1,000 protesters demanding the resignation of Belarus’ autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko, following a crackdown on churches and political dissidents. Reporters said at least dozens of people were detained near the presidential palace during a demonstration where speakers made clear they tried to emulate the popular uprisings in fellow ex-Soviet republic Kyrgyzstan and earlier in Ukraine and Georgia.
Andrei Klimov, an opposition leader who organized the protests, said his goal was to help spark a revolution similar to these nations, where presidents were forced from office. "Today’s gathering must send a signal to the West, Russia and our own bureaucrats that Belarus is ready for a serious change," The Associated Press (AP) news agency quoted Klimov as saying.
"Our aim is to start the Belarusian revolution and force the resignation of Lukashenko, the last dictator of Europe." American Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice described Belarus as one of the "outposts of tyranny" as the country borders the European Union.
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION
The protest came just days after a human rights watchdog expressed concern about increased religious persecution in the former Soviet republic. This week the pastor of the rapidly growing evangelical New Life church in the Belarusian capital was fined 30 times the minimum wage for "organizing religious services without state permission" Forum 18 said.
"A key feature of state religious policy is an extensive centralized network monitoring religious communities and active religious believers. There has been at least one attempt by the secret police to persuade a pastor to collaborate with them," it added.
Several Christian and political leaders are known to have been detained in recent years. Earlier this month human rights watchdog Amnesty international condemned the imprisonment of the leading opposition figure Mikhail Marinich. A former economics minister who has spoken out against government policies he was sentenced to five years’ jail in December on charges of embezzlement and abuse of power, accusations Amnesty claims were fabricate EuroNews television reported.
It was unclear how many Christians were among the at least 34 pro-democracy demonstrators arrested late Friday.
ACTIVISITS REGROUP
News reports said it took the truncheon-wielding police about two hours to disperse the protesters, who chanted "Down with Lukashenko!" and "Long live Belarus!" Eyewitnesses said a group of roughly 100 opposition activists regrouped, only to be pushed away a second time.
Lukashenko had made clear he will not back down for any revolution "whatever the color" referring to the ‘Orange’ and ‘Rose’ revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia. Belarus’ Foreign Ministry reportedly attacked the Kyrgyzstan opposition, saying its action could destabilize the entire region.
Analysts have warned the fight for freedom may be more difficult here than in other former Soviet republics, as the opposition to Lukashenko remains small and divided, with activists fearing repressive measures. In addition, Human rights watchers say, the president has ruled his nation of 10 million people with an iron fist, stifling dissent, persecuting independent media and opposition parties, and prolonging his power through elections that international organizations say were marred by fraud.
LUKASHENKO REFERENDUM
Lukashenko pushed through a referendum in October that will allow him to seek a third term in 2006 and run in subsequent elections. Another problem is that a Belarusian identity was crushed under communism and any post-Soviet revolt would be hampered by a lack of the nationalist sentiment present in the other countries, commentators say.
Only Turkmenistan’s President Saparmurat Niyazov, who has been declared president-for-life, rivals Luskashenko for total control among the post-Soviet leaders in 12 former republics, human rights watchers say. The three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have moved quickly toward democracy.
Yet, Friday’s protest was described as one of the biggest in the Belarusian capital in recent months. "By using force, Lukashenko shows he’s terribly scared," said Vyacheslav Sivchik, an opposition leader who was later detained by police for taking part in the demonstration, AP reported
Kazakhstan, a vast, energy-rich nation where Western oil firms have invested billions of dollars, is seen by many analysts as the next target for a popular uprising, AP said. Its President Nursultan Nazarbayev, a former Communist boss who has been in power since 1989, will be reportedly seeking another seven-year term next year.
(With: Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, reports from Belarus, BosNewsLife Research).
