Creation of Libereco's Patronage Committee
Marek Migalski, Member of the European Parliament, Marieluise Beck, Member of the German Bundestag, and Hans-Georg Wieck, former Head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, are representing the newly created Patronage Committee of Libereco.
Dr. Marek Migalski, Member of the European Parliament:
"As a member of the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee as well as of the Delegation for relations with Belarus I am deeply engaged in the human rights issue especially concerning post-communist area. In my work for the benefit of human rights I frequently cooperate with Libereco - Partnership for Human Rights. I highly value Libereco and admire its members for their commitment to fight against human rights abuses all over the world as well as for their willingness to stand up against violations of civil liberties. I also recently have joined Libereco’s Godparenthood campaign for political prisoners in Belarus and I became a godparent to a political prisoner Dzmitry Bandarenka. I do accept, with a great honor, the proposal to be a member of the Libereco Patronage Committee. In this way I would like to demonstrate my support for Libereco and its activity in the field of human rights. I truly hope that together we can make a difference."
Marieluise Beck, Member of the German Bundestag:
"Since the 19th December 2010 the situation in Belarus has become very dramatic. People, partly very young, have been taken away into jails and camps of the Lukashenko Regime. There they are being humiliated and tortured. They need our help and this is why it is important that the support for the prisoners goes beyond just politics, but includes civil society groups too. Libereco helps to make sure that the prisoners won’t be forgotten. Therefore I support the initiative by Libereco for the political prisoners in Belarus."
Dr. Hans-Georg Wieck, Head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus 1997-2001:
"In the face of serious economical and financial difficulties and growing political unrest in the country, the sole way of the Lukashenka-Regime to hold on to their power, is through extensive use of violence and criminal prosecution. Peaceful protest and demonstrations are being cracked down by the KGB and special militia. Today, there is a very strong social and humanitarian solidarity coming from the citizens of Belarus, for the victims of persecution through the Lukashenka-Regime and its pursuers. Libereco is calling for solidarity with the people in Belarus who are fighting the pressure by the Lukashenka-Regime. Several public figures have joined the Godparenthood campaign for families in Belarus, who are being persecuted and whose livelihoods are endangered. A Patronage Committee for this campaign would enable better coordination in a bigger political and humanitarian framework. I gladly join the Patronage Committee in order to assist the struggle for freedom in this endangered boarder country of the European Union."
