BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
26/03/2008
Warsaw rally supports free Belarus
Several hundred Poles manifested solidarity with Belarusians at a rally in Warsaw which took place on March 25th marking what is regarded by opposition activists as the Belarusian Independence Day. The manifestation was organized by "Free Belarus Initiative".
Danuta Isler reports
March 25th marked the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the first independent Belarusian State. As expected, the date was observed by democratic opposition and its followers who held protests both in Minsk and in Warsaw.
Several hundred people carrying white-red-white flags and banners which read "Minsk-Warsaw - a joint issue" marched through the streets of Warsaw to support democratic aspirations of that nation. That very same day about seven thousand protested in Minsk with a hundred detained as a result.
Jan Rudzinski represents "Free Belarus Initiative" which organized Warsaw's demonstration:
'We want to make Belarus quite a loud topic nowadays. The aim of this demonstration was to show people in Warsaw that they have a lot of problems in Belarus and that Belarusians do something with these problems. We know that a lot of people care about Belarus. We have a lot of help from older people, from big companies which are not connected with Belarus and things like that but people working there really care about that country.'
Most of the people protesting in Poland's capital were students of Warsaw University. According to Anna Kowalska, fifth year psychology student, the march was organized to remind residents of Warsaw about the problems of Poland's eastern neighbor and to show Belarusians that they are not alone.
'The situation in Belarus is still bad and there is no freedom there. The problem prevails in spite of the fact that no media talk about it. That's why I came here today - to express my support to Belarus. I am convinced that such messages do reach them and they do not feel abandoned in their fight for freedom. I also think most of us came here today with a similar purpose wishing Belarusians all the best and supporting their cause.'
The demonstrators were joined by several Belarusians who have been living in Warsaw. One of them, Olek Mikata, brought a poster of an imprisoned opposition activist, Aleksander Kazulin, with him.
'To put it simply, there is no freedom there and you cannot express your opinions freely. While in Belarus I cannot simply join in a demonstration. If I did I would be sent to prison straight away and would be persecuted for participating in them.'
After walking through the main streets of Warsaw, the protesters arrived at the Parliament buildings, where they handed a letter about the situation in Belarus over to Andrzej Halicki, a Citizens Platform (PO) representative of the lower house (Sejm). Jan Rudzinski of "Free Belarus Initiative" again.
'We wanted the Polish Sejm to pay attention to the current situation in Belarus and to pass a resolution against am authoritative government of Belarus. Andrzej Halicki said that he will read our appeal at the first occasion. He can't say what will happen with our petition but he said that he will do anything he can to help implement it. '
In efforts to further publicize the current situation in Belarus an annual concert "Solidarity with Belarus" will take place in Warsaw on March 30th. Belarusian bands and artists as well as Polish musicians will participate in it, playing new arrangements of well known compositions in both Polish and Belorussian languages. Events commemorating Belarusian culture are also scheduled to take place in Krakow next week.
Source:
http://www.polskieradio.pl/zagranica/news/artykul78812_Warsaw_rally_supports_free_Belarus.html
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