Democracy Movement in Belarus Working to Overcome Obstacles

The steps that a growing opposition movement in Belarus is taking to bring democracy to their country are outlined in a September 23, Washington Post article entitled, “With Simple Tools, Activists in Belarus Build a Movement.”  The article describes how opposition parties are forced to use printing presses (deemed illegal by the government) and other more traditional means of communication  in order to build their political base.  They are unable to use technology like cell phones or internet, due to intense government monitoring. 

The opposition's plan is attempting to model their transition to democracy after the “Orange Revolution” in Ukraine . The opposition parties plan on throwing their support behind one presidential candidate, win the presidential election, and then dissolve the parliament and call for new, fair elections.  One big problem they face right now is coordinating and gathering the 150,000 necessary signatures needed to put a candidate on the ballot for the presidential election.  In addition to overcoming the logistical problems associated with inability to use technology, they have to deal with government harassment.  The Post reports, for example, that opposition leader Uladzimir Kishkurna's 22 year old son was arrested in July on charges of drug possession after the police broke into his parent's house when they were not home.  The Post quoted Kishkurna likening his son to a hostage, “Why do they use Anton as a victim? He's very young…They can do anything with him now."

The formidable obstacles to even gaining power would not be the end for the opposition in Belarus .  For example, John Hanna, in an AP article of September 22, covering former Polish president and leader of the Solidarity movement Lech Walesa's visit to Kansas, cited  Walesa's warning that the Belarusian opposition cannot separate ties from Russia too fast or they would risk the chance that Russia “‘will turn off the taps' on Belarus economically, cutting off its supply of natural gas, oil and electricity.”

Outside support for the democratic movement in Belarus as reported in The Baltic Times on September 23, was reflected at an international seminar on Belarus at which , Rasa Jukneviciene, a Lithuanian MP, called for the European Union to provide more support toward democratization than just 138,000 euros.

Sources:

"With Simple Tools, Activists in Belarus Build a Movement” by Philip Kennicott of the Washington Post, September 23

"MP Calls on EU to Stand Firm on Belarus ” The Baltic Times, September 23

"Walesa: Pro-democracy movements around Russia should be cautious ” by John Hanna, AP, September 22