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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 12, 2003
www.charter97.org
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ANDREI SANNIKOV ARRESTED
21:22 12/03/2003
Police arrested Charter'97 international coordinator, one of the initiators of
the People's March Andrei Sannikov. The plain-clothed law-enforcers pushed him
by force into their vehicle and drove to the Sovietsky district police of Minsk.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/arest
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LUDMILA GRYAZNOVA ARRESTED
20:55 12/03/2003
Police officer Alexander Litvinko arrested near the ZUM store one of the People's
March initiators, Charter' 97 coordinator for human rights Ludmila Gryaznova.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/griaznova
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PEOPLE'S MARCH "FOR BETTER LIFE!" WILL COMMENCE AT 6P.M. ON THE YAKUB KOLAS SQUARE
17:22 12/03/2003
The national campaign People's March "For Better Life!", which started with the
national entrepreneurial strike and actions of solidarity abroad, will continue
this evening in Minsk streets. The demonstration, whose participants will assemble
at 6p.m. in the Yakub Kolas square, will march in central city under social slogans
"Stop plundering people!", "Reduce apartment rent!", "Raise salaries, stipends
and pensions!", "Stop exerting pressure on businessmen!", "He must leave!" and
the like.
Charter'97 press-center's journalists will update you on-line on the situation
development in Minsk streets. At the end, we will come up with the full report
on the rally and photo highlights. Stay with us!
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/begin
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ENTREPRENEURIAL STRIKE: 30 TOWNS, 100,000 STRIKERS
17:16 12/03/2003
Over 100thsd small business representatives engaged in the entrepreneurs' strike
on March 12. The strike was part of the national campaign People's March "For
Better Life!".
Today the Minsk marketplaces "Tractor", "Akvabel", "Chervensky", as well as trade
centers "Zerkalo", "Palace of sports" and "Parking" halted their business operations.
The country's largest commodity market "Dynamo" is totally empty. Few still sell
at "Impulse", while "Kupalovsky" and "Underground city" are totally closed. Sellers
of foodstuffs at "Komarovka" joined the strike, but as far as their stuff can
get spoiled soon, many of them began trade.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/allstrike
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ACTION OF SOLIDARITY WITH BELARUSIAN NATION TAKES PLACE IN KIEV, UKRAINE
15:42 12/03/2003
At 12-1p.m. the Belarusian embassy in Kiev was picketed by the local protesters,
who shared their solidarity with the People's March "For Better Life!", due to
take place in the Belarusian capital later in the day. The picketers cried out
slogans and sang national songs. The most popular slogans were "Luka, get away!",
"Long live Belarus!", "Belarus to Europe, Lukashenko out of it!", "Honor!
Motherland! Dignity!" etc.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/kiev
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60,000 ENTREPRENEURS EMBARKED ON STRIKE BY 1P.M.
13:15 12/03/2003
According to the preliminary data, at 1p.m., Minsk time, at least 60 thousand
entrepreneurs went on strike in Minsk, Charter's press-center was told by the
chairman of the Striking committee of entrepreneurs of Belarus Valery Levonevsky.
The number of strikers is on the rise. A countrywide entrepreneurial protest
is held within the framework of the national campaign People's March "For Better
Life!".
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/60000
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ENTREPRENEURS' STRIKE USHERS IN "PEOPLE'S MARCH" RALLY
11:47 12/03/2003
March 12 morning saw a countrywide entrepreneurial strike, which is held within
the framework of the national action People's March "For Better Life!". Today
the Minsk marketplaces "Tractor", "Akvabel", "Chervensky", as well as trade centers
"Zerkalo", "Palace of sports" and "Parking" halted their business operations.
The country's largest commodity market "Dynamo" is totally empty. Interestingly,
two hours prior to the start of the working day, the BT TV group arrived there
to video 30 kiosks, which were purposefully erected on the empty square. Most
of "Zhdanovichi" tradesmen also skip trading today, just like the retailers from
Grodno, Mogilev, Gomel, Vitebsk, Svetlogorsk, Rogachev, Mozyr, Borisov, Baranovichi,
Zhlobin, Pinsk, Soligorsk, Novopolotsk. We'll update you today about the places,
where they hold their strikes. This evening Minsk will host the People's March
"For Better Life!", which the striking entrepreneurs will join too. The action
will start at 6p.m. at the Yakub Kolas square. The actions of solidarity with
it will be carried out throughout the country and outside it.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/strike
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NIL GILEVICH WELCOMES PEOPLE'S MARCH
11:44 12/03/2003
National poet of Belarus Nil Gilevich assumes that by taking part in the People's
March "For Better Life!" the citizens may say "no" to the country's leadership.
"I'd really like to see it massive and I welcome the very idea of it. Hopefully,
this is the method with which the people may express their viewpoint and make
it clear to the authorities that they aren't going to tolerate such nightmare
any longer," said Nil Gilevich in an interview to Charter's press-center.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/gilevich
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ZUBR COORDINATOR ARRESTED
19:42 12/03/2003
Minutes ago police apprehended ZUBR coordinator Timofei Dranchuk. At the moment
they are driving him to the Sovietsky district police station. Charter'97 coordinator
Dmitry Bondarenko called on the people at the Academy of sciences, to leave home.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/08
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REACHING ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
19:33 12/03/2003
The crowd approached the Academy of sciences on Skariny prospect. Now they seem
to hold meeting here. The protesters are encircled by numerous law-enforcement
cordons.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/07
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POLICE PROVOKES REPETITION OF NEMIGA STAMPEDE
19:15 12/03/2003
Riot police (in uniform and civilian), headed by commander Yuri Podobed, blocked
the way to the People's March protesters. People are forced to step onto the
sidewalk, though so many of them can't walk on it at the same time, which can
bring about repetition of Nemiga stampede, when 53 died, including a law-enforcer.
The organizers call on police to stop provoking stampede. The protesters sat
on the pavement, protesting against police lawlessness.
Protesters reached the device-making plant and tried to step onto the sidewalk,
but the law-enforcers wouldn't let them do that.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/06
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6THSD STRONG PROCESSION EN ROUTE TO BELARUSIAN TELEVISION
19:04 12/03/2003
Colonel Naidenko just called on police to form a cordon in the Surganova street
to prevent the marchers from getting through it. They blocked traffic near "Na
Rostanyah" store at Skarina prospect. Police doesn't let people walk on the sidewalks,
making an artificial barrier for them. The crowd had to turn from the original
route, though they planned to march all the way to the Independence square first.
However, colonel Naidenko started threatening to break the protest down and personally
retaliate Dmitry Bondarenko. At the moment the protesters are walking towards
the BT headquarters in Makaenka str., occupying half of the prospect.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/05
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DISSENTERS MOVE ALONG THE PROSPECT
19:02 12/03/2003
The people moved out to the Bangalor square through the Independence square.
This route had been mentioned in their application to the city hall. ZUBRs walk
in front of the procession, holding huge banner "For Better Life!". The number
of protesters keeps growing. Among them there are many entrepreneurs, who embarked
on the national strike earlier in the day. The traffic is blocked, the cars don't
stir. The crowd occupies one traffic lane.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/04
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PROTESTERS BRING FORTH DEMANDS
18:44 12/03/2003
The protesters are increasing in number 4thsd. They filled both sides of the
prospect, Yakub Kolas square and the adjacent yards. One of the organizers Valentin
Golubev addressed the government with a demand to raise salaries, pensions, reduce
public utilities tariffs, ensure opposition's access to radio and TV, halt repressions
and not to implement referendum on the prolongation of presidential term of Lukashenko.
Otherwise the protesters threaten to embark on more protests.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/03
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POLICE HINDERS THE MOVEMENT
18:43 12/03/2003
The number of protesters rose to 3thsd. High-ranking police official Vorobiev
has just torn off the cable from the loudspeaker, but they returned it back to
where it belongs. At seeing that Leonid Malakhov and a few ZUBRs encircled the
audio equipment and prevent police from approaching it.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/02
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MORE PEOPLE ASSEMBLE IN DOWNTOWN
18:43 12/03/2003
15 minutes before the start of the action, there gathered some 1,5thsd protesters
in Yakub Kolas square. They hold banners "Stop plundering people!", "Lukashenko,
feed our kids!", "Reduce taxes and rent!", unfurled huge banner "For Better Life!",
ZUBR, BPF, UCP flags. Although the organizers had been given green light to protest
yesterday by deputy Interior Minister Scherko, the law-enforcers yell through
the megaphones that the action isn't sanctioned. Organizers Gryaznova and Sannikova
were handed in subpoenas to appear in Sovietsky district police as witnesses.
Charter'97 coordinator Dmitry Bondarenko called on masses to keep gathering in
the square, while the route will be defined later. He also spoke about solidarity
actions across Europe and read out Nikolai Markevich's appeal to the protesters.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/01
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PEOPLE'S MARCH UPHELD IN MOGILEV
17:14 12/03/2003
Today at 3p.m. Mogilev hosted an action in support of the People's March "For
Better Life!". Local democrats representatives of the ZUBR resistance movement,
Free trade union, United Civil Party and BSDP arranged a concert of empty saucepans.
Around fifty people, rattling with their spoons and other silverware against
metal saucepans, gathered in central Mogilev opposite the diagnostic center.
However, the law-enforcers blocked their way. As a result of the talks police
allowed the protesters to move towards the regional executive committee on the
condition that they cease producing so much noise. Otherwise they threatened
to disperse the crowd. So the dissenters agreed to be calm and move on.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/mogilev
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WARSAW HOSTS SOLIDARITY ACTION WITH PEOPLE'S MARCH "FOR BETTER LIFE!"
16:29 12/03/2003
At 12 o'clock, Polish time, there was held a protest opposite the Belarusian
embassy in Warsaw. Over a dozen of Polish nationals, ZUBR resistance movement's
members and United Civil Party activists unfurled a banner "We uphold People's
March in Belarus!", "No to phony elections!", "Belarusians deserve better fate!",
"Lukashenko Europe's last dictator". In response, the Belarusian embassy officials
called for police, which, upon their arrival to the place of the incident, recorded
the data from the protesters' IDs.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/warsaw
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ZUBR SIGNS MEMORANDUM WITH LITHUANIAN "MOVEMENT OF YOUNG LIBERAL DEMOCRATS"
16:27 12/03/2003
Coordinator of the Belarusian movement of non-violent youth resistance ZUBR Vladimir
Kobets signed on behalf of the organization a Memorandum "On mutual understanding"
with the Lithuanian "Movement of young liberal democrats". The goal of the Memorandum
is to help our country out of the self-imposed isolation and follow the path
of the democratic transformations, integrating deeper into the international
community.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/zubr
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NIKOLAI MARKEVICH GREETS PEOPLE'S MARCH PROTESTERS
15:48 12/03/2003
I welcome the participants of the People's March "For Better Life!". I'm proud
of all my countrymen who find enough courage and personal will to uphold the
nation's natural demands of decent life for themselves and their children in
these dark times of the agonizing criminal and anti-national regime.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/markevich
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BELARUS' DEFENSE MINISTER SETS OFF FOR ABU-DABI A DAY BEFORE WAR
12:35 12/03/2003, Roman Yakovlevsky, for Radio Ratsya
Lukashenko intends to send his envoy to the Middle East. To be more precise,
his Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev. A day before the announced day "X" for Saddam
Hussein, on March 16 Abu Dabi a constituent territory of the United Arab Emirates
will host international arms exhibition, where the Belarusian representation
will engage.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/oborona
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ACTION OF SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE'S MARCH HELD IN BONN
11:42 12/03/2003
Activists of the Bonn affiliate of the human rights organization "Amnesty International"
carried out the action in support of the People's March. Around ten human rights
advocates, the majority of whom were students of the local university, approached
on Monday the gateway to the Belarusian embassy in Germany and unfurled the banner:
"Lukashenko, Amnesty International Keeps an Eye on You!" The action participants
raised other banners, including some with the logo of ZUBR.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/bonn
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SELEZNEV PASSES SADDAM HUSSEIN'S PERSONAL GREETINGS TO LUKASHENKO
11:41 12/03/2003
At the March 11 meeting of Gennady Seleznev and Alexander Lukashenko the Russian
State Duma Speaker informed the head of the Belarusian state about the outcomes
of his trip to Baghdad and said that the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein passes his
regards to Lukashenko, reports BelaPAN.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/selesnev
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COULD THAT BE THE SAME POSOKHOV?
11:39 12/03/2003, Ales Drabchuk, Narodnaya Volya
When being the presidential aide Sergei Posokhov had numerously lauded the regime
and its methods of governance. However, when he found himself far from his previous
place of work, he changed his mood for an opposite.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/posohov
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"BELVNESHPROMSERVICE": ARMS SALES TO ASIA, MIDDLE EAST VERY LUCRATIVE
11:34 12/03/2003
The most favorable for the Belarusian arms traders are the markets of Asia and
Middle East, as well as the South American one, said in an exclusive interview
to "Interfax" the director general of the exterior trade company "Belvneshprombank"
Alexander Andron.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2003/03/12/arms
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 12, 2003
www.charter97.org
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