On December 8 at 1 p.m.Minsk time the Radio Svaboda holds an on-line conference with the international coordinator of the civil initiative “Charter’97” Andrei Sannikov.
In Homel repressions against participants of the bus drivers’ protest on December 5 started. Drivers one by one are summoned to the office of the director of the bus fleet number 1. Moral coercion is being applied to them. The Belarusian Popular Front activist Andrei Baranau was warned by the director that the KGB is going to open a case against him for organizing an unsanctioned meeting and providing “false information” to the Radio Svaboda.
“It’s more difficult to hold a party rally today, than at the front,” told a 90-year-old dweller of the village of Azyarshchyna (Rechytsa region) Syarhei Pinchuk. At the meeting with the leader of democratic forces Alyaksandr Milinkevich the Second World War veteran, a holder of five war decorations, a member of the Communist Party since 1939 expressed his indignation at the order forced into application by today’s Belarusian regime: crackdown on independent media, disrespect and changes of the Constitution.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer paid a working visit to Minsk December 6. Mr. Kramer held consultations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also met with representatives of Belarusian political and non-governmental organizations. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kramer discussed bilateral relations and expressed American concerns regarding the state of democracy in Belarus, especially as Belarus approaches presidential elections in 2006. In his discussions with Belarusian civil society representatives Mr. Kramer expressed continued American support for the people of Belarus.
On December 7 the public association “Belarusian Association of Journalists” is to apply to the Council of Republic of the National Assembly and to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus. The organization urges the Constitutional Court to assess the amendments to the Criminal Code of Belarus and their correspondence to the Constitution and international commitments of Belarus. The BAJ urges the Council of Republic to reject the dill “On Additions and Amendments to Some Laws of Belarus” aimed at toughening punishment “for activities directed against people and public security.”
On December 6 the press-service of the British Embassy in Belarus informed that the rector of the Belarusian State Economic University (BSEU) Uladzimer Shymau (Vladimir Shimov) refused to meet the delegation of the Ambassadors of the European countries, who wanted to discuss the situation with the student of this university Tatsyana Khoma. She was expelled from the university on November 24 by order of the rector. Tastyana Khoma was expelled for her a brief trip to France, where she was elected to the executive committee of the National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB).
Yesterday, as one of the readers of the Charter’97 internet-site informed, the chief doctor of the Homel city clinic hospital number 1 A. Saukou, informed the heads of the units of the hospital about the directive of the higher authorities that they are strongly recommend to exclude meetings with labour collectives of the oppositional candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich, and to ban visits to enterprises for him. All chief executives of enterprises are strongly recommended to bar all possible contacts of Milinkevich with labour collectives.
Following the decision by the Belarus State Economic University to expel a fourth year student, Ms Taciana Khoma, for participating in a meeting of the National Unions of Students in Europe (ESIB) without the permission of the university, EUA has suspended the university`s EUA membership, and calls upon its members to cease all cooperation with the institution.
The United States joins the European Union in once again expressing concern about developments in Belarus. The Belarusian National Assembly gave preliminary approval to a bill amending the penal code. The provisions of the bill appear to violate international norms and many of Belarus` human rights commitments, including the rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression. This bill seems clearly aimed at intimidating Belarusian citizens and stifling free speech as the country approaches presidential elections in 2006.
Reporters Without Borders expressed concern after parliament adopted a new law on 2 December imposing heavy prison sentences of up to three years on any citizen discrediting Belarus abroad. Head of the Belarus KGB, Stepan Sukhorenko, confirmed that the law would also apply to Belarus journalists working for international media or organisations as well as to foreign journalists.
Belarusian literary fund was created together with the Union of Belarusian Writers. All members of the union automatically became members of the literary fund that is financed by members’ fees and profits from publishing. The literary fund helped to old and ill writers, partially paid for their rest at literary houses and spent means on funerals.
Is Russia a partner of the United States in the war on terrorism? You wouldn`t know it from the bitter campaign Moscow is waging to thwart President Bush`s democracy agenda in Muslim Central Asia. Mr. Bush rightly believes that political liberalization in the energy-rich and mostly authoritarian republics that lie north of Iran and Afghanistan is essential to denying al Qaeda and other Islamic extremist movements influence or bases in the region. Yet Moscow insists on portraying U.S. encouragement of free media and free elections as a plot to extend Western influence at Russia`s expense. Russian President Vladimir Putin offers a warm embrace to any autocrat who rejects reform.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Berlin that Washington has admitted making a mistake in the case of a German national who claimed he was wrongfully imprisoned by the CIA. Asked about the fate of Khaled Masri, the Lebanese-born German citizen allegedly held by the CIA for five months, Merkel said in Berlin: "We talked about that one particular case, a case where the U.S. government has admitted that it made a mistake."
In the near future sweets, chocolate, cookies could disappear from the open marketplaces. It’s cold in the winter, hot in summer, so the conditions for these goods are unsuitable. In this connection the Ministry of Trade has prepared a draft document imposing ban on sweets trade in open markets, the “Belorusskiy Partizan” internet source informs.
It looks like Belarus is going to pass to a regime of even harsher total control. A new bill was received by the “chamber of representatives”, according to which many would lose sources of income. As the “Belorusskiy partisan” informs, the bill envisages a provision that makes civil servants and self-employed entrepreneurs, who are involved in distribution of advertisements, to make contracts for advertising only with those who have state registration of a self-employed entrepreneur.
Rather an outcast in the West, Lukashenko was embraced in Beijing, where he was on an official visit till Tuesday and where he found complete support and understanding. After Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Lukashenko was the second CIS leader, reaching out for help to China. He was promised economic aid and protection from accusations in authoritarianism. But the core political achievements of the tour were, of course, the strategic partnership declaration and the dialog on Belarus entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Russia’s largest mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) may get a controlling stake in its Belarus affiliate, MTS Belarus, in 2007, Belarus` Communications Minister Vladimir Goncharenko told a news conference Tuesday.
China and Belarus issued a joint statement here Tuesday, pledging to promote China-Belarus relations and to enhance cooperation in various fields. Chinese President Hu Jintao and Belarusian President Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko, who arrived here Sunday on a three-day official visit to China as guest of President Hu, issued the statement.
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