>[[Eesti Päevaleht]] [[July 9]], [[2007]]: [http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/392468 REIN LANG: Mis siis tegelikult toimus?]</ref> [[drama]] by [[Pip Utton]], and asked guests to dress in the style of [[Munich]] beer houses of early 1930s.<ref name='ee-juubel'/> They also pointed out that this era was characterised by [[poverty]], and stressed that the event was not intended as a [[fancy dress party]]; specifically, guests wouldn't be expected to arrive in uniforms or bearing Nazi symbols.<ref name='ee-juubel'/><ref name='epl-lang-review'/> |
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In an [[op-ed]] discussing his birthday party, Lang, who had been invited to the opening performance of the play by [[Vanemuine]] in [[2005]], reminded readers that he had already on [[September 22]], [[2005]], published his own review of the play.<ref name='epl-lang-review'/> The review, in line with reviews by more professional theatre critics, was positive, and discussed the political ramifications of [[fascism|fascist]] tendencies lingering in society.<ref>[[Rein Lang]] [[September 22]], [[2005]]: [http://www.lang.ee/reinlang/seisukohad/artiklid&nID=136 Ärge kartke, ta on juba siin]</ref><ref>[[Eesti Päevaleht]], [[September 26]], [[2005]]: [http://www.epl.ee/?artikkel=301464 Ärge kartke, ta on juba siin: Eesti õnn on olnud Juan ja Evita Peroni sarnaste karismaatiliste liidrite puudumine]</ref> |
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Russian media [[spin (public relations)|spun]] this event as the minister "decorating his birthday with swastikas".<ref name='pm-rus-acc'>[[Postimees]] [[July 6]], [[2007]]: [http://www.postimees.ee/060707/esileht/siseuudised/270888.php Rein Langi juubelipidu äratas huvi Vene meedias]</ref><ref>[[Eesti Päevaleht]] [[July 6]], [[2007]]: [http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/392259 Vene meedia haaras Rein Langi sünnipäeva mõnuga hambusse], edited by [[Tuuli Aug]]</ref><ref>[[REGNUM]] [[July 5]], [[2007]]: [http://www.regnum.ru/english/852694.html Estonian justice minister “decorates” his birthday party with swastika]</ref> Interestingly, the Russian news agencies have neglected to mention the topic — a [[cautionary tale]] of the dangers of lingering fascist ideas — of the play, and have instead concentrated on a [[Set construction|set]] element of the play, a vertically hung [[Flag of Nazi Germany|Nazi flag]], presenting it as an arbitrarily chosen party decoration rather than a [[stage prop]], and implying that the minister sympathises with [[Nazism]].<ref name='pm-rus-acc'/> This interesting distortion was widely pointed out by Estonian media.<ref name='pm-rus-acc'/> Ironically, Rein Lang has recently called for criminalising public display and propagation of [[Occupation of Baltic States|occupation symbols]] — including both the [[swastika]], the [[hammer and sickle]], and the [[red star]] — when used for purposes of hatred incitement. Under his guidance, the Ministry of Justice has prepared a [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]] to that effect, modelled largely after similar law of [[Hungary]], to be considered by [[Riigikogu]].<ref>Estonian Ministry of Justice [[August 22]], [[2006]]: [http://eoigus.just.ee/?act=dok&subact=1&DOK_W=150604 Karistusseadustiku ja väärteomenetluse seadustiku muutmise seaduse eelnõu seletuskiri]</ref> |
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The [[Nochnoy Dozor (advocacy group)|Nochnoy Dozor]] group, whose original ''raison d'être'' was opposition to relocation of the [[Bronze Soldier of Tallinn]] and who have earlier in [[Russia]]n media made calls for the Estonian cabinet of ministers to resign, has in [[Russia]]n media made calls for the Minister of Justice to resign over the event.<ref>[[ITAR-TASS]] [[July 5]], [[2007]]: [http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11695348&PageNum=0 Estonian minister marks jubilee under aegis of Nazi Swastika]</ref> |
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It has been claimed that Lang chose this play as a special provocation in the aftermath of the [[Bronze Soldier of Tallinn]] controversy. This is incorrect; Lang made the choice months ago, and contracted the theatre for the performance even before the final administrative proceedings were considered.<ref name='epl-lang-review'/> |
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==== Quotations ==== |
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{{cquote|1=The Republic of Estonia has condemned Nazi crimes and my birthday was attended by people who, without exception, despise fascism.<ref name='epl-lang-review'/>}} |
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==== Political echoes ==== |
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Minority opposition fraction of [[People's Union of Estonia]] in [[Riigikogu|Estonian Parliament]] discussed the resulting bad publicity on Lang's birthday party and have called for his immediate voluntary resignation.<ref>[[Eesti Päevaleht]] [[July 9]], [[2007]]: [http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/392500 Rahvaliit nõuab Rein Langilt tagasiastumist], edited by [[Haldi Allas]]</ref><ref>delfi.ee [[July 10]], [[2007]]: [http://rus.delfi.ee/daily/estonia/article.php?id=16389064 Народный союз требует отставки Ланга]</ref> The press release{{Fact|date=July 2007}} of the party condemned what it deemed "provocative action" by the minister. |
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The largest opposition party, [[Keskerakond]], issued a humorous analysis in its official newspaper, [[Kesknädal]], and added a photo of Lang wearing a Red Army's winter hat, "to calm down Russian media".<ref>[[Kesknädal]], [[July 11]], [[2007]]: [http://www.kesknadal.ee/index.php?aid=9061 Justiitsminister Lang tegi Vene meediale välja]</ref> |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 09:41, 24 July 2007
Rein Lang (born July 4 1957 in Tartu, Estonia) is an Estonian politician, a member of the Estonian Reform Party since 1995, and a diplomat. He is currently serving as the Minister of Justice.
Childhood and education
Lang's father was appointed to work at the Soviet embassy in Helsinki.[1] Consequently, Rein Lang grew partly up in Finland, becoming a fluent speaker of Finnish. He has championed Finnish-Estonian relations. Lang graduated cum laude from University of Tartu in 1980, acquiring a degree in law.
Business career
In late years of the Soviet Union — since 1986 —, Lang worked in the entertainment business. He has been a deputy director of the Linnahall and in 1989 became a deputy director of club 'Muusik' (Estonian for 'Musician'). In 1990, he became CEO of AS Laulusillad (Estonian for Song Bridges), and in 1991–2001 served at various positions in AS TRIO, along with Hans H. Luik establishing and running the first politically independent radio station in post-Soviet Estonia, Radio Kuku. Over the next several years, Lang launched two more radio stations, Radio Uuno, a music-only radio station, and the Russian language Radio Tallinn (later renamed Radio 100). In 2002, Lang and Luik sold their radio interest to their then co-partner from the United States, Metromedia International Inc.
Media career
In Radio Kuku, Lang regularly appeared in talkshows, ending up gaining considerable reputation as a political analyst. His most popular programme, the weekly 'Midday Hour' (Estonian: Keskpäevatund), has become legendary, and a subject of a number of jokes mostly associated with Valdo Jahilo.
Political career
Following his departure from the media business, Lang served as deputy mayor of Tallinn in 2001–2003 and as a member of Riigikogu in 2003–2005. He served as the Deputy Speaker of Riigikogu and Chairman of its European Affairs Committee. In 2005, Lang was the minister of Foreign Affairs for two months, from February to April. With the resignation of Juhan Parts, the ten prime minister, a new cabinet was proposed by Andrus Ansip; there, Lang would serve as the Minister of Justice, a position he officially took when the government was sworn in on April 12, 2005.
Controversial "Delfi bill"
In autumn of 2005, Lang initiated a bill that would have allowed to penalise web portals for anonymous commentary left by their visitors. The bill, nicknamed after an Estonian web portal commonly associated with poorly thought out and scatological commentary, was widely criticised and ended up rejected by Riigikogu.[2] Among other concerns, critics commonly pointed out that Delfi belonged to a media concern competing with AS TRIO, and questioned the minister's neutrality.
The Ministry of Culture can only be tidied up by a grenade, thrown in through its window.[3]
External links
- Official blog, sponsored by the Estonian Reform Party
- A news item by Rossiya, the national TV channel of Russian Federation.