BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/05/2008

Human Rights Concerns Prompt Continued U.S. Sanctions on Belarus

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Belarusian youth activists meet civil society groups through visitor program

Washington -- U.S. officials assured a group of visiting Belarusian youth activists that the government of President Alexander Lukashenko will not be able to apply diplomatic pressure on the United States to force it to abandon economic sanctions that were put in place to encourage human rights reforms in Belarus.

"You need to be very confident that : we will not be blackmailed to have an embassy in Belarus," said David Merkel, deputy assistant secretary of state for European affairs. His May 1 remarks came one day after Belarus expelled 10 U.S. diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Minsk. Many media observers linked the expulsions to the U.S. sanctions against the Lukashenko government.

"Our sanctions policy, which is tied to the need for Belarus to improve its democracy situation, its human rights situation and freeing political prisoners, is on one track," Merkel said. "Whatever pressure they decide to put on our embassy, we will not be put in a position of relieving sanctions so our diplomats and our embassy can have a more comfortable existence."

Aliaksandr, a union organizer in Minsk, told Merkel at a State Department meeting that it is "undoubtedly evident" the sanctions have made Lukashenko "very uncomfortable."

"That's why he has gone to these drastic steps on the diplomatic front," Aliaksandr said. Lukashenko understands only "blunt force," and "this type of approach is definitely working."

Iryna, who coordinates a Belarusian youth human rights center, praised the U.S. sanctions, saying it is "very difficult to apply pressure or influence" on the regime from inside the country. However, she expressed her fear that the reluctance of European countries to follow similar measures is "undermining" the overall effect of the U.S. actions.

Merkel said the sanctions specifically are targeted to affect Belarusian leaders rather than the public. "These are strong sanctions and we want to do our best to make sure that they hurt or affect the leadership of Belarus," he said, adding that the United States is able to adjust them to reflect either improvements or deteriorations in human rights.

He said he believes European countries share the same goal of greater freedom for Belarus and that it is important not only for U.S. officials but also Belarusian activists to "encourage the Europeans that : these sanctions have an effect and should be supported." He also said American political leaders are united in support of human rights in Belarus and the same policy will be followed regardless of who wins the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

BELARUSIAN GOVERNMENT GOES ON OFFENSIVE AGAINST ACTIVISTS

The Belarusian activists are participating in a State Department international visitors program where they will meet counterparts in U.S. civil society, grassroots and community organizations and share tools and techniques for recruiting, organizing and engaging young people to increase participation and democracy building. In addition to Washington, they will visit New York City, New York state capital Albany, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Young people are energetic and especially interested in democracy because they want to be free citizens, Iryna said, and "the government strikes young people first."

One visiting activist said the Belarusian government recently has been going more on the offensive against pro-democracy activists, "trying to nip in the bud any type of grassroots initiatives." Along with targeting youth movements, Belarus' parliament recently passed legislation designed to "crush the budding class of private entrepreneurs."

On January 10, there was a mass rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk that was met by specially trained riot police. The activist related seeing a video shown of the protesters and seeing "the [police] general telling them that they have three minutes to disburse, and you see the timer going : and barely after one minute passed, the riot police started forcefully disbursing the crowd."

The regime has the power to search anyone, and journalists are especially targeted. A slander accusation made even years ago can serve as a pretext for police to confiscate computer equipment and other work materials from the home. The activists also said the government has been known to create civil cases against political opponents to prevent them from leaving the country.

Outside Minsk, the dangers of being an activist are even greater. Regional governments' policies are even more restrictive, and young people who are in the work force and have more to lose than university students tend to be more cautious. With fewer activists to watch and fewer media outlets to spread information, the police are better able to control the provinces. "It's just easier to fall through the cracks in Minsk," said one activist.

Source:

http://www.america.gov/st/democracy-english/2008/May/20080502184108esnamfuak0.5220911.html

Google