According to organizers’ estimates, strike in Belarus supported by 60% of market vendors (Photos)

10.12.2008, 8:47

On December 10, Belarusian entrepreneurs protested against decrees of Alyaksandr Lukashenka aimed at ruining their business.

About 60% of market vendors have taken part in the nation-wide strike. It has been said by one of the leaders of the entrepreneurs’ movement Viktar Harbachou in an interview to the Charter’97 press-centre.

As said by him, construction market in Zhdanovichy didn’t work completely. It is the basic index main in the capital. Market vendors of “Zerkalo” and Rakauski Market were on strike as well. At the same time, as Charter’97 proved, businessmen turned up to work at Dinamo market.

Viktar Harbachou states that in all regions the strike was more than successful, as when even 40% take part in the protest, it is enough to demonstrate that people are dissatisfied, and they express their point of view.

“From 50% to 90% of market vendors have supported the strike in the regions, and 60% in average. Mahilyou, Salihorsk, Vitsebsk, Pinsk stopped, about 90% protest there; 90% in Rechytsa, 80% in Slutsk,” Viktar Harbachou said.

It happened that information about the nation-wide demonstration wasn’t received in all small towns, but despite of that, more of them than expected have joined the protest this time. Some of them participated for the first time.

“New towns where businessmen have never protested before, joined the protest. Among them is Zhodzina, where the large plant BelAZ is situated. 80% of market vendors were on strike there,” the leader of businessmen said.

In Mahilyou about 200 individual entrepreneurs of Vilenski market were on strike.

Participants of the strike gathered near the market entrance. Policemen were keeping watch over them, Radio Svaboda informs.

In Babrujsk a meeting of market vendors took place at the town market. As said by individual entrepreneur Alena Myadzvedzeva, about 50 persons took part in the rally. They protested against the new rules of trade which will come in force since January next year. As participants of the protest state, these rules would lead to mass bankruptcy.

As said by Alena Myadzvedzeva, Avangard and Berezina trading centres haven’t worked today in Babrujsk.

The chairperson of the council of businessmen in Slutsk, Sofya Mitsyashova, said to the Charter’97 press-centre that today at the central market of the town market vendors hadn’t worked either. About 1,500 market vendors came to the protest rally on the central square of Slutsk, to demand explanations about the existing situation from the authorities.

As said by Sofya Mitsyashova, law-enforcing agencies warned her about responsibility for the events. The chairperson of the council of businessmen has also stated that pro-regime mass media distort information about problems of market vendors and do not show the entire picture.

2,500 market vendors work in Slutsk, and 1,500 of them buy goods in Russia.

In Hrodna “Central” and “Southern” markets were closed.

As Radio Svaboda informed, in Polatsk and Navapolatsk most market vendors were on strike. In a number of trading centres customers were warned about the strike in advance.

Today most of market vendors of “Slavyanski” market in Rechytsa do not work.

The leader of small businessmen’s movement in the region Aleh Shabetnik told to Radio Svaboda that two Rechytsa markets were closed, and market vendors demanded the authorities to solve their problems.

99% of outlets at “Slavyanski” market were closed. Only some vendors, who had been re-registered as private entrepreneurs, opened their kiosks. But even they cannot work at the empty market. A mini-market near the micro-district by Rhythm plant didn’t work either.

When I showed a leaflet with businessmen’s demands at “Yubilejny” market, one of the market vendors called in police.

We agreed with the authorities, and we were given premises for three hours to have a meeting with tax officers, customs officers and police. There were more questions than answers. Bureaucrats explain different regulatory documents in a different way. And generally speaking, it’s impossible to work,” Aleh Shabetnik underlined.

About 90% of small vendors have taken part in the strike of individual entrepreneurs in Salihorsk.

At “October” market just a few market vendors worked, the web-site saligorsk.org informs. A meeting of small businessmen was held there.

In Brest at “Locomotive” Stadium a meeting with participation of businessmen took place. 300 persons have taken part in the meeting. It was held in presence of a huge number of policemen and riot policemen. 4 markets have supported the one-day warning strike of market vendors. As BelaPAN has been informed by an individual entrepreneur Stanislau Fyadzko, who works in “Yubileyny” market, large trade centres of the regional capital: “Yubileyny”, “Laguna”, “Central department store” and Warsaw market almost didn’t work. Only food and flowers could be bought there.

“December 10 is the International Day of Human Rights, and everyone defends one’s rights in the way they are ready to. The Constitution guarantees us a right to work, and we will make a stand for this right,” said one of the leaders of market vendor’s movement Viktar Harbachou in an interview to the Charter’97 press-centre.

The businessman has reminded that since January 1, 2009 120,000 Belarusian vendors who were importing goods from Russia, can be thrown idle.

“In fact, there is only one problem. Since the next year Decree No.760 denies us the right to life, the right to work. We are put in such conditions that it would be simply impossible to work,” Viktar Harbachou said.

As said by him, the strike was held in the way to which businessmen were ready. The regime tried to intimidate entrepreneurs by depriving them of trading places.

“Somebody didn’t come to work at all, someone came, but they didn’t sell anything. It was decided at places, as the regime is intimidating the traders. Emergency meetings of local authorities are held in all regions. They are trying to prevent the nation-wide protest or at least downscale it,” the leader of entrepreneurs said.

He added that a campaign of provocations is being carried out by the authorities, that is why in the provinces small businessmen are more determined.

“As for Minsk, secret services are working strenuously and carrying out a campaign of provocations in order to prevent rallies. They say, it’s economic crisis, you should understand that, but we won’t axe you, there won’t be increase in prices. It is done on purpose in order to reduce intensity of emotions. Our people are credulous, they believe and calm down. And then the regime states that the people haven’t supported the protest rally,” Viktar Harbachou noted.

He states that at the moment businessmen can only rely on themselves, and they should place their stakes on solidarity with each other.

“Everything depends on businessmen, on their solidarity with each other. There is no point in hoping for somebody else, we can rely only on ourselves and on your friend’s shoulder,” the leader of entrepreneurs said.

Since January 1, 2009 Decree No. 760 stipulations are to come into force. According to it, fixed single tax on imported goods will be cancelled. Businessmen would be forced either to pay tax for every name of goods, processing all documents for it, or quit work. Most goods imported by small businessmen are bought in Moscow at markets, where it is impossible to draw up documents.

Since the New Year the article 3 of the Decree No. 285 of June 18, 2005 “On some measures for regulating entrepreneurial activities” is to cease to be effective. Goods from third countries released for free circulation in Russia and imported by Belarusian individual entrepreneurs are to be subject to customs clearance and payment of import VAT.

As we have informed, in recent years Belarusian businessmen went on strikes and held protest rallies many times. A year ago, on December 10, 2007, market vendors took to the streets of Minsk and marched from October Square to Independence Square. They wanted to present the authorities their demands to grant freedom to private business and reverse discriminatory decrees by Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Mass rallies were also held on January 10 and 21, 2008.