Ahead of the Chernobyl Way rally, the Belarusian authorities did their best to scare people and prevent them from taking part in the demonstration.
Special security gates and checkpoints were set up on the square in front of Academy of Science, where it was planned to begin a demonstration at 6 p.m. Riot militiamen in black uniform were standing near the gates demonstrating their clubs. Everyone wanting to go the square had to undergo a humiliating procedure. They had to remove cell phones and metal things to walk through the gate and then be searched by riot militiamen with metal detectors. Bags of the demonstrators were also searched. The militia explained they were looking for explosive devices, though it was obvious that the aim was to intimidate the participants of the rally.
An elderly woman, who came to take part in the Chernobyl Way rally, noticed even fascist during the war hadn’t searched in such a way. Many Minsk dwellers saw the militia chains and preferred to go away or to watch the events at a distance staying behind the security gates.
Policemen also prohibited organisers of Chernobyl Way to bring to the Academy of Science sound amplifying equipment, so participants of the meeting had to make speeches through a megaphone. Leaders of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, the party was the organiser of Chernobyl Way this year, public leaders, human rights activists, scientists, liquidators of Chernobyl nuclear power station catastrophe addressed the people.
Academician Ivan Nikitchanka stated that the situation with radiation in Belarus is catastrophic, and now it is much worse than in 1986. As said by him, radiation was carried away all over Belarus by technogenic way. In Minsk, for instance, every third resident is a carrier of a chronic dose of radiation. As said by the Academician, Belarusian scientists and public leaders many timed demanded the authorities to change the concept of radiation security, to admit that any dose of radiation is dangerous for human health, to stop settling people in contaminated regions, and return all the benefits and allowances to people affected by the catastrophe at Chernobyl nuclear power plant. However, as noted by Nikitchanka, there was no reaction to these appeals from the authorities.
Artist Alyaksei Marachkin, the leader of Pahonya association, said: “It is impossible to solve the problems of Chernobyl not solving political problems.” According to Marachkin, it is demonstrated by the conditions, under which the Chernobyl Way was is held today. “Having set up these black security gates near the Academy of Science, the authorities showed that they want to turn the people into cattle. I am sure this insanity will end soon,” the artist said.
A human rights activist Liudmila Hraznova attracted attention of its participants to the situation with political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich, who faces 20 years of imprisonment on factitious charges. The human rights activist called upon solidarity with the prisoner of conscience and struggle for his freedom. "A real political Chernobyl exists in Belarus today, and we must resolutely say "No!" to it," Liudmila Hraznova underlined.
After the meeting the column of 1000 demonstrators started marching along Independence Avenue. At the crossing with Surhanau Street they were blocked by a line riot policemen. When participants of the rally turned to Surhanau Street, riot policemen started to move behind the demonstrators. Then they formed a corridor, surrounding the protesters from the both sides, and protesters were left between them. Thus, no one from the passers-by could joun the march.
Sidewalks of Surhanau Street are very narrow, so there was crowding in some parts of the road. It was provoced by riot policemen. However, policemen were not confused by that, they continued to convoy people, giving orders how to move and not allowing to make a single step on the traffic area. It should be noted that riot policemen had combat boots on, they were wearing gloves with metal plates, and all of them had truncheons. A paddy wagon made by Minsk Automobile Plant is moving along the column.
In this way participants of the Chernobyl Way, a peaceful and mournful rally, managed to come near Chernobyl chapel, where a prayer service dedicated to all affected by the horrible catastrophe was held.
“It is evident that the regime does its best to prevent the Belarusian society from taking to streets. Lukashenka realizes the danger ahead of the presidential campaign to be held in late 2010–early 2011. He fears the increased street activity. That’s why we see gates, cordons, four-meter wide pavement for 1500-people rally. This is a demonstration of how the Minsk city executive committee fulfils its duties of securing the public order and how the authorities try to hinder people from taking part in mass actions by all means,” Zmitser Dashkevich, the Young Front leader, told in an interview to charter97.org.
“Having come to the gathering place, I felt I was in Chernobyl zone. I had to walk through gates, this looks like escorting participants of a peaceful demonstration… Yesterday, today, the regime takes every means to show the Chernobyl is alive. Radioactive, spiritual, political Chernobyl. The today’s rally is very important. Though being held in this restricted mode, it allows everyone to understand we should get out of this. The obstacles have to be removed. This is the sense of the rally. The actions of the militia and riot militia show that the regime fears. Otherwise, it wouldn’t put out a claw over the demonstrators. It is a sign of fear. This is the face of Lukashenka’s regime,” co-head of the BCD party Paval Sevyarynets told in an interview to charter97.org.
Charter`97 |
