Belarus Rounds up Silent Protesters
Belarusian authorities must immediately and
unconditionally release anyone being held merely for taking part in peaceful
“silent” protests, Amnesty International said today after hundreds were
arrested around the country yesterday.
In the capital Minsk
and other cities, police arrested more than 250 people yesterday after several
thousand gathered without speaking and clapped their hands to express
disapproval at President Alexander Lukashenka’s economic policies. Most were
later released, but some face short administrative sentences or fines on
charges of “minor hooliganism.”
In recent weeks, police have made mass arrests at several such protests, which
have been organized via social media networks.
“The Belarusian authorities must respect the freedom of assembly of those
wishing to protest peacefully. Currently, applications to organize
demonstrations are routinely denied, while those that do proceed are rapidly,
and sometimes violently, dispersed,” said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s
Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia.
“The Belarusian authorities must stop using violence and administrative
sentences to punish demonstrators and discourage future protest.”
The Belarusian Minister of Justice told a meeting of factory workers on 28 June
that, "If a citizen wants to just stand on a square or a street and is not
disturbing public order then there is no crime being committed … If it is a big
group … then you have to think about the freedom of others who are returning
from work … In that case police officers can ask people to stand or clap in
another place."
In what appears to be an attempt to frustrate yesterday’s planned protest in Minsk, city authorities
organized an open-air concert in the city’s main square at the same time.
News agencies have uploaded videos to YouTube showing plain-clothes police
moving in on the protesters near the square and violently removing some of them
into unmarked buses.
According to Viasna Human Rights
Centre, more than 250 people were arrested throughout the country after
yesterday’s protests, 160 of whom were in Minsk.
Most have been released, but 30 have so far been charged with minor
hooliganism, which entails short administrative sentences of 10 - 15 days or a
fine.
There are also reports that police attacked journalists.
More than 460 people were detained after an earlier protest on 22 June. In Minsk, police detained
220 protesters, as well as several journalists, foreign nationals and a Swedish
diplomat.
Most of the detainees were eventually released without charges. Some were
reportedly beaten and a number charged with “disorderly conduct”.
“Belarusian authorities must launch a prompt, independent investigation into
allegations that protesters were beaten. It is unacceptable for police to use
excessive force against peaceful demonstrators,” said John Dalhuisen.
30 June 2011