Zmitser Bandarenka: “We have a chance to turn the tide over this year” :: Charter'97 :: News

Justice Ministry of Belarus has issued a decree according to which blocs of political parties and trade unions, as well as movements, initiatives and coalitions of citizens must have state registration. According to this decree, activities of unregistered civil associations at the territory of Belarus are prohibited. The coordinator of the civil initiative “Charter’97” Zmitser Bandarenka comments on this resolution ands other current events to Radio Svaboda.

- Could you tell at once, what does this resolution mean to you, to the initiative coordinated by you?

- Actually, it does not change anything for the “Charter’97”, as we have not been registered, and we do not plan to register. And for dozens of other initiatives that previously were registered non-governmental organizations, and which registration was cancelled by the Ministry of Justice, the situation is getting very weird indeed. Firstly registration of the associations of people were left without, and the majority of these organizations consisted of where oppositionists, in the opinion of the authorities. And today these associations that have not stopped their work are to register again. So I think that the actions of Minister Halavanau are insanity. Or may be it is the sign of the Belarusian regime’s turning into a more fascist, totalitarian one.

- Zmitser, to your mind, in the situation of such total control of political activities, which tactics could and should be chosen by oppositional forces? What can be done by civil society to oppose this?

- There is the only aim of these actions, to divide and intimidate people. Our aim is to unite, to offer rebuff, to stick together and to win. We have such a chance over this year, before the elections, we can to turn the tide. Belarus is either to plunge into the mire of totalitarianism for dozens of years, or we are to win, and our Belarus would become free and democratic. We need coordination of actions for that, we need personal courage.

- A week and a half is left before the National congress of democratic forces. Is this congress this coordination of actions?

- The Charter’987 would not take part in the congress, as we have said that we are to work in the field of civil society. But we certainly welcome the union of political parties, the union of the structures which are setting political goals before them, who plan to come into power, to change power. I think that it is a very constructive step. We hope that it would contribute to the Belarusian democratic forces. A person who is to become a single democratic candidate, is to take responsibility some time before the elections, to create headquarters, to set up considered, effective work. It gives certain expectations for the victory of democratic forces.

- Zmitser, would the Charter’97 support such a man?

- We won’t be engaged in promotion of the candidate, we are to fight consistently for minimal standards of human rights of people during the election campaign, we are to register occasions of violations by the authorities, and we are to be engaged in mobilization campaign. We are saying: people, come to elections and choose your candidate. If you like Lukashenka, that’s all right, if you like another candidate, come and cast a vote. But no obstacles to this process should be put. If the authorities wouldn’t obey the rules of a fair play, we are to fight against that.

- In the circles of the Belarusian regime’s opponents one can hear criticism of Western structures, which in this or that way support Belarusian oppositionists. To what extent is this support effective? What support would be appreciated?

- I have said that a so-called “black international” exists. We hear that Lukashenka defends Milosevic, Hussein, Northern Korea. These regimes help each other financially, organizationally; they exchange information about political opponents. The same situation exists in the post-Soviet countries. A democratic solidarity should exist as well. As democrats, we count upon assistance of democratic countries.

However, unfortunately for many years approach of majority of democratic countries to Belarus was erroneous. There was a tendency that the Belarusian dictator could be “reformed”. Even recently a statement by the Polish Speaker Cimoszewicz was made, that Poland opposed sanctions against the Belarusian regime, maintained good relations with him, and suddenly such a surprise, a bad treatment of the Union of Poles in Belarus followed. It is the result of erroneous attitudes. We say that it is essential to demand from Belarus to keep to its international commitments, and to be consistent in this policy.