Belarus: Why Can't The Opposition Just Get Along?
By Jan Maksymiuk February 20, 2007
February 20, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The Belarusian opposition is planning a nationwide congress for March 17-18, one year after a flawed presidential election gave President Alyaksandr Lukashenka an unprecedented third term. But Lukashenka's main opposition challenger, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, says the congress will be nothing more than "internal squabbling" over leadership -- and that he doesn't intend to go.
Lukashenko attacks "corrupt" Belarus opposition
Tue Feb 6, 2007 3:43pm ET
Lukashenko offered olive branch
Web posted at: 2/2/2007 9:21:37
MINSK • Belarus's opposition, long the object of President Alexander Lukashenko's disdain, offered yesterday to help him in his bid to repair ties with the West after an energy row with Russia.
Vintsuk Vechorka, leader of the opposition Popular Front, urged Lukashenko to use a traditional rally next month to promote his new campaign to reach an understanding with European states that have accused him of crushing fundamental rights.
US State Department's Office meets with Belarusian opposition leaders
1/28/07
Belarus crackdown on opposition continues, more youth arrests
Feb 12, 2007, 14:07 GMT
Flawed Elections … and Parties
16:43, 21/02/2007, by Rodger Potocki, «Transitions Online»
How Belarus` opposition parties, already under attack from the governing regime, squandered their meager chances to score even symbolic gains in January`s local elections.
Two major conclusions can be drawn from the local elections held in Belarus on 14 January. The first is obvious: President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has engineered another manipulated and flawed contest. The refusal to include any real opposition representation on election commissions, spurious rejection of many democrats’ attempts to register as candidates, intimidation of campaign figures, routine denial of permission for opposition election events, the alteration of election laws, and the refusal to produce campaign materials, combined to insure that yet another election in Belarus would not be free, fair, or transparent. Germany, as holder of the European Union Presidency, and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, were quick to confirm this.
However, the regime’s violations of its own election laws, blatant repression and cynical ploys against democrats, as well as the pre-determined outcome of many of the contests, should not obscure what was also a striking failure of the opposition.
Read the whole thing.
Two Belarus opposition activists released
8 February 2007 | 01:38 | FOCUS News Agency
Minsk. The security services in Belarus released Wednesday from prison two young opposition activists arrested earlier this week, a spokeswoman from their group said, cited by AFP .
Oleg Korban, 22, and Zmiter Hvedaruk, 18, leading members of the Malady Front, are suspected of "illegal participation in an unregistered group" and may face up to two years in jail if convicted.
"They remain suspects, they were not formally charged, they must be charged within a week," lawyer Pavel Sapelka said.
Pero in our country, pinapatay na lang natin isa isa yung mga yan.
“Reporters Without Borders”: Difficult Situation of Press in Belarus Hasn’t Improved Yet
17:25, 01/02/2007
US State Department official warns EU against "going soft" on Belarus
09.02 // 21:59 // English
An official of the US State Department suggested at a conference held in Brussels on Thursday that the European Union should not "go soft" on Belarus despite Alyaksandr Lukashenka's statements about readiness to cooperate, BelaPAN reported.
Is dialogue between opposition and authorities feasible?
18:18, 13/02/2007
here's a classic oldie headline from last year.
Belarus opposition 'plans coup'
Where have we heard that accusation before, ay? But no matter, mga kapatid natin sila sa laban na ito to restore true democracy back to our respective countries.
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1 comment:
Ok, I understand the point of all of these articles. You are making a simple point. But I would like to remind you that 83% of Belarus voted AGAINST the opposition. This is not a close race; it is an almost completely unanimous decision. And at most, Milinkevich only received 6% of the vote. And what is more, the reason for this is that the Belarusian opposition doesn't do anything for the country but to complain. In the last two years the president of Belarus has been working to find contracts for Belarusian goods which are not allowed on the open markets do to western sanctions. How many tractors has Milinkevich sold? With all his time in the European hierarchy, why couldn't he sell some potatoes, some potash fertilizer, some manufacturing contracts for Belarusian firms?
You make these wonderful, over simplistic statements, it's all very popular. But really, why must you side blindly with the opposition?
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