BUDDHIST AGAINST EMPIRE by Marju Broder

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• Buddhist Against Empire
• Budist impeeriumi vastu (EST) by Marju Broder

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Buddhist Against Empire

2019 Pacific Neighborhood Consortium
Annual Conference and Joint Meetings
Regionality and Digital Humanities: South-South Connections
ECAI Workshop
15–18 October, 2019

by Marju Broder

In Soviet Baltic, an unintended openness

• In January 1988, the world was hit by the launch of the Estonian National Independence Party, the first political opposition party in the history of the Soviet Union, which aimed to restore a free and independent Estonia by working as an opposition party against Communist Party.
• The Idea of the proposal came from the head of the Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood, Vello Vaartnou, who made this announcement at a press conference in Moscow.
• This news was broadcast all over the world, for example on 10.02.1988 Philip Taubman wrote in The NY Times about the proposal of 14 citizens to create the first political opposition party and mentions that this news has boosted Estonians' national feelings and alarmed ruling authorities.
• It has been 30 years when being forward-looking and ahead of time, Vello Vaartnou and handful of Buddhists opened the door to freedom and independence in Estonia. It is time to investigate who is a Buddhist Vello Vaartnou; why and how he came up with a proposal to create an ENIP that initiated the breakdown of the Soviet Union.
• Not much has been published about this event and Vaartnou has not commented this until today, so it will be the first time when he agreed to elaborate his ideas.

Soviet Estonia in the 80s

• In 1944-1990, the only allowed "honor, common sense and conscience" in the Soviet Union was the Communist Party and in Estonia ruled its local branch, the Communist Party of Estonia. The power of this party was based on extensive militia and KGB apparatus, fully subordinated media, Plan Committee and, of course, the Soviet occupation army. Party and all life in Estonia was leaded by a Central Committee.
• The dissidents in Estonia were mainly engaged in writing various petitions and letters to abroad but these actions did not reach up to actual politics. In August 1987, the Deer Park meeting was held which demanded the disclosure of the MRP Pact and asked permission to the erect a statue for the deportees.
• Obviously, the goals of dissidents were totally different from Vaartnou`s proposal to create a political party with the aim to take power from communists and achieve Estonia's independence. The party is always created with the aim to take power.

A man is the sum of his actions

• Vello Vaartnou`s actions describe him as a person with many capabilities and knowledge in many areas. When talking about the Estonian-born and now Swedish citizen Vello Vaartnou, one must keep in mind that the starting point for all his actions has always been based on the principles of Buddhism and that he has never let society or the ruling regime dictate his way.
• Vello Vaartnou was born in 1951 in Saaremaa, Estonia. He was very active in sports, learned to play chess at early age and likes to play chess until today. When he was 17 years old, he tried to escape from the Soviet Union to India to study Buddhism because there was no Buddhism in Estonia. He was caught at the border and sentenced to three years to North Siberia in prison camp and when he was released, he was 20 years old. This attempt ended with a lifetime of KGB interest in him.
• Coming back, Vaartnou studied etching in Estonian Art Academy and was an acknowledged artist and well known figure in cultural circles being the only one in the socialist Estonia of 1970 who publicly called himself a Buddhist.
• Already then all his readings and activities were directly connected with Buddhism. Parallel to the interest in Buddhist and Taoist philosophy rose an interest in Chinese art. In these times a developing interest in Senge Dongma cult and practices could be noticed in Vaartnou`s field of studies, which was followed by interest in the biography of the poet and Taoist 6th Dalai Lama.
• Vaartnou studied 8 years in Ivolga monastery, Buriatya, philosophy, logic, rituals, plus thangka painting and architecture with numerous older generation lamas, his favorites being Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Asanga, Dharmakirti and of course (Golden) Yogacara as Vaartnou calls it, and on which basis he later developed his own art theory "Art as Yogacara".
• Under socialism, it was forbidden by law to build cult objects and translating and copying texts was very risky business. The same was true of practicing Buddhism. Despite of circumstances, Vaartnou established the first Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood and Nyingma movement in 1982 in Tallinn.
• Under his guidance four stupas were built in Western Estonia between 1983 and 1985, constituting the first Northern stupas into Estonian intellectual landscape. Vaartnou translated and published Buddhist literature, created first Estonian thangkas and mastered Buddha statues, and carried out the first Buddhist rituals.
• These handmade books (samizdat), were the only sources available to most Estonians who were interested in Buddhism. Vello Vaartnou is also the author of the first Estonian language schoolbook for the study of Tibetan language.

Taola: books, thangkas, stupas

Stupa built by the Brotherhood	Members of the Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood (Taola)	Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood, Buddha-Dharma-Sangha
Books of the Brotherhood	Books translated and copied by Taola	Thangka made at Taola

Stupas built by Vaartnou in 1983/85

Stupas built by Vaartnou in 1983/85

Time to create our own party

• Brotherhood (also known as Taola) members were outlaws in the communist-lead occupation of Estonia, since officially no one recognized Taola. On the other hand, the constant presence of KGB cars in front of the house and other surveillance by the authorities hinted that the official system was keenly following every step and word made by Taola.
• At the time of the creation of the ENIP, Vaartnou was helped by the members of the Brotherhood - they were the only ones who printed, copied and disseminated leaflets and did other revolutionary things.
• In 1987, Vello Vaartnou, came up with the idea and programme of the Estonian National Independence Party (ENIP) at the gathering in Pärnu. He said openly that it is a necessity to create our own party and take power from communists. His talk in this meeting in Pärnu was held incomprehensible and provocative, because no one dared even to think about taking power from communists.
• On the 30 January 1988, Vaartnou organised a press conference in Moscow for accredited foreign newspapers and made a public announcement of the establishment of an opposition party with the aim of restoring a free and independent Estonia. The New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and many other newspapers were present, as well as US TV company ABC.
• Not a word was published in the local press. However, the news spread like a wildfire among the public. Authorities confusion following the publication of the proposal showed how well-done the move was. In a vague situation, the authorities could not take a clearer position for a long time, only in mid-February an ideological opposition to the press was given.

Vello Vaartnou, Finnish newspaper, 9 July 1988

The New York Times, 10 February 1988: "In Soviet Baltic, an Unintended Openness"

1. Taola house in Tallinn

• The Brotherhood's house was under constant surveillance by the KGB, the Buddhist library was "cleaned" on several occasions, most of Vaartnou` art pieces were taken away and the militia was used against Taola members.
• As result, Vaartnou was expelled from the Soviet Union by personal directive of Gorbatchon on the 10th of February 1988. He became a Swedish permanent in 10 minutes in Moscow without ever stepping on Swedish soil.
• 30 years later Dag Hartelius, a Swedish diplomat, commented in newspaper these events saying that the Estonians used so intelligently the USSR's own instruments against the USSR
• KGB killed some of the members of Taola – Tiina Hallik and Enn Jaanson. Unfortunately the first victims of new independent Estonia were Nyingma Buddhists in the ranks of Estonian Buddhist Brotherhood.

2. From the left: Enn Jaanson, Vello Vaartnou, Dugarzab lama

3. From the left: Anu Rootalu, Tiina Hallik, Eve Parnaste

'I am more interested what I'm going to do....'

Vello Vaartnou:

"I have never cared about public or mass opinion. Already from early age, I was asked - what is your opinion, and I was explained what means personal point of view, and that every man must have his own personal opinion.

I have to say that unlike in Estonia, I am considered a hero in Russia (by ordinary people and dissidents) and abroad. This proposal was my private business, in which I indirectly involved dissidents. Since dissidents had no plan or idea to take political power from the communists, i.e. to regain independence, I gave the masses an idea by bringing a ready made program to dissidents with a plan to take power.

In word, I did a project that I carried out - the Proposal for ENIP, the program and the execution are my job. These 14 people who signed the Proposal must be considered heroes, because there was a deep Soviet time then, but they dared to sign it openly. People exchange views in the economy, in life, in politics, in religions. I'm the same poor wandering monk as before. I don't care about the things I have done, but what I'm going to do.

The first important thing is always the idea, the construction is built around it, and then people are need to implement it. These dozen people who signed the Proposal, had to be active team in dealing with it.

When he Deer Park meeting was held, I thought why they wanted to force the government to disclose the secret pact because it was not a political step? It was an attempt by timid people to ask the authorities to recognize the existence of this pact. It does nothing.

I found that the MRP AEG group is not capable to implement independence. I made a party myself and made it public in Moscow because nobody knew or dared to do it."

Genes affect more than Soviet education

• Vaartnou has said that he would put up Patarei prison again and put the Communists there for serving and collaborating with the occupants. They were the golden elite of the Soviets then and are the same now, Estonian people have a memory of pike.
• It strikes him that there is no political memory or thinking in Estonia either for the government or for the people, and that the only one who was able to come together after the Proposal for ENIP was the Communist Party.

"I was silent and waited 30 years to see what was happening with ENIP, and it went as always. The Estonian people had adhered to the communists."

• Vaartnou:

"When I was a little boy, I was told that by legal continuity I am also a citizen of the first Republic of Estonia and that the citizen's oath extends to me as well. About the fact that my parents and grandparents were honest and decent Estonian citizens, I was informed by the KGB investigator Movtshan, who said that I grew up in an anti-Soviet family, and I am a product of my family, and that genes affect me more than Soviet education and propaganda.

In 1987, after the Deer Park gathering I decided to start a political opposition party.

As the Christian church lived with the KGB and therefore the Buddhists were the cleanest boys to do it.

If I had just done a party somewhere behind the corner, I would just have been shut down. But I took into account that the Soviet leaders were afraid of the Western press, that perestroika was going on and Western society's opinion was very important for Moscow. So I decided to make a press conference for foreign journalists."

• In September 1987, Vaartnou wrote a program how the Estonian Republic would work on the principle of free trade, and which also included points on the Communists - not to let them into politics and the top communists should be to punished for their collaboration with the occupying powers.

Estonia in October 1987

Estonia in October 1987

14 people wanted an independent Estonia

• Vaartnou`s idea was that Estonia would act as an East-West mediator - the rich neighbor must still be exploited. He told about this idea to Eve Pärnaste (Brotherhood secretary) that time, who screamed - in no way.
• Vaartnou:

"My actions forced Russia to offside politically because all Western society had already formed a position on Russia, and Estonia would have had a very good opportunity to mediate trade and administration between Russia and the West at national and government level. With this, Estonia would have earned a lot of capital to develop its statehood. Estonia would have had a favorable opportunity for that.

As economic chaos in Russia prevailed, Estonia would have benefited from mediation assistance organized at the governmental level.

I was thinking about the economy when all the people were yelling about freedom. I would have been a friend with Russia because he always remains our neighbor. When the dissidents made the Deer Park meeting, I thought they were just naive.

My idea (ENIP) was political and came for Moscow as a lightning from the sky, Moscow was not ready for that"

• In 1987, when Vaartnou had a program ready, he went to Eve Pärnaste who was a secretary of the Buddhist Brotherhood at that time, and said - we are going to do the political party. The same evening they went to Erik Udam (dissident) and told him that it is necessary to do a party - on which Erik lighted a cigaret, the thing he hadn't done for 20 years.
• Vaartnou explained that it is necessary to declare independence and the Republic of Estonia because the Soviet Union is economically broke because it has been buying crop for gold already four years (this fact made Andropov to hospital at that time) - it was the best factor.
• And secondly, declaring independence would spoil Moscow plan which aimed to apply new economic policy ("perestroika") but certainly intended to keep together the soviet empire.

• Vaartnou started looking for people to form an active group that will deal with proposal. As Eve Pärnaste was a convinced Buddhist at that time, and was also a secretary of the Buddhist Brotherhood, so she run the party activities as secretary.
• After Vaartnou` expulsion, Pärnaste started to act according to the understanding of dissidents. Because dissidents were not very sharp in politics, they were only able to make the party half a year later.
• Vaartnou traveled around Estonia looking for people to support the proposal. Most people refused to sign the proposal, including all these communists who nowadays proclaim that they also fought for the Independent Republic of Estonia.
• In total, Vaartnou found 14 people who wanted the Republic of Estonia. There were about 1.5 million inhabitants in Estonia and there were no more people who would have wanted an independent republic.
• Lagle Parek (later chairman of ENIP) strongly refused to sign petition, and added that it would kill the Estonian people with it. Viktor Niitsoo (ENIP member from August 1988) told that he will not sign such a suspicious thing and will not participate in such a provocative event.
• So, MRP-AEG group and Proposal for ENIP were completely separate things.
• Vaartnou:

"No one of MRP AEG dissidents dared to travel to Moscow with me when I offered it. During that period, my secretary Eve Parnaste was a Buddhist, now she has changed to Christianity. Religious principles changed, also political views changed, this is religious and political prostitution. She left ENIP in 1993, joined with Reform Party which consists of ex-communists, and recently with CPPE"

At that time, nobody just made a press conference

• All were strictly regulated and guarded, and the offices of the Western press were only present in the capital of the Soviet Union.
• It was ironic that, apart from a few collections of self publishing, the ENIP would not have other place than Moscow to announce independence and ENIP. Also nothing has been publish how the press conference was actually organized by today.
• Vaartnou:

"We went with Arvi Orula to Leningrad to meet one person who was helping in organizing of a press conference in Moscow, thanks to the help of a spokesman for the US Embassy in Moscow.

We went to Leningrad, and we were followed by the KGB. In order to get rid of them, we drove by car around Leningrad and then I jumped out of the car on a ride and rolled into the snowdrift next to the road. There were two KGB machines rushing up, without noticing that there was only one person in the car because it was too dark.

I went to talk with my contact person and the date, time and place of the press conference were agreed."

• Vaartnou explained that only he and his friend and Buddhist Enn Jaanson knew about the details of the press conference. With Enn he had agreed that Enn will go separately, before others to Moscow with all the necessary documents and papers (copies). Apart from two of them, nobody knew this back-up option. It was agreed that if Vaartnou had been arrested, Enn would conduct a press conference himself because Enn was able to speak English.
• They would have had a meeting point at Mayakovsky Square where they would see each other three times and wave. First, when Vaartnou arrives Moscow and drive via Mayakovsky Square. Second, if he is already going to a press conference. Third, when he drives away after the press conference. That is exactly what happened.
• After Vaartnou`s expulsion in February 1988, Enn Jaanson was killed one month later by the KGB. He was poisoned.

Three people to Moscow with declaration in hand

At the same time: Meeting in Tallinn 1988 supporting the Soviet Union and the communist party

Vaartnou:

"Me, Arvi and Eke left Tallinn by car with papers and documents around 5pm, so that we would be next day in Moscow, and the press conference was supposed to be the a day after."

But three black KGB Volga cars were already set on the road, all three were commanded out of the car. Colonel Roos commanded to search the car well and disassemble it. However, the documents were at the same time within Vello`s thermos septum. No one knew about this fact. He said he wanted to drink coffee, and so were documents with him all the time. Finally they were allowed to leave but KGB cars followed them until Moscow.

They stayed over night in different places, and Eke and Arvi didn't know about Vello`s place. They also knew nothing about Enn's stay in Moscow because Vello took into account the possibility that they would be arrested.

The press conference for western journalists

• Vaartnou:

"The press conference took place in one apartment, and there were two militia cars in front of the house and 6 KGB cars at the corner. There was already about 20 journalists present, and then more people came. The fact that they were there before was a protective for us.

Then few militiamen came to break the door and insisted - 'otkroyte, militsia' Probably the KGB had commanded everyone to be arrested. The situation became already dramatic when someone shout 'kinokamera idjot' was heard on the stairs and the ABC cameraman marched in, and a big light in front of the camera."

• The militias fled and at 10am the press conference started. Vaartnou introduced himself to journalists firstly, and told them that he had an important message to the Western press about relations between Russia and Estonia. He took out a paper that was like a manifesto.
• Vaartnou:

"I told them that Estonia has been occupied for 40 years and needs independence, which it will get anyway, as the Soviet Union is in trouble because the Communists have ruined the country. In short, I explained why it is more useful for Estonia to be on its own.

Then journalists started asking questions - do I mean it seriously, and how I want to come to power. I answered that publicly, through the elections, after which the journalists said it is not possible. I told them that every first time is unbelievable, I use the empire against the empire, and they do not realize it because the nature of communism is conservative, inflexible.

Most of the soviet politicians have seen the tsar, attended school at that time, and the current time was incomprehensible to them. Gorbatchov led the state but because he is not foresight, he do not realize that the empire would be dismantled."

The Washington Post, 15 February 1988: "Baltic Separatists Cause New Concern in Moscow"

The Ukrainian Weekly, 21 February 1988: "A historic document: program of Estonian National Independence Party"

• In total, the press conference lasted two hours, we shared the Proposal to the journalists with our contact details. At the end of the press conference, the journalists literally rushed to the taxis, which had already been ordered in advance.
• The triad went out as well and drove back to Tallinn, the only difference was that they were followed by three KGB black Volgas - one in front and two in the back, obviously protecting them that nothing would happen. Otherwise it would have been a terrible embarrassment for the Soviet Union. What Vaartnou did was sensation, and at that moment all the newspapers are already writing about this press conference.
• After the press conference in Moscow, the New York Times correspondent Philip Taubman came to Tallinn. He made an interview with Vaartnou for several hours at his home, with Arvi Orula was present.
• Vaartnou talked to Taubman about his plans for the party and the situation in the Soviet Union. After the press conference Vaartnou started organizing slogans and printing leaflets, where he introduced ENIP and roused the people of Estonia to awakening. There were thousands of leaflets distributed throughout Estonia. The KGB went from house to house, and picked up the leaflets.
• Vaartnou: "I spoke to well-known dissidents that they would help print leaflets - they absolutely refused to help me and said - this is your event, you know what you are doing..."
• So he found a solution without the help of dissidents. He wrote the text on the leaflets and printed them with silk screening. Since KGB car stood steadily in front of the Buddhist Brotherhood house, he had to find a place around which was possible to move easily- it was a petrol station with hundreds of cars a day and around it was possible to move easily. Vaartnou talked with Lasnamäe petrol station staff who allowed to set up printer and Brotherhood printed thousands of leaflets there.
• In February 1988, Vaartnou was expelled from the SU.

Finnish press: "Meidät käskettiin..."

Russian press: "К нам приехал эстонский художник, буддист, революционер" (An Estonian Artist, Buddhist and Revolutionary Has Come to Us)

The Ukrainian Weekly, 21 February 1988: "Estonian nationalists expelled for forming opposition party"

"Kunstnik Vello Väärtnõu Ida ja Lääne vahel"	Finnish newspaper, 19 June 1989: "Takaisin tulosta olen..."	Finnish newspaper, 9 July 1988: "Perestroika päättyy verenvuodatukseen"
Eesti Päevaleht, 16 March 1988: "Nad ei ole alistunud!"	Eesti Päevaleht, 26 February 1988: appeal for founding the Estonian National Independence Party

In exile. Sweden

• After arriving in Stockholm, Vaartnou was constantly called by the Free Europe radio editor Toomas Hendrik Ilves (later president of Estonia) who congratulated Vaartnou and said that he broke the back of Russian bear.
• The question arises, was T.H. Ilves already then thinking about the presidential chair of Estonia when he interviewed Vello Vaartnou about the Proposal for ENIP and free Estonia?
• In March 1988, Marju Lauristin, future leader of the Popular Front of Estonia for the Support of Perestroika came to see Vaartnou in Sweden and talk about the future of Estonia and asked if he wants to put together new government for Estonia by his own.
• As the communists did not know what was going to happen, they were afraid of direct national repressions that the ERSP could have adopted against them. But Vaartnou said no, because as a Buddhist, he is not interested to have a power, and because Lauristin was, and is a communist. After this meeting in Stockholm, Popular Front was established in Estonia in late April 1988.
• Vaartnou:

"I called almost every day from Stockholm to Eve Parnaste and urged to form party immediately. Unfortunately they gave initiative to communists who had old connections, state finances in their hand and party was made only 6 months later.

Now, if you look how they handle history in the media and in the books, I am struck by how the Estonian people love stupid communists. I feel embarrassed for the Estonians. I did the party and after that they jumped into my boat and started proudly to row"

Vaartnou was expelled in February 1988. He received refugee in Sweden

Speech at Estonian House in Stockholm

Pressconference on arrival to Stockholm

ENIP Congress 1989. The end of political activity

• Vaartnou:

"I was invited to speak at the congress and when the congress began, the doors were opened where Christians marched with flags. I thought then - what the counterfeiting of history by ENIP. I imagined that Buddhists should march in through the door.

The Buddhists were the ones who made party and program, printed the leaflets and distributed in Estonia. Two Buddhists and one non-Christian traveled to Moscow for a press conference announcing independence for Estonia. I didn't see any Christians there.

It was a falsification of history. I got up and went out of the hall. That ended my political activity in Estonia. There is no word about the Buddhist part in the ENIP history book of 700 pages written by Pärnaste, and thus Pärnaste has contributed to the falsification of Estonian history."

Today: Busy with Buddhism as always

• After deportation Vaartnou studied in Tribhuvan university and Bhutanese monastery, and later he spent 8 years in solitary retreat;
• He became active again in 2007

How Vaartnou was welcomed to Estonia in 2007

• In 2007, Vello Vaartnou went to Estonia with intention to build the 5th stupa into Estonia.
• On the 20th August 2007, Vaartnou was discussing at his Veltsa countryhouse with volunteers how to build a stupa when about 20-30 policemen suddenly jumped out from the bush to arrest Vaartnou.
• All people were hit to the ground face down, including Vaartnou who was hit back with the gun by the policeman,
• The police started to search for weapons and searched the house (which had stood empty 20 years and didn't have even doors and windows) and garden 4 hours but nothing. Then 70 gr hemp was so to say "found" instead of weapons. All men were arrested and taken to the jail. I (Marju Broder) drove to Swedish Embassy in Tallinn and explained what had happened, and said that I am extremely worried about Vaartnou`s life. Next day Vaartnou was released with the help of the embassy.
• What is interesting that this happened on the 20h August, the anniversary of the establishment of the Estonian National Independence Party 19 years ago.
• Such way Estonia welcomed Vello Vaartnou, the author of ENIP, because there are still communists at power, and the KAPO (Estonian secret service) has incorporated ex-KGB workers. This fact is officially acknowledged with the explanation that these 30 agents are experts in their field.

The 5th stupa at Veltsa, built in 2008

Vaartnou built the 5th stupa, temple and prayer wheels into Estonia in 2008.

He created the first online Buddhist Encyclopedia in Estonian language and initiated international conference Buddhism & Nordland, which was first to investigate Buddhism in Northern Europe.

In 2010, he was granted Distinguished Talent visa by Australia and relocated to Western Australia.

Today he is the author of the two annual international Buddhist conferences which work already 14 years, and is the author of an online Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia.

He is the first person to create Buddhist thangkas, temples and mandalas in 3D, his exclusive thangkas have found their way to hai Royal Family, Stockholm Etnographic Museum and many private collections.

Prayer wheel at Veltsa

The Veltsa stupa in winter

At the Veltsa stupa

Conclusion

• The proposal for the creation of Estonian National Independence Party was a solo project of a Buddhist Vello Vaartnou- all from the idea and programme to execution was his arrangement.
• It nullified the communists perestroika plan to continue as an empire. So the "out of box", the Buddhist way of thinking is a part of Estonian fight for independence and catalyst for the collapse of the USSR.
• A Buddhist Vaartnou was the first in Soviet times to openly attack the foundations of the communist country, giving the direction of independence fight in the future.

Vello Vaartnou:

"The West allowed me to do everything I wanted regarding my projects, which was not allowed in the Soviet Union including the current Republic of Estonia who did not let me realize my projects.

I may look like an Estonian, but I'm really more like an Asian in the way of thinking and lifestyle, and I have always buried all my money in Buddhism.

I believe that people should get part of this grand cultural heritage offered to us by the Orient. This is my passion, my addiction. These are the only symptoms I have"

Some opinions over 30 years

• Mart Laar (Estonian PM 1999-2002): "A historic proposal, it made the way open for the whole Soviet Union"
• Vello Andres Pettai (Columbia University): "The ENIP manifesto was an extremely critical political step, which spur a new level of activism as well as political thought."
• Tunne Kelam (the last chairman of ENIP): "Creating an ENIP broke the dam, the wave of new parties was followed, not only in Estonia, but also elsewhere in the Soviet Union."
• Sir Arvi Parbo AC FTCE (Australia): "It was undoubtedly a bold act, even at Gorbachev's time when the situation in the Soviet Union was freer than before. It was new and bold that it was said in the Soviet Union, and moreover, at a press conference in Moscow."
• Trivimi Velliste (Member of Parliament): "The courage of this initiative must be emphasized! And the Kremlin, of course, perceived and interpreted this resistance precisely."
• Urmas Reinsalu (Minister of Justice 2015-2019): "It can be said without exaggeration that the political contribution of the ENIP has made it possible the Republic of Estonia today."
• Jyri Estam (Journalist): "Was it Buddhism that gave him a cold stomach? But the idea itself was a worthwhile idea, and maybe it wouldn't have germinated if there hadn't been a man who was not afraid."
• Sander Jurisson (The Museum of Occupations): "Gorbatchov`reaction is a kind of inadvertent recognition by the head of state for the activities of the Vaartnou."
• Silver Tambur (Estonian World): "ENIP played a very important role in Estonian society, Gorbatchov apparently feared Vaartnou` initiative, it seems a logical conclusion."
• Mai Raud (Estonian historian in Sweden): "Respect to Vello Vaartnou who started a great organization work. He is a really worthy man. I think the ENIP was a courageous step from the bold people and eventually lead to the liberation of Estonia."

See also the much longer Estonian version with Vello Väärtnõu's foreword: Budist impeeriumi vastu (EST) by Marju Broder.

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