For Freedom! For Belarus! :: Charter'97 :: News

Leaders of the Belarusian opposition express different opinions concerning possible protest rallies in spring this year. The leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka offers to hold protest actions on March 19, on the day of presidential elections a year ago. The chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party Vintsuk Vyachorka is convinced that that March 25 is to become the major political day this spring. Alyaksandr Milinkevich also supports the idea of staging protest rallies and offers to choose the day of the protest at the session of the Political council of the United Democratic Forces. The Charter’97 press-center asked the Belarusian human rights activist Zmitser Bandarenka about his opinion.

- Yes, rallies in March are to take place. I think it should take place on March 25, on the day of the 89th anniversary of proclaiming the Belarusian People’s Republic. It seems to me that March 19 is not a quite right date for holding a mass rally. March 19 is the day of a standoff. It is true, a year ago the opposition, supported by people, demonstrated its potential, but didn’t win. It is clear today, that Lukashenka hasn’t won either. After a price hike for oil and gas deliveries he and the Belarusian government headed by Sidorski, speak about a difficult situation in the country, which on the verge of a catastrophic one. Russia represented by Putin has tightened a stranglehold over Belarus, and with each year losses are to grow, and the situation is to deteriorate. Putin is openly speaking about Belarus’ merging with Russia. Only extraordinary efforts of all Belarusians, and only with the support of the European Union could allow to hold out, to maintain independence, to save the country. That is why I offer to stage a nation-wide mass rally, but not a protest rally. It should become an action of unity, and it should be held on October Square (Kastrychnitskaya), or, as we call it now, Kalinouski square.

March 25, 2007 is to become a national holiday, the Day of Unity and Reconciliation of all Belarusians. This is not a time for dividing Belarusians into “friends” and “foes”. We see that the president of the neighbouring Ukraine Yushchenko is doing his best for reconciling Ukrainian citizens, veterans of the Soviet Army and veterans of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. We see that Ukraine’s anti-crisis coalition unites forces which previously were political opponents. Once Russia’s government announced November 4 the Day of People`s Unity. Leaders of the White movement, generals Denikin, Kutepov and others were reburied in Russia with military honours. It’s high time to recall their glorious history for Belarusians as well. The Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, as well as today’s Republic of Belarus, would be impossible without the Belarusian heroes who in 1918 adopted the statute of the Belarusian People’s Republic, the first Belarusians’ unitary state.

- Do you offer the opposition to unite with the regime?

- It’s life that makes the Belarusians unite. Without participation of pro-European and democratic forces in governing the county it would be impossible to maintain even the modest living standards of people we have today. A social outbreak would be unavoidable. Direct losses of our economy just this year would make 3.5 billion dollars. Next year they would be 5 billions, and 8 billions the year after. To keep independence, to rescue and develop economy, to improve citizens’ living standards – to my mind, these objectives are common both for the regime and for the opposition.

- But you have called this regime a criminal one…

- What the Belarusian government announces today as a program for solving the energy problem include guidelines of Belarusian democratic parties’ program. We shouldn’t give up on democracy values and human rights. Belarusians are not the first nation who faces the problem of reconciliation. If we fail, it would be a loss for everyone

I am convinced that the regime would be ready for that even today. But I think that they are better informed about how catastrophic the situation is. The one who is stronger offers reconciliation first. Changes in Belarus are inevitable. As I have said, without Europe’s help and involvement of the opposition to the government the regime wouldn’t stay in power. It would be simply swept by people’s revolts. Lukashenka’s step down and country’s independence loss (which is a variant prepared by Russia) is not the variant opposition is dreaming about. Political elites of Spain, Poland, Chili, Ukraine, Hungary, South Korea and dozens of other countries were meeting half-way for the sake of common goals, for the sake of saving Motherland. And in many countries they had to come to an understanding even after civil wars. Sooner or later people have to sit and come to an agreement in order to overcome the deadlock.

- What is your vision of the rally on March 25?

- Before that the sides should make steps to meet. Opposition leaders are to address the Council of Ministers with a proposal to announce March 25 a state holiday, a Belarusian “Day of Freedom and Unity”. Opposition experts should send to the government their proposals and programs on economic crisis solving and on the format of the dialogue between the regime and the opposition. The leadership of the country and opposition leaders, the chair of the Belarusian People’s Republic Ivonka Survilla, representatives of the Orthodox and Catholic churches, other denominations, prominent public and culture leaders should take part in the celebrations. It is necessary to circulate joint invitations to visit Belarus for the leaders of the Council of Europe, of the European Union, the leaders of the neighbouring states. The regime in its turn should make steps forward: in addition to announcing March 25 a state holiday, all political prisoners are to be released. The leadership of the country is to make a statement about a start of a direct dialogue with the opposition. And a tag line of the nationwide campaign of unity and reconciliation on March 25, 2007 could become the words “For Freedom! For Belarus!”