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Leaders  announced  Ignore-2012

Leaders  announced  Ignore-2012

Leaders of the main youth movements announced the beginning of the campaign Ignore-2012.

The press-conference held today in the hall of the Belarusian Trade Union of the radio and electronic industry (REI) was attended by leader of the youth wing of the European Belarus Siargey Kazakou, one of the leaders of the Young Front Mikola Dziamidzienka, leader of the initiative Zmena Paval Vinagradau, leader of the youth wing of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Maryna Khomich, chairperson of the Young Democrats (the youth organization of the United Civil Party) Aleg Korban, chairperson of the Young Hramada Yulia Mitskievich, a charter97.org correspondent reports.

"Today we witness a situation when politicians cannot come to a common decision, so we decided to formulate a single position, create a single platform for youth organizations. We gathered to dicsuss our positions, and very soon it became clear that all the youth organizations are ready to boycott tjusiga staged election. So the decision wasn't difficult to take. We will act together within the campaig Ignore-2012. We beleive that it meets most crucial expectations of the young people, and fits the atmosphere before the coming campaign. We will organize various events, including satirical ones, within the campaign.

The terms of participation in the parliamentary campaign have been known for a long time, there is nothing new: release and rehabilitation of the political prisoners. A comprehensive liberalization of the legislature and a new staff of the Central Election Committee are two more urgent issues," - Mikola Dziamidzienka said.

Former political prisoner Siargey Kazakou said that to take part in the parliamentary campaign is both unethical and unclever.

"Our campaign, as well as our press-conference, indicate that the young stay united, that we trust each other. Those minor difficulties we had when we were working with our single position were merely technical. Today, different ways to take part and not to take part are discussed. But we must realize that in the dictator's regime, a boycott is a morally and reasonably preferable position. You cannot take part in a voting when the key political figures are either imprisoned or deprived of their rights. It is basically the same

as entering a boxing ring with tied arms," Siargey Kazakou, the leader of the European Belarus youth wing.

The former political prisoner also mentioned that the question of Belarus' hosting the Ice hockey World championship 2014  must be reconsidered.

"Within the campaign Ignore-2012 we'll be able to influence politicians and the regime, and even international organizations. And not only related to the "election". As you know, the date when it will be discussed whether the World Championship in hockey 2014 will be held in Belarus, was announced yesterday.  We don't have anything against hockey, but organizing the Championship in the dictator state with arrests of activists, independent journalists, cleansing of the political field. Belarus deserves this Championship, Lukashenka doesn't. Even those who want it to be held in Belarus admit that the regime will use the Championship in its political purposes," Kazakou said.

Afterwords Kazakou thanked the Belarusian Trade Union of the REI for the premises for the press-conference.

Another former political prisoner, leader of Zmena Paval Vinagradau remarked that the campaign Ignore-2012 is youth-oriented, and will be mostly satirical.

Zmena activists are convinced that Belarus has not seen a real voting since 1994; the coming "election" is not an exception. For the young people, such an "election" is something like the Slavic Bazar. Our plan is to make a good laugh of the oncoming events. We won't throw feaces at those who don't support the boycott if they have a clear purpose. We understand those who say that the "parliamentary" campaign gives an opportunity to deliver the message, to reach the people, to call upon the boycott, to enhance party insitutions... We don't disagree if it's done within the "general plan", Paval Vinagradau said. Vinagradau added that Zmena sustained the boycott decision despite the fact that the "adult" wing of the campain Speakern The Truth is determined to take part in the "election". But there have not been any conflicts, he stressed.

"It is crucial for us, youth organizations, to be able to get together to quickly decide what we'll be doing during the parliamentary campaign, and to come up with a common position, unlike politicians who never reach understanding. Each participant will of course have their own activities, but within the campaign we all act together. For example, members of our organization will apply for observers of electoral commissions in order to register breaches, but even independent actions will be carried out within the common strategy," chairperson of the Young Hramada Yulia Mitskievich said.

The chairperson of the youth wing of the United Civil Party said that his organization will use the opportunities of the "parliamentary" campaign, but only to call to boycott.

"The Young Democrats will keep to the party strategy. For us, it is important that the participation in the campaign evolves according to the speakers' plan, not the powers'. We don't accept the regime's scenario, and we refuse to be clowns in its circus. So we use the opportunity given by this campaign, to call upon the people to ignore this comedy-voting. All candidates must be recalled. And we are going to be very active in the campaign Ignore-2012. We'll organize pickets, flash-mobs, game-like events. I very much liked an event held on the Phillipines - a mass "runaway from

zombies". This is pretty much what our young people do, running away from headmasters, teachers and other supervisors who drag then to the "election", Aleg Korban shared his plans.

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