Social March “For Justice” in Minsk

Social March “For Justice” took place in Minsk in November the 4th. Participants of the action put number of claims to the authorities – to stop the prices increase, to carry out economical reforms in Belarus, to get back the benefits, to give liberty to the privet industry, to increase wages and retires payments. (05-NOV-07)  

By the organizers estimate, the total amount of the March participants was about 3000 people. The action was officially allowed by the authorities. It was organized by the united democratic forces of Belarus. The head of the organization committee was Valery Uhnaleu, the deputy head of the Communist Party Belarusian.    

Participants
The activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, the Communist Party Belarusian, United Civil Party, Belarusian social and democratic Party (Hramada), independent trade unions,  public organizations of the liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant emergency, entrepreneurs, retired employees, students and workers took participation at the action. The policemen confiscated loudspeaker equipment.
Demands
The participants demanded to cancel the act on the social privileges deprivation and on the forces contract system; to give liberty to the privet business sector; not to allow the amendments into the pension’s law, deteriorating the status of the people who works in harmful conditions; to assume the decrease premises cost measures; to stop prices increase. Half a year before most of the privileges were canceled. The demonstrators also called for the political prisoners release   and the holding of the free and fair elections in the country.

Provocations by pro-fascist groups
The action was peaceful. The marchers held national flags and banners. But the activists of the profascist organizations “White Will” and “White Russia” put up a demonstrative ‘fight’ with the activists of anarchists’ party. “Belarusian Television” TV channel shot it for the further demonstration on television-to show to the citizens of Belarus that extremists participate at the oppositional actions.  SWAT officers appeared only after the ‘fight’. No one of the fighters was detained. Before the March several democratic activists were detained all over the country not to let them participate at the action. All of them were released