28 March 2024, Thursday, 14:16
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Long Live Belarus!

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Long Live Belarus!
Iryna Khalip

It's a brilliant scenario for Sunday march.

That last war had two main imperatives: "wait for me" and "kill him". Poet Simonov expressed both of them. Almost every Soviet soldier knew and pronounced them together along with the poems that these imperatives entailed.

Our revolution has two key indicators: "I have a walk" and "I go". The first is the words of the legendary Nina Bahinskaya; she threw with neglect at riot police. The second is Raman Bandarenka's last words on the yard chat room. Now, these words belong to each of us. They present movement without stopping. They embody an offence. They demonstrate concern. I cannot stay at home, I go. What do I do on Sunday in the city? Yes, I have a walk. Can civilians be busy with anything else during a legal weekend?

However, we also have an imperative. The easiest one is "Long Live Belarus!" It's the major one. It is already common to all 97 per cent. It's a habitual one as if we have had pronounced it since birth. It rings like bells. It's beautiful as if unknown geniuses created it. It's immortal, like all our heroes.

"Long Live Belarus" is the best slogan for the next Sunday march. It will serve as a bridge between the recent past and the near future, a chance to enjoy together the hundred days of the revolution and pull victory closer, honour the memory of the victims and demand an answer from those responsible.

During these hundred days, we have taught them to feel fear. They had never thought before that we would build up couplings. To defend our fellow citizens. To open the apartment doors for dozens of strangers. To drive across the city late at night to bring a canister of water to the occupied area. To cover tens of kilometres without complaining of fatigue. To recognise we have one goal and a common enemy, no matter who we vote for in the future. To go to the yards every night and riot police do not dare to go there in the dark. To trust each other. and not to be afraid of each other. To identify each other by these words. "Long Live Belarus" and you are already among your like-minded persons.

They are afraid of us and try to drive us out from the streets. They distract us by lies about their readiness for dialogue. However, they use riot police and GUBOPiK, who can't communicate, as well as read, write and think. In between riot police raids, they innocently talk about the national dialogue. Yesterday, speaker Andreichenka appeared at work with a large bucket of lies and began calling Belarusians for the dialogue, as this the way they can exercise to influence decision-making regarding the country's future.

All right, if they want to talk, let them talk. Unlike them, we do not hide behind riot police. We always hear those who come to us. We are ready to give them one last chance to negotiate. Some telegram channels called to gather on Sunday at noon in their neighbourhoods. Others offer, as always, to gather at 2 pm in the centre. In my opinion, it fits perfectly. It gives a great chance for officials to meet with people and negotiate.

For example, one can start gathering in neighbourhoods at noon. Local officials, as well as representatives of utility service, who destroy memorials, paint over our "Long Live Belarus!" and cut out the water supply, are free to come and explain everything to residents of neighbourhoods. A couple of hours is enough. By 2 pm, one can head to the city centre after the dialogue with local officials. Let the small towns keep just walking. One can walk in columns to regional executive committees, and Minsk, for example, can head to Independence Square. By the way, it is the place where the government and the house reside. So let them come, nobody says no. Moreover, no one will kick them out. Or hurt them. The main thing they should do is to pronounce the keywords. They are simple: "Long Live Belarus!" There will be no other but this.

Iryna Khalip, especially for Charter97.org

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