AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL writes to Alyaksandar Lukashenka :: Charter'97 :: News

Dear President, The messages we hear from within Belarus could give us the impression that the policy of your government aims at a kind of oppression of the opposition and silencing the media that do not wholly follow the directives of the authorities and so at the end or at least a great damage of democracy.

This notwithstanding all protest from the side of the instances of the European Union, of the United States, of the people of neighbouring countries and, for instance, from the side of Amnesty International.

Of course we can*t predict what will be the outcome of this policy, how far the results of it will reach. But you never will manage to silence the discord in the hearts of your people and it will be heard. And you can*t bring to silence the sound of the names of the members of the opposition who disappeared. They never will disappear from the memory of the people the left behind and all the other people of Belarus.

Recent history shows us that at last there is no future for a policy that is not interested in the protection of human rights. We want to keep hope that also for Belarus and its people the time will come of freedom, justice and prosperity and your country will take its honourable place in the democratic communion of Europe.

Regardfully yours, on behalf of our group

J.D.B. v.d. Meulen
Waterlelie 12
2631 DE Nootdorp
Netherlands