Zmitser Bandarenka: It’s my fight
- 20.09.2011, 10:39
The state of heath of the political prisoner is deteriorating. But he is not going to appeal for pardon.
“European Belarus” coordinator Zmitser Bandarenka has sent a letter for his wife Volha from the penal colony in Mahilyou. He tells that he had been compelled to write a petition for pardon addressed to Lukashenka.
“The chief of the colony is Syarhei Makhankou. He is a severe man. He asked me: “How are you? Do you have any questions? How is your health?” He wanted to clear up whether I was going to write a petition for pardon. I answered: “How can I sit behind the round table having petitioned for mercy?” the head of the colony has also told that after 15 days of quarantine I could be transferred to the prisoners’ party. “Your health is already better, isn’t it?” All prisoners and my modest person have probably caused much stir, which is even growing, and all superiors want to get rid of such a nuisance as me, as soon as possible, and they had been given an order to make us write a petition for pardon (it’s my version).
Now the chief of the colony is hinting that if I would be transferred to the colony soon if I would not write a petition. I will not ask them about anything. Arlou from the KGB had been doing integrity test as well. I understand perfectly well that it could be the most important spiritual battle for me in my life. I have read that Mikola had been denied a right to write letters, to make phone calls, and he was sent to work under most ardours conditions. We keep going. Our fate is in God’s hands and our comrades and friends at liberty. I understand that people believe in me and it is very important for them also.
…It happens for the second time, it is almost like a proverbial sign. As soon as I start writing a letter to you, I am summoned to the colony chief. Now he was talking to me accompanied by two assistants. It was a firm and polite conversation on the both parts. They stressed that I could address Lukashenka for the sake of my health, for the sake of my loved ones; if not a petition for pardon, then at least on the issue of changing the custodial pattern for me. I reminded once again that at request of Lukashenka the Belarusian Association of Journalists had already sent requests to release me and other journalists. I told that I understand that the whole world and many, many Belarusians are following our situation. I told that I and a son and a grandson of partisans. “You should understand, no one is breaking you down. People are just talking to you. Your future is in your hands.” God forbid them from making such choice one day. But it would be thousand times more awful for me to find myself in their place and try to break down somebody,” Zmitser Bandarenka writes.
Meanwhile, the state of health of the political prisoner who had underwent a spinal surgery, is deteriorating without due after-care.
“And now real facts about my health: fingers on my right foot are moving worse, when I walk along the corridor, I get my feet caught on the floor more often. My arms get numb and are aching; my cervical and thoracic spine is aching. Now my knees are aching, they are swollen because I have to rest on them all the time,” Bandarenka writes.
The political prisoner has also written what helps him to hold on in these hard times:
“People, I know that you remember me. I love you. When I had a hard time in Amerikanka, I was walking and repeating for hours, aloud and inwardly: “Glory to Jesus Christ! Long live Belarus!” The situation is influencing one’s mind anyway. I was to collect myself. I recalled the things which are the most important for me. And the triad of a Conservative came to my mind: God, Belarus and Family! I tried to do so, it helped a lot. Only family (the slogan “I love my Volha and little Yulya”) was weakening me, tears appeared in my eyes. I was praying for you several times a day. And for hours I was repeating “Glory to Jesus Christ! Long live Belarus! Glory to Jesus Christ! Long live Belarus!” and then “God, bless my wife and daughter!”
I think the same time is coming again. As Akela said: “It is my last fight”. I think it is not the last one. Pray for us, Belarusians!”