19 March 2024, Tuesday, 7:47
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History Repeats Itself In Form Of Farce

History Repeats Itself In Form Of Farce
Iryna Khalip

But there is such a desire to be Hamlet, not a clown.

I cannot understand everybody's excitement that lasts for the fifth day already. Applause and enthusiastic impressions are coming from all sides. An opposition representative in the "House" is a break through, a victory, a shining path to the future, it has happened for the first time in twenty years. In general, the life is getting better. But why does everyone have such a short memory?

The opposition had a place in the "House". Let me recall: Valery Fralou, Uladzimir Parfenovich, Siarhei Skrabets. No, they were no members of parties and movements and were appointed to the "House" as reliable and obedient people. A soldier, an athlete and an entrepreneur working in Russia. Well, a lovely sight for sore eyes. Good and reliable people.

But, however, after looking around and getting used to new surroundings, they burst into fooling. General Fralou was the first to start the show, who had his own idea of how to serve his Fatherland as a deputy. When Lukashenka came to talk to inhabitants of the "House", Valery Fralou asked him the question had never voiced there before: "Aliaksandr Ryhoravich, you say that deputies can consider bills. Well, I am sitting on a park bench. A beautiful woman is passing by. I examined her. What is the sense?!"

General has finally understood that their presence there does not make any sense. And it is even boring to be there for an active person. He gains weight quickly and stops thinking. And Fralou, Parfenovich and Skrabets create their faction - "The Republic" - inside a perpetually monolithic "House". And a real mess starts.

They participated in protest actions. (A newly appointed deputy did not appear at a rally against falsifications on September 12 – and will not appear, never mind). In the summer of 2004 "the republicans" announced a hunger strike. Then it became known that a new castration of the Constitution initiated by Lukashenka and a new referendum on abolition of a two-term limit of the presidential power were to come. Mikhail Marynich was behind bars then. And those on a hunger strike demanded the release of Marynich, amendments to the Electoral Code and no third term for Lukashenka. The regular election to the "House" was scheduled for the autumn – it was clear they would wave their positions good-bye. But those of the hunger strike did not think about it. Rather, they thought about it and understood everything. But they made their own choice.

First, they were on a hunger strike at work. Then in an apartment of Fralou. The hunger strike lasted for 18 days. Everyone supported them - European ministers, American senators. Later the hunger strike was over and they planned a great protest action on July 21. (By the way, the action was great. Later Russia TV channel lost an accreditation in Belarus for long - it named a real number of protesters, but not a usual "one and a half hundred drunken wretches" voiced by the police"). On July 1 General Fralou was severely beaten up in his entrance. Businessman Skrabets was soon arrested and convicted, but was granted after a year and a half in prison. The Olympic champion Parfenovich had his business brutally grabbed and was forced to leave, otherwise he would be imprisoned.

Siarhei Skrabets failed to preserve his business as well and joined social democrats. Uladzimir Parfenovich now is a coach of a Polish national rowing team (earlier he trained a Russian one). Valery Flalou pass away two years ago, as well as Mikhail Marynich.

So, the opposition in the "House" has its history and not a break through or a victory. Then they were not marked as "opposition members". Both Fralou and Parfenovich turned to be conscientious people. Being in a cosy office, they understood that that way of life was unacceptable and they could not stand those lies. They tried to make a difference and sacrificed their positions and a bright future. You know, this is far more honorable than being aware of such things to take the position. Going on a hunger strike and taking the Square they knew that that was the end for their well-being, and only problems the scale no one could even foresee would wait on them. Those who call themselves a speaker stressing there are no elections and candidates here, but then jumping at a mandate they, on the contrary, know problems are resolved and comfortable life starts now. And they also know what happens to those who are trying to make a difference. Only obedient ones can survive.

There is no one to warn about. The management of the UCP has already announced that a newly appointed deputy would promote "One Million Work Places" program. Well, it gives a chance to be there for four years. And it's clear to me why those deputies, who became the real opposition in the "House" are tried to be forgotten so hard. The history repeats itself in form of farce. But there is such a desire to be Hamlet, not a clown.

Iryna Khalip, especially for charter97.org

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