President Lukashenko continues to tighten his grip on the Belarusian society. His latest display of power concerns the liquidation of youth organisation RADA, using a new law that was implemented at the beginning of this year. According to Eivind Vad Petersson of the Norwegian Youth Council the reason for the liquidation is fear for civic unrest in face of the up-coming presidential elections of March 19. (12-FEB-06)

In the run-up to the elections the authorities have tightened their grip on the opposition and civil society even more. The latest victim of the totalitarian regime is the umbrella organisation for youth ngo’s RADA. RADA was liquidated February 8 after a showcase trial in the Belarusian capital Minsk. The organisation was charged for a long list of offences among which:
1. Using the name RADA, in stead for the full name Belarusian Union of Youth and Children’s Pubic Associations “RADA”
2. Using a unregistered logo in letters
3. Breaking its own regulations
4. Collaboration with unregistered organisations

International cooperation
Ane 100.jpg RADA is a partner of the Norwegian Youth Council (LNU), an organisation that is representing a total of 71 Norwegian non-governmental organisations for children and youth. According to Ane Tusvik Bonde, left, who is project manager for Belarus in the Human Rights House Foundation (HRH) in Oslo this could be one of the real reasons behind the February 8 court case. Bonde: “While they accused RADA for things like the illegitimate use of a logo, the real reason for the liquidation might be cooperation with international partners. According to a new law that was implemented at the start of this year it is not allowed to exchange any information which is not in favour of the Belarusian authorities.” In a press release RADA claimed the same and says it was the victim of a propaganda campaign with the aim to direct public attention to the new law.

Up-coming elections
Lukashenko has a long history of liquidating ngo’s and arresting members of the opposition. During the last 3 years already more than 150 organisations have preceded RADA. Recently Lukashenko and his government are strengthening their grip even more. This has everything to do with the up-coming presidential elections. According to Petersson, who attended parts of the court case against RADA, the authorities are afraid that the country after the elections will witness a revolution like in Ukraine and Georgia. In the meanwhile there is little hope that the up-coming elections will be free and fair this time. Major irregularities marked the parliamentary that were held in 2004. On Friday February 10 a new OSCE/ODIHR mission was installed to observe the upcoming elections. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee will also go to Belarus to observe the elections.

Solidarity action
Thursday February 16 a new solidarity action for the people of Belarus will be held in front of the national parliament in Oslo, the third one in succession. The aim of these actions, that are  organised by several Norwegian youth organisations. is to show solidarity with all the people who suffer under the Lukashenko dictatorship. This time the action coincides with the presentation of the Sakharov-price by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. See  pictures from previous actions at  www.nhc.no