Anticipating arrests, "Young Front" activists continue hunger strike in homes today
2- 14.05.2009, 12:13
In order to avoid preventive arrests, on the eve of the “For Independence!” march participants of the hunger strike of solidarity left the headquarters of the Belarusian Popular Front (BNF) party to continue the hunger strike on May 14 in homes.
“We are high-spirited before the march. We are going to take part in it, though previously we though that girls should stay in the office. We are afraid of provocations, moreover, everybody knows where we are,” an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party Iryna Hubskaya told to Radio Racyja.
Besides, to avoid preventive arrests of activists when leaving the headquarters, the BNF party leadership decided to close the headquarters since 2 p.m.
As for hunger strikers, it was informed on Thursday that participants of the protest were supported by the deputy of the European Parliament from Poland Janusz Onyszkiewicz.
“I’d like to express my strong support to those who are on hungry strike of solidarity with arrested Mikalai Autukhovich. I know by my experience how difficult it is. I took part in some similar hungry strikes in communist Poland. I know how much courage and power are needed.
You should know that we are with you, we remember you and all people thrown into prisons, arrested and persecuted in Belarus. The cause of Belarus is our concern, too. Be brave! We are together!” the MEP said.
As we have informed, on May 4, a number of political and public figures of Belarus went on indefinite hunger strike to support detained entrepreneurs from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka, kept in pre-trial detention center #1 in Minsk.
Among the participants of the strike are former political prisoners Andrei Kim, Mikalai Statkevich, Syarhei Skrabets, Artsyom Dubski, Enira Branitskaya, leader of the coordinative council of entrepreneurs Alyaksandr Makaeu, “Young Front” activists Anastasiya Palazhanka, Mikola Dzyamidzenka, Kasya Salauyova, Yaraslau Hryshchenya, Artsyom Lastavetski, Darya Latushkina, public activist from Brest Natallya Kastsyuchuk, Iryna Hubskaya, leader of the BPF party Lyavon Barshcheuski, and others.
