Washington, DC (JBANC) --- Supporters of democracy in Belarus were out on January 16 in locations across Europe and North America giving freedom in that country a fighting chance.
In Washington DC, the Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) supported a demonstration of about 50 protesters in front of the Belarusan embassy, demanding that missing persons and political prisoners be accounted for by that government. The action was also intended to draw more attention to the increasingly authoritarian regime of President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who is seeking what is largely agreed to be an illegal re-election bid on March 19.
Some activists came from as far as New York for the protest. Students who helped in organizing the action in Washington are associated with the civic and democracy-building organizations Vzglyad and Students for Global Democracy.
In Minsk, the capital of Belarus, hundreds of demonstrators held a "jeans flash mob" the same day, in solidarity for victims of the regime since September 16, 1999. Ribbons of denim were placed strategically throughout Minsk and other Belarusan centers. Lighted candles in windows have also marked silent observation of the cause in Belarus.
More information about these and related events are available at the following websites:
http://www.solidarity16.org/en... (Zubr)
http://www.charter97.org/eng/n... (Charter 97)
http://www.belreview.cz/ (Belarusian Review)
The next demonstrations are being planned for Thursday, February 16.
JBANC represents the Estonian American National Council, Inc., the American Latvian Association, Inc. and the Lithuanian American Council, Inc.
Please also see the following link, with photos:
http://www.charter97.org/eng/n... Washington: Picket At Embassy, Collection of Signatures For Milinkevich (Updated)
15:30, 17/01/2006
On January 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of Belarusian Embassy in Washington an action of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners, disappeared oppositionists, their families, independent journalists, with all who struggle for freedom and democracy in Belarus, was held. Participants came to the Belarusian diplomatic mission with white-red-white flags and slogans. Students from the organization “Students For Global Democracy” (
www.sfgd.org), representatives of public initiative “Vzgliad”, civil initiative “We Remember”, students from Belarus, representatives of NED and Joint Baltic-American Committee, Belarusians living in Washington, Trenton and New York.
Citizens of Belarus could put signatures in support of the democratic candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Milinkevich. The collection of signatures was organized by a well-known bard Syarhei Sokalau-Vojush. Songs sang by him provoked interest of persons walking by and participants of the action. Passers-by also asked why a picket was organized there, why the Embassy has a different flag, what is going on in Belarus. Several hundreds of leaflets were distributed.
It was written at one of the streamers: “Honk in support of democracy in Belarus”, that is why picketers were all the time greeted by beeping of the cars passing by. The organizers are planning to continue the actions of Solidarity on the 16th day of every month.
