THE CAMPAIGN “OUR SOLIDARITY” – FOR THE VICTIMS OF “EXTERMINATION” OF THE THIRD SECTOR

THE CAMPAIGN “OUR SOLIDARITY” – FOR THE VICTIMS OF “EXTERMINATION” OF THE THIRD SECTOR

On May, 3 there started the campaign “Our Solidarity”, which was initiated by public organizations-members of the Assembly of Belarusian Pro-democratic NGOs. The aim of the campaign is to demonstrate solidarity with organizations, which are under the threat of extermination: Horadnia regional public association “Ratuŝa”, public association “Agency for Regional Development “Varuta” (Baranavičy), public association “Youth Christian-Social Union” (national level organization). On the same day it became known that Gomel regional public association “Civil Initiatives” is under the threat of extermination. It is said in the statement “About the results of the verification of Homel regional public association “Civil Initiatives”. The strategic aim of the campaign is to prevent the facts of violent liquidation of other public organizations. In this connection the initiative group of the campaign “Our Solidarity” has planned to hold public hearings.

The collective appeal on behalf of the leaders of the biggest public associations (public associations “Independent Society for Legal Research”, “Belarusian Organisation of Working Women”, “Francysk Skaryna Belarusian Language Society”, “Human Rights Center”, “Belarusian Association of Journalists”, “Legal Assistance to Population”, “Lev Sapieha Foundation”, Mahilou public association “Circle of Friends”, National Human Rights Defense Association “Belarusian Helsinki Committee”, City public association “Civic Society Center”, public associations “Dyiaryush”, Human Rights Defence Center “Viasna”, Republican Public Association “Law Initiative”) to the Minister of Justice Mr. Halavanau has become the start of the campaign “Our Solidarity”. The appeal contains a proposal for the representatives of the Minister of Justice to participate in public hearings, which are planned to be held on May, 26 in frames of the civil campaign “Our Solidarity”. The hearings will be dedicated to the issues of non-registration and liquidation of public organizations, numerous violations of the legislative system with regard to public associations on behalf of the registration organs. It is planned to discuss suggestions of public organizations about the changes in the legislation of the Republic of Belarus and its correspondence to the Constitution and international liabilities of the country.

The campaign “Our Solidarity” is conducted by the Assembly of Belarusian Pro-democratic NGOs.

CHRONICLE OF EXTERMINATION

On May, 3 the “Civil Initiatives” got a document, which enumerates the following violations, which were revealed in the course of verification of statute activities of Homel regional public association:
 Holding of meetings of the Board of 10.01.2003 (minutes №5) and of 16.02.2003 (minutes №6) , at which there was carried out admittance to the members of the association and simultaneous promotion of the observers to the election committees during elections of the deputies to the local Councils of deputies,
 Homel regional public association “Civil Initiatives” uses the letter form, which was confirmed at the meeting of the Board on 25.04.2002 (minutes №39) and which does not correspond to the requirements of the standard “Unified systems of documentation of the Republic of Belarus”,
 Carrying out of the mass agitation work among the population,
 Distortion of its name (it is not explained in which way),
 Purposeless use of the equipment, received as free assistance.

Referring to these violations, representatives of the Department of Justice of Homel regional executive committee decided, that “regional public association “Civil Initiatives” is to be liquidated in juridical procedure”. The document was signed by the main expert of the Department of Justice of Homel regional executive committee Mrs.Stryzhneva and the consultant of the Department Mrs.Marozava.

The Head of “Civil Initiatives” Viktar Karnienka thinks that accusations are rather comic and are not supported by any facts. If to take into consideration that “experts” and “consultants” not only in the Department of Justice of Homel regional executive committee but also in other regions of the country demonstrate such “official diligence” so it becomes clear that it is a political order.

The suit about the liquidation of Harodnia (Grodno) regional public association “Ratuŝa” from the Department of Justice of Harodnia regional executive committee was sent to the court on April, 21 (the organization was accused of carrying out polygraph and publishing activities without any permission, which does not correspond to reality). On the same day the Ministry of Justice lodged the same suit about the liquidation of the public association “Youth Christian-Social Union” (the Ministry of Justice considered the materials, received after the verification of the congress of the organization, which took place in autumn 2002 as a basis for its liquidation). And on April, 11 there was instituted a legal case for the liquidation of the public association “Agency for Regional Development “Varuta” (Baranavičy).
On April, 2 there took place the first sitting in the court. The organization is accused of the fact that in its documentation it used illegal formulation “public organization” instead of “public association”. The case of “Varuta” is postponed for a not stated period of time as required by the representatives of the organization. The public association “Agency for Regional Development “Varuta” required to check the name of the organization, which was registered in the General state register of juridical persons of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus.

Representatives of the public initiative “Our Solidarity” consider these activities on behalf of authorities as extermination of the third sector of Belarus.

We call for your co-operation and ask you to demonstrate solidarity with Belarusian NGOs in this situation. We ask you to direct the protest to the following institutions.

Aliaksandr Lukashenkа
President of the Republic of Belarus
Republic of Belarus
220020 Minsk
vul. Karla Marxа, 38
fax:+375-17-260610
fax: +375-17-235825
e-mail: contact@president.gov.by

Viktar Halavanau
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
vul. Kalektarnaja, 10
220004 Miensk, Belarus
fax: +375-17-208694

Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus
vul. Lenina, 28
220681 Miensk
Belarus
fax: +375-17-271225

Court of Harodnia region (voblaŝĉ)
vul. Karbyŝava, 20
230023 Horadnia
Belarus
fax: +375-152-722312

Court of the voblaŝĉ of Bieraŝce
vul. Savieckich pamiežnukaŭ, 41
224030 Bierašcie
Belarus
fax: +375-162-204617

Court of the voblaŝĉ of Homel
vul. Soveckaia, 20
246000 Homel
Belarus
fax: +375-232-538956

Department of Justice (Bieraŝce voblaŝĉ)
vul. Lenina, 11
224006 Bieraŝce
Belarus
fax: +375-162-262539

Department of Justice (Horadnia voblaŝĉ)
vul. Puŝkina, 47
230003 Horadnia
Belarus
fax: +375-152-312085

Department of Justice (Homel voblaŝĉ)
pr. Lenina, 2
246050 Homel
Belarus
fax: +375-232-537361

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