Belarusian Americans protest Lukashenka's rights violations

by Alexander Silwanowicz

WASHINGTON - A group of about 50 Belarusian Americans assembled on June 5 in front of the Belarusian Embassy on New Hampshire Avenue to voice their concern about serious violations of human rights in Belarus, the growing dictatorial rule of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and possible re-absorption of Belarus into the Russian empire.

The demonstrators were from various Belarusian-American groups that have joined the Coalition in Defense of Democracy and Human Rights in Belarus and came from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

They were also joined by about a dozen members of the AFL-CIO who wanted to show solidarity with the Belarusian trade unions unlawfully banned by President Lukashenka.

The Coalition in Defense of Democracy and Human Rights in Belarus consists of 13 Belarusian American and two Belarusian Canadian organizations. The coalition was formed in October 1995 and was responsible for staging a massive demonstration on October 22, 1995, at the United Nations in New York City during Mr. Lukashenka's visit for the U.N.'s 50th anniversary celebration.

The Washington demonstration began at about noon on a quiet tree-lined street. The weather was warm and sunny. Several patrol cars were parked on the street nearby with two Secret Service security guards standing in front of the gate to the embassy. Most of the demonstrators were carrying American and Belarusian national white-red-white flags (the latter outlawed by President Lukashenka) and anti-Lukashenka placards. The demonstrators walked in a single file shouting slogans: "Down with dictatorship," "Belarus - yes, Lukashenka - no," "Down with Lukashism," "Free our Ukrainian friends," "Freedom for Belarus," "Respect human rights," "Trade unions - yes, Lukashenka - no," "Freedom of the press - yes, censorship - no," etc. Leaflets were handed out to passers-by.

The shouting of slogans and waving of placards and flags went on for about one and a half hours, after which the demonstrators assembled across the street and listened to several speakers. One of the speakers was Alyaksey Khadyka, son of the Belarusian Popular Front's (BPF) deputy chairman, Yuriy Khadyka, who until recently had been on hunger strike in a Miensk prison for 27 days. He read a letter from his father, thanking all the people and governments that had expressed outrage over the Belarusian government's unlawful imprisonment of rights activists.

Yuriy Khadyka and BPF Secretary Vyachaslau Sivchyk were arrested along with scores of others on April 27 after the largest mass demonstration in Miensk on April 26, marking the 10th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. Among the arrested were 17 Ukrainians, seven of whom are still being held in jail.

Dr. Vitaut Kipel, Dr. Jan Zaprudnik and Alex Silwanowicz spoke to the rally participants, providing the latest information on developments in Belarus.

After an inquiry by the security guards with the Embassy, a delegation consisting of Mr. Silwanowicz, Dr. Zaprudnik and Russell Zavistovich was received by Second Secretary Alexander Asrtouski on behalf of Ambassador Serguei Martynov. The delegation explained the reasons for the protest and presented a letter to the ambassador, asking him to convey a statement of grievances to President Lukashenka, his government and the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus. The meeting lasted for about five minutes and was businesslike.

At around 2 p.m. the demonstrators boarded a bus and cars and drove to the Russian Embassy on Wisconsin Avenue. Only 15 persons at a time were allowed to march in front of the Embassy's gate. The rest had to wait their turn on the other side of the street. There they waved flags and placards and chanted slogans:

"Down with Russian imperialism," "Freedom for Belarus," "Hands off Belarus," "Yeltsin take Lukashenka - please," "No big brother," "Long live Belarus," etc.

An hour into the demonstration, the same delegation informed the security officer that they wanted to deliver a letter to Russian Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov. About 15 minutes later, a young man appeared at the gate with a U.S. security officer and began introducing himself, when another man ran out of the guardhouse waving and shouting, "Nichevo nye byeri! Nyet! Nyet!" ("Don't accept anything! No! No!")

The demonstration lasted for about one hour and 45 minutes. The letter to Ambas-sador Vorontsov had to be sent by registered mail, but the statement was made.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 30, 1996, No. 26, Vol. LXIV

| Home Page |