BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24.11.2005

Human Rights in Belarus

Many Polish newspapers had front pages with blacked out text on some of the articles, Wednesday. This was part of a campaign, launched by Amnesty International, to highlight what they claim are human rights abuses in Belarus.

Report by Slawek Szefs

Amnesty International Poland has launched a campaign to bring the issue of violation of media freedom in Belarus closer to the attention of Polish society. SS looks at the scope and possible effects of the action.

The scope is very impressive, as the action has been supported by two leading Polish newspapers with a nation-wide circulation, Gazeta Wyborcza and Rzeczpospolita, as well as influential Internet portals: onet.pl, gazeta.pl and the radio based rmf.fm website. Jacek Bialas, the campaign coordinator on behalf of Amnesty International Poland, says the important thing is to activate Polish society to stand up for their eastern neighbors.

Jacek Bialas adds, he is convinced a massive response will bring beneficial effects, because the authorities in Minsk cannot disregard such pressure.

Vera Stramkovska, a lawyer from Minsk and activist of the Belarusian Center For Human Rights, agrees such outside awareness and support is invaluable for her people.

The Polish campaign coincides with the visit to Poland by observers from the UN Human Rights Committee. Their talks in Warsaw are mainly to focus on human rights violations in Belarus.

Source:

http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=30003&j=2