A Hunger Strike Is A Way to Reach The Ruling Class, The ‘Parasite’ Says

A resident of Homel intends to fight against the authorities.

Fulfilling Lukashenka's decree on "parasites", Belarusian officials include in the database of "uninvolved in the economy" people of all activities and even religious views.

Mikalai Peshko, 45-year-old resident of Homel, shared his story with Charter97.org.

- How did you know that you were added to the database?

- It was like a joke: neighbour's utility bill was put in my mailbox. The sum of the bill was as the one I used to pay. And when I paid for utilities I learned that tariff rate for hot water was 88.99 rubles per 1 Gcal instead of usual 16.92 rubles. It wasn't as harsh as I suspected, but in my opinion, it is not fair.

I called the settlement centre several times, and they told that I was added to the "parasite" database.

After that, I asked Leanid Sudalenka, a lawyer of the REP Trade Union, for help, and we decided to write an official statement to the director of the Settlement and Reference Center (SRC) of Homel and ask him to explain why the tariff was raised. I was told that Minsk said that I was on the "parasite" list and the SRC had to respond.

- You told that you do not work officially for religious reasons. Could you explain the point?

- The thing is, I'm a krishnaite, who is active in the service. My status can be compared to that of a Christian novice, who has already been allowed to serve independently by his spiritual teacher.

And there is a reasonable question: if the state exempts Orthodox monks and priests from all taxes, why should representatives of other religions be charged with additional fees for "parasitism"?

I have been practising my religion for many years. I have a spiritual teacher who has entitled me to hold religious services. But if I tell an official that I am a priest, he or she will at least say that I am crazy. I have often heard offences, discrimination and other unforeseen and unpleasant moments, up to the call to an ambulance and punitive medicine.

Because of the increased pressure of the authorities I have to go abroad to meet with a spiritual teacher - for example, to Ukraine. Earlier, as a priest, I preached, but then they started to "press" me for it.

It is clear that I have some minimum income at the expense of odd jobs, help from friends and so on. Officially, it is impossible to establish an ashram (a monastery - ed.) and be a Brahmachari (a novice - ed.) in our country. But I try to adhere to the religious principles of Brahmachari in everyday life - to think less about tangible things, to evolve spiritually. Earlier, until the authorities completely banned my activities, I used to preach and raise donations. But officials and the police didn't like it, because people don't obey them. As a result, they "twisted my arms" and banned sermons and services. Although Orthodox monks are allowed to live off donations and not work officially for hire.

At the same time, I was "unlucky" to own a small apartment in Homel and fall under the decree on "parasites". My apartment is small and the utility bill is not so high. After all, the penalty for it is 0.3% per month, which gives the authorities the opportunity to eventually evict the poor and unemployed.

- How would you comment on the fact that the unemployed should pay for hot water 5.5 times more than ordinary citizens?

- I have always been indignant about this, including in conversations with my friends and associates. All the official media say that we allegedly live in a "social state".

But in practice, as soon as you lose your job or just want to do what you are interested in - spiritual practices, art, even literary activities - you are subjected to repressions instead of help.

Just think that a poor needs help, but the state takes away his last shirt and draws up a bill. It does not help, but it kills. We have no social state for ordinary people. It is only for officials who assign themselves high salaries.

- It has become known that you managed to get rid of the increased utility bill at least for three months. How did you manage to do this?

- I developed some skills to resist the state when I faced religion-based discrimination.

The thing is that I have very poor eyesight, a high degree of myopia. I took a certificate of limited employment opportunities at the polyclinic and Leanid Sudalenka and I went to the commission of the Zheleznadarozhny district of Homel on Friday, June 14, I am registered at.

If I had started talking about my spiritual way and so on, it would have hardly resulted in something good. So I just provided a certificate of a very high degree of myopia, which limits my ability to work in many areas.

At first, the commission offered some working specialities, which also needed retraining. But in the end, arguments with my eyesight worked. In addition, I said that instead of rendering support to a person, they took away his last money. I demanded to remove me from the base of "parasites".

As a result, they discussed it and decided to exempt me from the increased tariffs for three months.

- But three months will pass quickly. What are we going to do next?

- Yes, in autumn, I will have increased gas and heating tariffs, in addition to water heating.

But I will not give up. I do not want to be a sacrificial lamb. I can support myself by helping my friends for a small fee, and at the same time to do my main job, I have been devoted to for half of my life.

If they don't remove me from the "parasite" database, I may go on a hunger strike. And I'm ready to be on it for long. At least, I put myself like that.

After all, a hunger strike even contributes to clear mind. Besides, I'll have to pay my last money for increased utility rates - so there's no other way out. Maybe the hunger strike will let me reach our ruling class. At least I put myself for a serious fight against those in power, but do not do their job properly.

Many like-minded Krishnaites avoid talking about politics, believing it is not their business.

But I simply cannot ignore the fact that those in power miss proper moral qualities, but they teach us how to live and say that they "care about the people". Although, this is not true.

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