Trade Unions Banned to Protest Even At Town End

24.07.2006.

A protest of he Belarusian trade union of radio electronics industry in Mahilyou postponed for August 9. Initially is was planned for July 25, but local authorities prohibited to hold a picket against denial of registration for trade union structures, primary and city organizations, Salidarnasts newspaper informs.

As we have informed, the leadership of the radio electronics industry trade union was set to hold a nation-wide protest on July 12 in four cities: Minsk, Hrodna, Homel and Mahilyou. In Minsk is was held in Bangalore Square. In Homel and Hrodna officials from executive committees denied trade union activists the right to protest under far-fetched pretexts. In Mahilyou the activists were demanded to conclude contracts with a number of agencies including police and hospital, to pay rent for the land near the culture and recreation center in the outskirts of the city (that place was offered by officials for holding the picket).

Last week officials gave up those claims, however they barred the protest on July 25, because of absence a contract for cleanup of the area. Present application of trade union representatives for holding a picket on August 9 is the third one. Besides, the leader of the trade union Henadz Fyadynich prepares an open letter to the chairman of the city executive committee Viktar Shorykau concerning illegal actions of the vertical of power.

Now they say that on August 9 a childrens festival would be held near the culture center, Henadz Fyadynich said. It was the third application, and it probably would be followed by another refusal. It is mockery. By this lawlessness officials provoke us to act in the same way.

Thus, trade union activists are still going to stage a protest on August 9. They say that a picket would be held not in the city end, but near the executive committee, where the protest had been initially planned.
Source: www.charter97.org