Belarusian Popular Front set forth conditions to the regime
- 11.08.2008, 11:31
At the extraordinary congress of the Belarusian Popular Front on August 9 two important resolutions have been adopted: on possible non-participation of the BPF party I the “parliamentary elections, if the regime would continue repressions against candidates of the BPF and the democratic forces, and about resolute disagreement of the BPF party with the attempt of some European politicians to find agreement with Lukashenka”.
The Charter’97 press-centre has been informed about the congress of the Belarusian Popular Front party and its decisions by the deputy chairman of the party Viktar Ivashkevich:
“The gist of the foreign political resolution is in voice dissent with the ideas expressed by some European mass media and some European politicians that understanding should be achieved with Lukashenka’s regime, and that demands to democratize Belarus should be dropped. We believe that such a “commercial” approach to the situation in our country (which underpinning is a desire of some European business-structures to take part in the secret Belarusian privatization) is unacceptable. In fact it is human rights selling in exchange for illusory possibilities to take part in privatization of Belarusian property. We state that any such agreements endanger independence of Belarus. Any agreements on privatization which would be concluded with Lukashenka in such a manner, secretly and no-transparently, won’t be recognized by the new democratic government of Belarus,” Viktar Ivashkevich said.
Among other issues discussed at the congress, the expelling the former deputy chairman of the party, Ales Mikhalevich from the party was discussed. The congress supported the decision of the party’s Sojm to expel him. After the results of the secret vote, Mikhalevich’s expelling was supported by 33 delegates of the congress, while 28 voted against, and one abstained from voting. The decision to expel Mikhalevich was adopted by the Sojm on June 14. The reason for that was his disagreement with the policy of the BPF leadership, and nonparticipation in the party’s work, as said by the leader of the BPF Lyavon Barshcheuski.
“The congress has demonstrated that the position of Lyavon Barshcheuski in the BPF is stable, and attempts of factional infighting do not have future. At the same time Barshcheuski stated that he is not against Mikhalevich’s being reinstated in the party as a rank-and-file member. He even offered to vote on this proposition at the congress, though Mikhalevich said be does not need such a decision of the congress, and he can present documents to join the primary organisation again,” Viktar Ivashkevich said.
A resolution on possible withdrawal of the Belarusian Popular Front party members from the “electoral campaign” of the upcoming “presidential elections” has been adopted at the congress.
“We have set forth conditions under which the BPF party won’t take part in the elections. In the resolution we have enumerated facts of repressions against our activists during the “electoral campaign”: dismissals, arrests, summoning and interrogations in the KGB. We state that the BPF can stop its participation in the unjust and non-transparent campaign of the “parliamentary elections” and widely inform the world and Belarusian community about that in case new facts of discrimination or crackdown on the Front members would occur, and if the BPF activists or other democratic parties’ activists (belonging to the United Democratic Forces) won’t be included into the constituency electoral commissions in the constituencies where party members run. The BPF has nominated 300 candidates for members of the electoral commissions, and if they won’t be allowed to become members of the commissions, it would be the sign that the regime is preparing falsifications,” Viktar Ivashkevich said.
In the end of the month the leadership of the BPF is to hold consultations where the final decision concerning participation in the vote is to be adopted.
“We haven’t announced boycott of the vote at once, as our activists wanted to work with the voters, wanted to try their hand, to analyze actions of the regime and to see for themselves that the regime does not allow carrying out a normal electoral campaign. Stealing of election, rigging of Belarusian citizen’s will expression is the major problem. That is why including pro-democracy activists into district electoral commission where this rigging is taking place is so important. If pro-democracy activists won’t be invited into district electoral commissions, votes of people wouldn’t be counted. And then taking into streets and squares is a practical alternative to going to a polling station. One’s voice could be heard at the square,” the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular party is convinced.