People’s March will be held on March 12 :: Charter'97 :: News

People`s March "For Better Life!" will be held in Minsk on March 12 this year. Dmitry Bondarenko, one of Charter`97 coordinators announced it today. Originally it was planned to carry out the action last autumn on the initiative of a group of public figures: economist Ludmila Griaznova, film-maker Yuru Khaschevatsky, historian Valentin Golubev, journalist Valery Schukin, diplomat Andrey Sannikov and human rights activist Dmitry Bondarenko. Later it was decided to postpone the action till the year 2003.

As Dmitry Bondarenko said, the action will be held under social slogans:
--Most of Belarusians found themselves living in poverty. The authorities are boasting that average salary in the country has exceeded USD 100. In fact people were earning USD 100 already in 1995. But the costs of basic goods and services were much lower then. Health care and education were really free of charge. People are putting only one question to us: "Why you, the opposition, do nothing? Help us protect ourselves!"
People`s March will be held between the first and the second round of local election to use an opportunity to inform people about the action legally. We offer people express their civil position either on polling stations or in the street. We count on support of youth and women organizations and also on support of trade unions. We negotiate with representatives of different political groups about joint participation in the action.