Opposition in Palace of Government :: Charter'97 :: News

Despite all possible hindrances, today the Palace of Government hosted a round table “Free Belarus unites us”, initiated by the “Republic” faction. Members of all 18 registered parties, public organizations and journalists were supposed to walk in the doorway of the Palace for the first time since the scandalous dissolution of the 13th Supreme Soviet six years ago. However, fifteen minutes before the start of the meeting, the guards said they wouldn’t let anyone inside. It turned out that deputy Parfenovich, responsible for the affair, couldn’t bring as many people with him. Then they had to attract other “deputies” from the faction, who divided the invited guests into groups among themselves. Finally, when they all reached the office, where the meeting was to take place, they found out that the key was gone. At last, when they failed to find the key, Parfenovich and Frolov told everyone that the head of the presidential Administration Ural Latypov forbade opposition members to gather in the room.

Then it was determined to assembly in the foyer. The whole event lasted for 1,5 hours. It involved such Belarusian political figures as chair of BPF “Adradjenne” Vintsuk Vyachorka, UCP leader Anatoly Lebedko, deputy head of the BSDP NG Vladimir Nistuk, head of the Fellowship of Belarusian language Oleg Trusov, BHC chair Tatiana Protko, Young Front’s leader Pavel Severinets, poet Gennady Buravkin, chairman of the Union of artists Vladimir Basalyga etc. They unanimously stated necessity to support independence of Belarus and implement social-economic reforms, ringing alarm bells over the accelerated Belarusian-Russian integration. At the end they called on all country’s political and public organizations to do their best in fighting for independence and join celebration of the 85th jubilee of BPR.

Moreover, Frolov and Parfenovich said that they became members of the organizing committee of the People’s March “For Better Life!”, scheduled for March 12. When asked by Charter’s press-center whether he fears retaliation for that, the general said this: “No, I don’t fear anymore. I left my fears behind. I’m sick and tired of fear. Why should I be scared at all? Am I not living in my native land?”. According to the general he made up his mind to join the March due to the current circumstances. “Holding mass actions is the best method of affecting the regime. And we got to make use of it, for the situation is catastrophic. And there are absolutely no hopes for tomorrow. What can be worse than the absence of hope,” – wondered Frolov.