They frightened us with storm
- Iryna Khalip, “Novaya Gazeta”
- 18.10.2007, 12:21
8.000 people came out to the European March in Minsk. Is it much or little – it is a question about a glass which is half empty or half filled. In our case 8.000 is much. Especially when taking into account the campaign of intimidation and disinformation for which the authorities spared neither efforts nor time.
The arrests of the opposition activists began two weeks before the European March. Moreover, the potential leaders, able to take responsibility, for route change, for example, were arrested. 50 people were arrested within two weeks. The students in the universities, workers on the plants were made to claim in written form that they wouldn’t go to the European March on Sunday. Allegedly on behalf of organizing committee head Viktar Ivashkevich, thousands of wrong sms were sent calling to go not to Kastrychnitskaya Square, but to Bangalor Square (the authorized meeting place). All Belarusian FM stations said there would be gale warning, storm, snow, ice-slick, frost, although the weather forecast for Minsk on western and Russian websites was good. They frightened us with storm for the first time.
The march participants in spite of the ban gathered on Kastrychnitskaya Square. And went along Nezalezhnasti Avenue, the main city street – the banned route. Finally, in two and a half hours, they reached the permitted place. But the main thing is that these 8.000 people were walking in the city center as long as they wanted. They went under European and Belarusian flags, with slogans:
“Belarus to Europe!”, “Freedom to political prisoners!”. The youth activists unfurled 40-meters European flags. It was beautiful.
The demonstrants moved on the road most of the way, they crowded the avenue. For the first time in some years – they came out. By the way, it didn’t irritate the drivers, they honked, greeting the demonstrants, smiled…
As such, this long walk along the central streets was not only a way of attracting attention to the European choice of the opposition, problem of the political prisoners, the EU proposals to the Belarusian government, but affirmation of our dominance: city is ours, we have right to walk its streets on the route we choose ourselves. No matter that the column was convoyed by military cars, and militia loud-speakers terrified all the way that force will be used and called to disperse, but force, fortunately, wasn’t used. Maybe the authorities at last will understand that if not to maintain OMON cordons, not to mobilize the internal troops, not to disperse people with clubs, but give them an opportunity to go through the city, nothing will happen? Moreover the authorities will receive bargaining chips in the international negotiations. The only one so far.