Amnesty International: Belarus must drop draconian draft laws banning "silent protests"
1 August 2011
AI Index: PRE01/377/2011
The Belarusian government’s proposal to ban almost any kind of
protest is yet another assault on the Belarusian people’s right to
freedom of expression and assembly, Amnesty International said today.
Following
a series of ‘silent protests’ the authorities published on Friday
proposed amendments to laws that would require government permission for
any gatherings carrying out “action or inaction intended as a form of
public expression of socio-political attitude or as a protest.”
Those found guilty of carrying out ‘inactive’ protests could be subject to 15 days administrative detention or a fine
“We
urge Belarusian Parliamentarians to drop these draconian amendments to a
law which violates international standards on freedom of expression and
assembly,” said John Dalhuisen, Deputy Programme Director of the Europe
and Central Asia Programme.
According to the Viasna Human
Rights Centre, the authorities have detained more than 2,000 people
involved in ‘silent protests’. Up to 80 per cent of those initially
detained were subsequently sentenced to five to 15 days administrative
detention or fined.
The ‘silent protesters’ have been gathering
in small and large groups throughout Belarus since June, to show
opposition to government policies. In some cases they have applauded or
strolled wordlessly. In one action they set their mobile phone alarms to
go off simultaneously.
The proposed changes to the ‘Law on Mass Action’ would also impose further restrictions on where demonstrations can be held.
Even without the amendments to the protest laws, it is almost impossible to hold any public gathering in the centre of Minsk.
The
authorities have become increasingly brutal in their treatment of
demonstrators. Plain-clothes KGB officials have detained ‘silent
protestors’ without identifying themselves and peaceful protestors have
been beaten.
On occasion law enforcement officers have used
teargas to break up the ‘silent protests’ and the government has blocked
online social media networks to obstruct organisers.
“These
amendments reveal the paranoia at the heart of the Lukashenka regime.
They would be laughable if the intention behind them were not so
sinister,” said John Dalhuisen. “They must be dropped and the right to
peaceful protest – in whatever form – must be respected fully.”