One hundred years ago the first Belarusian newspaper was edited. “Nasha Niva” celebrates the centenary in tough conditions the Belarusian independent mass media exist. Nasha Niva is a cultural symbol and a living tradition. Even now, as 100 years ago, it is the embodiment of independent Belarusian society struggling for its political and cultural rights. Our congratulations! (28-NOV-06)
Sources www.svaboda.org, www.baj.ru, www.nn.by
Illustrated by www.nn.by
Nasha Nina History
Nasha Niva weekly was established in Vilnius in 1906. Since 1997 the web site has been launched in parallel with the printed edition. Belarusian historiography calls the years of 1906—1915 “Nasha Niva period”, since the first issue of Nasha Niva on November 23, 1906, started a whole epoch in the development of Belarusian culture and society. The edition covered a wide range of political, economic and cultural issues. The newspaper had a definite goal to consolidate Belarusian political nation. At the same time, as the contemporaries would note, the paper was the first source of true information for lots of people.
In 2005 the authorities banned the paper from Belarusian Post subscription catalogue. The paper survives thanks to its own system of distribution. Despite intermissions, the tradition of Nasha Niva publishing exists for 100 years. It’s a unique phenomenon for Belarusian press, especially enhanced by the fact that Nasha Niva has always been a social edition and never a state owned one, it never got under control of authoritarian or totalitarian power.
International support
Many international organizations try to support Nasha Niva in various ways. Andrej Dynko, the editor-in-chief has recently become a laureate of the prize “For the Freedom of Speech”. The prize is given by the international Pen-club and the Irish foundation «Oxfam Novib».
International organization “Reporters without borders” states for “Nasha Niva” defense and adjudicates the regular effort of Belarusian authorities to close the independent newspaper.
It was mentioned that this time authorities try to use the fact that the newspaper has no office and has not pointed office address and Ministry of Information has given the warning to “Nasha Niva”. (According to the Belarusian legislation two warnings are enough to close the newspaper)
“Reporters without borders” also said about the fact that since April 2006 “Nasha Niva” has concluded renting premises contracts for 4 times but all of them were cancelled under authorities’ pressure.
Tough work conditions
Let us remind you that “Belposhta” (Belarusian Post) and “Belasayzdruk” (press distribution state monopolist) cancelled contracts and refused to cooperate with the majority of independent editions in 2006.
Independent editions that have not been included in the catalogue will not be delivered to their subscribers’ homes. When readers and editors demanded to include an edition in the subscription catalogue, “Belposhta” referred to the law “that does not oblige them to include all editions in their catalogue”.
In July editors-in-chief of several independent editions turned to the President and asked him to help them solve the problem. The deputy Minister of Information L. Ananich responded that the Ministry of Information did not have the right to interfere into “Belposhta” activities and make the enterprise sign any contracts.
At the same time, according to the law any registered edition that is printed in Belarus has the right to be included in the subscription catalogue. The law guarantees mass media the right for distribution and equal rights for all users of mail service.
This situation considers as the discrimination of the independent Belarusian mass media because of political reasons.
