28 March 2024, Thursday, 23:14
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Public Money Has Been Spent On NPP – No Money For Wages Left

26
Public Money Has Been Spent On NPP – No Money For Wages Left

The mass rally Chernobyl Way was held in Minsk on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

The participants of the rally, Chernobyl Way, were to gather near Kastrychnik cinema at 6 p.m. About 2000 persons marched up to the Park of Friendship of the Nations under white-red-white national flags and flags of the European Union.

The main slogans of the rally: “Chernobyl Hasn’t Ended – Catastrophe Continues,” “No to Astravets Nuclear Power Plant” and “Chernobyl – 30 Years of Lies by Kremlin and Aliaksandr Lukashenka,” “Public Money has been Spent on NPP – No Money for Wages Left.”

Participants of the rally came out against re-development and re-settlement of contaminated territories, demanding the authorities to stop construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, to reveal the truthful information about consequences of the Chernobyl disaster for Belarus, provide a system and accessible radiological control for citizens.

About 2,000 citizens have taken part in the rally.

Leaders of the political opposition took part in Chernobyl Way: the leader of the Uited Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka, a poet and politician Uladzimir Niakliayeu, a co-chairman of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party Vital Rymasheuski, the chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Aliaksei Yanukevich, activists of “European Belarus” Maxim Viniarski, Leanid Kulakou, Andrus Sharenda, a co-chairman of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party Paval Seviarynets, the leader of sole traders Ales Makaeu, the leader of the movement of solidarity “Razam” Viachaslau Siuchyk. Besides, a well-known stage director, a former art director of the Free Stage theatre Valery Mazynski, a well-known Belarusian musician Zmitser Vaitsiushkevich.

The Minsk rally, Chernobyl Way, started with a provocation: at 5.30 p.m. in Independence Avenue near the Academy of Science, sappers “were searching for a bomb.”

In spite of that, people started to gather near Kastrychnik cinema. White-red-white flags, flags of Ukraine and the EU were waving over the demonstrators. Activists were collecting signatures in support of sole traders, who cannot work freely today because of Lukashenka’s discriminatory decrees.

A participant of the rally, a well-known poet and public leader Uladzimir Niakliaeu stressed that Chernobyl Way is viewed by the authorities as a protest: I saw paddy wagons while I was coming here. The authorities understand that the people have claims against it. They fear public resentment.”

Before the rally started, activists were chanting “Long live Belarus!”, unfurled a banner “Russia, Stop! No More Destroying Us!”

There were numerous posters at the rally. Activists of “European Belarus” Maxim Viniarski and Leanid Kulakou held a poster “Astravets is a new Chernobyl.” Activists of the United Civil Party carried a poster “Drazdy dwellers carry a threat” and “Drazdy dwellers should be moved to the zone” (Drazdy is a settlement where high-ranking officials live – a note by charter97.org).

Activists unfurled one more poster near the traffic area – “No to Russian Nuclear Threat.”

It is notable that a girl from Serbia was at the rally with a poster “Astravets – We Won’t Live Until Pension Age,” ecologists formed a separate column. Money for a monument to the Belarusian volunteer Ales Charkashyn, who died for Ukraine, were collected at the rally as well.

At 6.35 p.m. the Chernobyl bell rang, and the column started to move on the pavement along Independence Street. An icon of Our Lady dedicated to Chernobyl Victims, painted by Ales Marachkin was carried in front of the column.

People in chemical protection suits and a priest of the Belarusian Autocephalous Church Leanid Akalovich were marching in the head of the column. The Chernobyl Bell was heard all the time.

Young people were handing out leaflets “Stop agricultural production at contaminated areas.” From the side of the traffic area the column was accompanied by riot policemen.

“Lukashenka is to blame for Chernobyl tragedy, as he is building agritowns on contaminated land, lays gas there, and even tells to seed fields there,” – believes an activist Nina Bahinskaya.

The cars passing by honked as a sign of solidarity with rally participants.

When the march was coming to an end, problems started. Policemen searched people who were coming near Chernobyl chapel in the Park of Peoples’ Friendship. People refused to walk through metal detectors, expressed their resentment over the actions of policemen loudly, and shouted “It’s a shame!”

One of the organisers Vital Rymasheuski addressed the participants of the rally: “These metal detection arches symbolize the humiliating slavish regime. We had reached agreement in advance, that there would be no metal detectors. Policemen have broken the agreement. We won’t move through the metal detection arches. We shall hold a meeting here, and then go to the chapel to lay flowers. There metal detectors were not here just half an hour before.”

Rymasheuski urged all participants to give their signatures against construction of Astravets NPP: “The authorities have violated the conditions, so we are not going to hold a meeting, and we shall end the rally by a one-minute silence, and after that those willing could lay flowers. Let’s stay together, together we shall win. Long live Belarus!”

“Policemen encircled the church by archway metal detectors. It’s simply a disgrace. It’s a provocation. Enemies are ruling our land. They do not allow people enter the sanctuary,” – said indignant people.

As a result, people had a one-minute silence in memory of Chernobyl victims in front of police cordon, and they said the Lord’s Prayer near the icon of Our Lady “Victims of Chernobyl” in Belarusian.

“It’s a humiliation, we won’t move through metal detectors. It’s better to lit candles and lay flowers here. Or go to church tomorrow. Our neighbours, Poles, would understand us. I am a parishioner of this church. Why cannot I enter it now? It’s a disgrace. And it is committed by riot policemen, who are wearing black and yellow, like the radiation precaution sign,” – a participant of the rally said.

Write your comment 26

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts