News for 9 жніўня 2007
Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in June 2007
In June the Belarusian authorities again clearly showed their reluctance to change their course and initiate any democratic transformations in the country. Parole to several political prisoners and mild sentences on the criminal case against five members of Young Front were just an attempt to simulate democratization in response to insistent demands of the US and the EU. In fact, fundamental changes are impossible within a totalitarian system as they lead to its collapse. That’s why in June the authorities stopped concessions and continued the policy of bans, intimidation and suppression of freedoms and liberties. The Parliament did not receive the draft law on amnesty during its last session. As a result this issue will remain unsolved till the autumn session.
Ecologists Indignant at New TV Project by Aliaksandr Zimouski
A group of activists of the Belarusian ecological movement has distributed an appeal to the population concerning the advertisement of murders of wild animals in the National Parks on the Belarusian TV. A reason for the protest became a video by the Agency of Television News (ATN), called Belavezhskaye Safari. On 30 July 2007 it was shown on the 1st Belarusian TV channel as a part of Aliaksandr Zimouski’s project National Parks of Belarus.
About 600 Citizens of Biaroza Sign against Neighboring Chemical Plant
On 20 July the first line of Frandesa factory for production of herbicides, pesticides and insecticides was opened in Biaroza. The founding capital comes from Israel. At present the factory produces only Shkval herbicide, but soon five more kinds of chemicals, elaborated by the Academy of Sciences, will be produced there. The factory also plans to export the chemicals.
Navapolatsk: Police Detain Aliaksei Trubkin
Today in the night the police have detained the youth activist Aliaksei Trubkin in Alimpiyskaya Street in Navapolatsk. They searched him without any explanations and found several stickers in his bag. Then they took him to the police station and composed an administrative report for distribution printed materials without output data.
Hrodna: Franak Viachorka Is Justified
On 8 August Leninski borough administrative commission of Hrodna considered an administrative report which had been composed against the youth activist Franak Viachorka on 9 July. That day he was detained for watching how people posted stickers against destruction of architectural monuments in Hrodna.
Minsk: Pavel Baranouski and Aliaksei Shydlouski Put Behind Bars again
The youth activist Aliaksei Shydlouski has been sentenced to five more days of jail. He was taken to Partyzanski borough court of Minsk right from the detention center where he was serving his 15-day arrest.
Chamber of Representatives Gives Official Answer to Belarusian Association of Journalists
On 4 July the Belarusian association of Journalists sent to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus a request to clear some provisions of article 10 of the law On press and other media, according to which a mass media needed to have agreement of the local authorities to placement of its legal address in order to be registered.
