16 MARCH DEMONSTRATIONS IN RIGA

That this House expresses its deep concern about the 16 March demonstrations in Riga; notes that whilst these annual demonstrations purport to be celebrating Latvian independence, they also celebrate Latvian veterans of Waffen SS detachments as war heroes, who fought on behalf of the Third Reich and who played an integral part in the Latvian Holocaust; further notes that the demonstrations begun initially by the Nazi organisation Club 415 are joined by recognised neo-Nazi organisations from outside Latvia and have been growing in size alarmingly since their commencement in 1998; condemns the demonstrators for spreading messages of anti-Semitism and denying involvement in the Holocaust; and urges the government of Latvia, which has previously condoned the demonstrations, to oppose this tribute match for the Latvian Waffen SS detachments and their crimes against humanity.