More people are joining the strike in Belarus. Over the past few days, six employees of Belarusian Steel Works (Zhlobin) have joined the strike. Some of them are already fired.
Besides, six Belaruskali employees in Soligorsk have been striking too. One of them, Vyacheslav Borodich is a year and a half away from retiring after being in the workforce for 33 years.
Meanwhile, Naftan [Belarus' leading oil refinery] management has redeployed its employees to replace striking workers of rebellious Hrodna Azot.
Besides, six Belaruskali employees in Soligorsk have been striking too. One of them, Vyacheslav Borodich is a year and a half away from retiring after being in the workforce for 33 years.
Meanwhile, Naftan [Belarus' leading oil refinery] management has redeployed its employees to replace striking workers of rebellious Hrodna Azot.
The Coordination Council has published a leaked document that allegedly contains partial draft of government’s proposals to amend the Constitution of Belarus. According to the document published by the Coordination Council, with the new Constitution:
⦁ People are deprived of the right to strike as a way of expressing a political position.
⦁ People will lose everyone's right to free medical care.
⦁ People will lose the right to guaranteed annual paid leave.
⦁ Even more restrictions will be applied on political parties.
⦁ The priority of international treaties over the national law will be approved.
The document does not mention the presidential terms, the redistribution of presidential powers or the strengthening of the role of parliament. Recently the deadline for accepting proposals on amendments to the Constitution was extended.
⦁ People are deprived of the right to strike as a way of expressing a political position.
⦁ People will lose everyone's right to free medical care.
⦁ People will lose the right to guaranteed annual paid leave.
⦁ Even more restrictions will be applied on political parties.
⦁ The priority of international treaties over the national law will be approved.
The document does not mention the presidential terms, the redistribution of presidential powers or the strengthening of the role of parliament. Recently the deadline for accepting proposals on amendments to the Constitution was extended.
“THIS IS NOT TRUE! THIS IS NOT TRUE! THERE WAS NO SUCH THING!”
Yesterday, the head of the Upper house of Parliament Natalya Kachanava met with representatives of strike committees and initiative students at the country's main university, the Belarusian State University.
During the event, Natalya Kachanava said: “The way the votes were distributed [in the elections] is true,” and regarding the injuries during the detentions in mid-August: “This is not true! This is not true! There was no such thing. There was no such thing. Listen to me guys. Everything you read on the Internet ... Not a single fact of rape, uterine rupture, or anything else was recorded. Not a single one! If you do not believe me, I will invite the Minister of Health to come to you,” Kachanava said emotionally.
Yesterday, the head of the Upper house of Parliament Natalya Kachanava met with representatives of strike committees and initiative students at the country's main university, the Belarusian State University.
During the event, Natalya Kachanava said: “The way the votes were distributed [in the elections] is true,” and regarding the injuries during the detentions in mid-August: “This is not true! This is not true! There was no such thing. There was no such thing. Listen to me guys. Everything you read on the Internet ... Not a single fact of rape, uterine rupture, or anything else was recorded. Not a single one! If you do not believe me, I will invite the Minister of Health to come to you,” Kachanava said emotionally.
On 3 November, Vladimir Astapenko was relieved of his post as Ambassador of Belarus to Argentina and in addition to Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru in connection with committing an offense incompatible with being in the diplomatic service. Astapenko himself twice asked to fire him due to Lukashenka's lack of international legitimacy. On taking the leave the diplomat spread a white-red-white flag and wished the Belarusians to win over.
The morning in Salihorsk (a mining town where Belaruskalii hosts) began with a solidarity chain rally of medical staff. They wrote their demands on posters: to restore all expelled students, stop detentions, and give truthful information about the situation with coronavirus in Belarus.
APPEAL OF THE COORDINATION COUNCIL TO THE WORLD BANK COUNTRY MANAGER FOR BELARUS
To: The World Bank Country Manager for Belarus
Alex Kramer
СС: World Bank Civil Society Team
From: Presidium of the Coordination Council
Education Working Group of the Coordination Council
Economic Working Group of the Coordination Council
Belarusian National Platform of the EaP CCF
APPEAL
“Dear Sir Alex Kremer,
On June 23, 2020, the Republic of Belarus and the World Bank signed the agreement on the implementation of the project on modernization of higher education of the Republic of Belarus (project “Modernization of Higher Education of the Republic of Belarus – P167992”), with total funding of $ 109.01 million. On October 20, Alexander Lukashenko signed the Decree 367 “On Approval of the International Agreement and its Implementation”, which implies the implementation of the loan agreement for the implementation of this project.
The Coordinating Council and the Belarusian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum express their concern on the possibility of this project in the face of unprecedented repression against students and teachers at Belarusian universities by the authorities. Over the past two months, hundreds of university students and teachers have been subjected to violence, arrests, fines and various forms of intimidation for participating in peaceful protests. At least 126 students were expelled by university administrations for expressing their civil position.
Knowing the fundamental openness of the World Bank to dialogue and interaction with civil society, we propose in the coming days to enter into a dialogue with the Coordinating Council and the Belarusian National Platform of the EaP on the procedure and mechanisms for implementing the project on the modernization of higher education.
Sincerely,
Pavel Latushka
on behalf of the Presidium of the Coordination Council
Volha Kavalkova
on behalf of the Presidium of the Coordination Council
Andrey Egorov,
on behalf of the Education Working Group of the Coordination Council and the Belarusian National Platform
Ales Alekhnovich,
on behalf of the Economic Working Group of the Coordination Council”
To: The World Bank Country Manager for Belarus
Alex Kramer
СС: World Bank Civil Society Team
From: Presidium of the Coordination Council
Education Working Group of the Coordination Council
Economic Working Group of the Coordination Council
Belarusian National Platform of the EaP CCF
APPEAL
“Dear Sir Alex Kremer,
On June 23, 2020, the Republic of Belarus and the World Bank signed the agreement on the implementation of the project on modernization of higher education of the Republic of Belarus (project “Modernization of Higher Education of the Republic of Belarus – P167992”), with total funding of $ 109.01 million. On October 20, Alexander Lukashenko signed the Decree 367 “On Approval of the International Agreement and its Implementation”, which implies the implementation of the loan agreement for the implementation of this project.
The Coordinating Council and the Belarusian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum express their concern on the possibility of this project in the face of unprecedented repression against students and teachers at Belarusian universities by the authorities. Over the past two months, hundreds of university students and teachers have been subjected to violence, arrests, fines and various forms of intimidation for participating in peaceful protests. At least 126 students were expelled by university administrations for expressing their civil position.
Knowing the fundamental openness of the World Bank to dialogue and interaction with civil society, we propose in the coming days to enter into a dialogue with the Coordinating Council and the Belarusian National Platform of the EaP on the procedure and mechanisms for implementing the project on the modernization of higher education.
Sincerely,
Pavel Latushka
on behalf of the Presidium of the Coordination Council
Volha Kavalkova
on behalf of the Presidium of the Coordination Council
Andrey Egorov,
on behalf of the Education Working Group of the Coordination Council and the Belarusian National Platform
Ales Alekhnovich,
on behalf of the Economic Working Group of the Coordination Council”
“As protests in Belarus and now Thailand intensify, Hongkongers once again make use of social media platforms to demonstrate transnational solidarity. In addition to retweeting posts from Belarusian and Thai protesters and journalists, Hong Kong Twitter users have also shared protest tactics and translated information about those protests into Chinese so they could reach a broader audience.
In late September, a Hong Kong illustrator started an art campaign on Twitter that motivates Hongkongers to co-create a painted human chain to connect the two locales and movements. Under #HK2Belarus, there are original artwork and photo collages that demonstrate Hongkongers’ support for Belarusians as they challenge the Lukashenko regime.”
https://hongkongfp.com/2020/10/22/from-thailand-to-belarus-hong-kongs-spirit-of-resistance-is-nurturing-grassroots-protests-elsewhere/
In late September, a Hong Kong illustrator started an art campaign on Twitter that motivates Hongkongers to co-create a painted human chain to connect the two locales and movements. Under #HK2Belarus, there are original artwork and photo collages that demonstrate Hongkongers’ support for Belarusians as they challenge the Lukashenko regime.”
https://hongkongfp.com/2020/10/22/from-thailand-to-belarus-hong-kongs-spirit-of-resistance-is-nurturing-grassroots-protests-elsewhere/
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
From Thailand to Belarus, Hong Kong's spirit of resistance is nurturing grassroots protests elsewhere | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Since the passing of the National Security Law, the streets of Hong Kong have been eerily calm. Large-scale marches and guerrilla-style street protests are no longer a weekly sight. While some Western pundits and expats were quick to declare that Hong Kong…