Belarusians of the world condemn mass arrests on Day of Solidarity
- 20.07.2009, 11:26
A resolution has been adopted at the congress of the Belarusians of the World “Batskaushchyna” condemning mass arrests of participants of the rally of solidarity with families of disappeared and of political prisoners by riot police on July 16.
“On July 16 2009 during the peaceful rally of solidarity with the families of the disappeared and political prisoners, special task force of police carried out mass detentions (more than 60 persons) of participants in the streets of Minsk, Vitsebsk and Baranavichy. We are addressing the authorities with a demand to carry out objective investigation of these facts and when found appropriate take legal measures to bring the offenders to responsibility,” the resolution of the Congress of the Belarusians of the World received by the website www.charter97.org reads.
As we have informed, the 5th Congress of the Belarusians of the World held in Minsk on July 18-19, has also offered the authorities to create a certificate of a Belarusian abroad. According to the participants of the congress, such a certificate would help ethnic Belarusians when visiting their historical homeland. In particular, it is planned to allow them receiving a multiple entry Belarusian visa at favourable conditions, not be registered on arrival to Belarus, have access to education and medical assistance on the same terms of citizens of Belarus and etc.
Besides, the congress approved addresses to different state organs in order to create institutions on affairs of Belarusian expat community, defense of historical and cultural values, support of mass media in Belarusian language, TV and radio programs outside Belarus, preservation and support of the Belarusian house (the cultural and educational centre of the world association of Belarusians “Batskayshchyna”).
In an interview to the website www.charter97.org former chairman of “Batskaushchyna” association Ales Marachkin emphasized importance of the resolution condemning political repressions in Belarus adopted at the congress.
“The congress has taken place, new leadership has been adopted, but in fact it was a “new old” leadership,” Alyaksei Marachkin stated. “At the session most participants supported Alena Makouskaya. In fact, nothing is changing. New leaders are high-class managers, who can organize a “dialogue” with the authorities. However in this situation, beside a “sweet gingerbread”, a “whip” should be prepared. The authorities would be satisfied with a manageable public association. They would do anything for steps to be taken neither right nor left. I worry that the organisation could become manageable. It is possible that the authorities would promote their interests alongside with the interests of the organisation. A press-conference with officials during the congress of the Belarusians of the world is a sign, a sign of a dialogue. But at the same time, it is a dialogue on equal terms, as the presidential election is expected, and our council includes politically engaged people. Some are in favour of a dialogue with the authorities, others speak in favour of moral and ethical principles and demand real, not decorative changes in the country.
In my speech at the congress I spoke about the problem of political prisoners, political emigrants who were to leave Belarus, “ Alyaksei Marachkin said. “Many participants of the congress wanted to hush up this issue. They started to say that we are not a political organisation. But are we apolitical? We should speak about problems existing in Belarus, about real-life problems. Unfortunately, theses of my report haven’t been included into the resolution. Thus, it is not said there about what is going on in our country. It is not mentioned about the dictatorship, about repressions. However the congress has expressed its dissatisfaction over the actions of law-enforcing agencies and in its resolution condemned crackdown on young activists and brutal dispersal of peaceful rallies on July 16 this year”.
According to Alyaksei Marachkin, the congress should raise more acute problems, which are taking place in Belarus.