BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
28/02/2011
Belarus Should Learn Lessons from Libya
As Muammar Gadaffi deploys aviation and artillery to protect his rule from Lybian citizens, Alexander Lukashenka vowed to use Belarus army to protect his political regime. Although not everything said by Mr Lukashenka should be taken seriously, this statement should not be left unnoticed by the international community.
It requires immediate response and condemnation, particularly in the light of the UN’s allegations that Belarus recently defied an arms embargo by delivering attack helicopters to the president of Ivory Coast who is clinging to the presidency despite losing an election.
Last Saturday, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Libya holding that the use of army against civilian protesters may amount to crimes against humanity. The Security Council urged to refer the situation in Libya to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. However, the resolution was short of any concrete measures, such as a a no-fly zone, which could stop violence in Libya.
There are certain lessons that both supporters of Belarus democracy and Belarus authorities should from Libya. Muammar Gadaffi and his family blamed foreign forces and foreign media such as AlJazeera for the popular uprising in Libya. Belarus authorities also blamed Poland and Germany as well as foreign media for organizing protests against rigged presidential elections. Both Libyan and Belarusian regimes are trying to deal with the powerful role of media in political transition.
Over the first few days of the uprising in Lybia it was nearly impossible to understand what was going on inside the country. Independent journalists were for many years prevented from working in Libya and the use of Internet was severely restricted. Similarly, the analysis of human rights violations in Belarus shows that over the last years Belarus authorities has been putting most of their repressive efforts on journalists. Belarus authorities promised even more restrictions after the December presidential elections.
This suggests that helping media should be a priority for those who want to support democracy in Belarus. Poland-based Belsat which broadcasts in Belarusian is the first important step in this direction. It is unfortunate, however, that after three years of its existence it is still not possible to watch Belsat live on Internet. It appears that because of limited popularly of satellite dishes in Belarus, improving internet broadcasting should be a priority.
Christian Science Monitor suggested last week that Gadaffi should go to Belarus, which is becoming a safe heaven place for all sorts of dictators. Indeed, after Kurmanbek Bakiev was toppled in Kyrgyzstan, he was given refuge in Belarus. It is alleged that arrangements were underway to give refuge in Belarus to Slobodan Miloshevich and the infamous sons of Saddam Hussein were given Belarusian passports.
The article in Christian Science Monitor suggested that Mr Gadaffi should also go to Belarus. It may sound like an attractive idea to an outsider but Belarusians has suffered enough even with its own ruler. Turning a country into a dumping ground for dictators will not do the country any good. As the UN Security Council suggested, Gadaffi should be tried for crimes against humanity, not given refuge in Belarus.
It is important that Belarus army and security services also learn the Libyan lessons. Using arms against civilian population makes the regime change irreversible. And those who cross this line will have no place to hide.
YK
Source:
http://belarusdigest.com/2011/02/28/belarus-should-learn-lessons-from-libya/
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