If we show solidarity – any dictatorship would collapse

16.10.2009, 10:51

October 16 marks 4 years since actions of solidarity with families of the abducted and repressed opposition activists started. Today at 6 p.m. Belarusians are to come to October Square in Minsk.

Over these years people stage rallies in our country and in many countries of the world, and call upon the Belarusian authorities to stop repressions against opposition and start political reforms in the country.

“Solidarity is a feeling which allows a person to remain for ever one even in most inhuman conditions. Solidarity saves people, saves their honour and human dignity. To join a solidarity rally is a direct assistance to all those who undergo political terror, and a support to relatives of those who are giving their lives to fight for better future of our country. No one of us can feel free until at least one political prisoner remains behind the bars,” stated Maxim Vinyarski, “European Belarus” activist, in an interview to www.charter97.org website yesterday. We remind that yesterday the oppositionist was arrested for two days for dissemination of leaflets with information about political prisoners.

“In the conditions of resistance to any undemocratic system solidarity is the most important element, which helps pro-democracy activists to struggle for freedom, justice and independence for their country. If people have solidarity – any dictatorship will collapse. It is always important for people who were in prisons, went through repressions that somebody remembers them, that rallies in their support are staged. When I was in prison, it empowered me, gave me confidence that you are going through all these ordeals, and you should continue to do what you do,” the former political prisoner, “Young Front” leader Zmitser Dashkevich said.

“It is extremely important that the wave of these rallies does not vanish over all these four years. People, who come to solidarity rallies, cause a feeling of profound respect from me. It would be much harder to solve problems of political prisoners, disappearances, political repressions without that. Belarusians, who are taking part in the solidarity rallies in our situation, show an example of personal courage,” a well-known human rights activist, a representative of the human rights centre “Viasna” and Vice President of International Human Rights Federation Ales Byalatski is convinced.

“I want to express gratitude for support and solidarity in the days when I was in prison. Articles were written about me, my family was remembered. After I was released, I received the National Award for Human rights protection founded by the Charter’97. Years have passed, and now I can say that it is the only award I am sincerely proud of.

Solidarity rallies are colossal support to a prisoner and his relatives. I cannot say anything but words of hard to be in prison, especially when you know that you are arrested for your political views.

Such rallies are necessary while injustice in the country exists. The current regime should be demonstrated that we remember the disappeared Hanchar, Krasouski, Zavadski, that we are ready to continue struggle for every political prisoner. Such things shouldn’t repeat ever,” stated a former political prisoner, deputy of the “chamber of representatives” of the 3rd convocation Syarhei Skrabets.

We remind that there are still political prisoners in Belarus today. They are businessmen from Vaukavysk arrested in February, Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka, and “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski. Before Mikalai Autukhovich was persecuted for his active fight for rights of businessmen. According to human rights activists, today he is unfoundedly charged with commitment of grave crimes and he is to be tried in a closed process. As a protest against illegal arrest Autukhovich was on a hunger strike in prison for more than 90 days which seriously damaged his health.

In July “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski was sentenced to a year of restriction of freedom in a colony for violation of the rules of serving the sentence under the Process of Fourteen, when 14 young activist were sentenced to restriction and limitation of freedom for participation in a protest of entrepreneurs.

The cases relating disappearances of oppositionists Viktar Hanchar, Yury Zakharanka and Anatol Krasouski and journalist Zmitser Zavadski in 1999-2000 are not investigated in Belarus still. The world community suspects high-ranking Belarusian officials close to Alyaksandr Lukashenka in kidnapping and murders of Belarusian opposition leaders.

On the eve of the 4th anniversary of Belarusian Solidarity days opposition leaders called upon Belarusian citizens to gather on October 16 at 6 p.m. in October Square in Minsk.

“The only thing the dictatorship still fears is our solidarity. Only by demonstrating solidarity in street rallies we could make the regime stop repressions and release political prisoners as it happened before,” the statement reads. The statement has been sighed by coordinator of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Yauhen Afnagel, “Young Front” leader Zmitser Dashkevich, “Moladz BNF” chairman Andrei Krachko and the United Civil party leader Anatol Lyabedzka.

Day of Belarusian Solidarity were initiated four years ago by Iryna Krasouskaya, leader of the initiative “We Remember”, widow of disappeared businessman and public figure; famous journalist Iryna Khalip; and youth leader Mikita Sasim. The idea to hold days of Solidarity appeared after police disbanded a rally dedicated to the anniversary of abduction of the Vice Speaker of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation Viktar Hanchar and businessman and public leader Anatol Krasouski on September 16, 2005.Policemen seized portraits of the disappeared politicians and national flags. On that day the young leader Mikita Sasim raised his jeans shirt as a symbol of resistance to dictatorship.