European March in Belarus

On October 14, European March, the mass action of Belarusian democratic forces, took place in Minsk.  Up to 10000 people expressed their wish for Belarus to join European Union. Authorities preliminarily detained some tens of young people. There were no detentions during the action itself. (15-OCT-07)

Based on www.nn.by, www.charter97.org , www.spring96.org
Illustrated by www.nn.by , www.charter97.org

European March “For Freedom!’ took place in the center of Minsk. Belarusians joined the March to support 12 proposals of European Union and demonstrate their intention to live
in Europe. By organizers’ estimation, 7000 to 10000 people participated in the action.

European march is the action of the united political forces and NGOs of Belarus. The organizational committee was lead by Victar Ivashkevich- deputy head of Belarusian Popular Party.
In spite of the fact that the action was formally allowed, democratic activists from all the regions of Belarus were preliminarily arrested. Policemen stopped buses and cars with people going to Minsk. At the different enterprises and educational institutions authorities took receipts from the employees and students not to participate in European March. Otherwise they could be dismissed.
Despite the intimidations and repressions Belarusians went out to the streets to declare “Belarus to Europe!”, “Freedom to Prisoners of   conscience!”  They held the white-red-white flags and the flags of the European Union.

European March Summed Up
The main purpose of  Social March is to show to the government  of Belarus the inadmissibility of its irresponsible social policy which has lead to the deprivation  of social benefits of the most vulnerable  strata of Belarusian society – retirees, students  and children. The march is also organized by the united political forces of Belarus.  The head of the organizational committee is the deputy head of the Communist Party of Belarus Valery Uhnaleu. Head of the organizing committee Viktar Ivashkevich pointed out, the action had shown both the achievements and the shortcomings of the opposition. “First of all, the European March demonstrated that the opposition is able to work together, in a consolidated way, the fact that some people challenged after the Congress. We saw support of practically all European countries, and the United States. I think this support forced the authorities to let the people walk peacefully from Kastrychnitskaya Square to Bangalore Square”, — Ivashkevich said.
 Now the opposition is busy with preparation of the Social March on November 4th. The application for permission has already been submitted to Minsk city executive committee. The applicants have already sent letters to deputy head of the President’s Office Natalia Piatkevich, Prime Minister Siarhei Sidorski, head of the Federation of Trade Unions Leanid Kozik, and some other officials.