Sorry, but I just had to laugh about this OSCE seminar organised in Belarus...
Maybe I am cynical, but fostering online government-to-citizen (G2C) communication in an authoritarian state (or a dictatorship as some call it) does not seem priority N° 1 for me.
Showing posts with label Belarus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belarus. Show all posts
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Opposition in Belarus, Russia, and Moldova
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to representatives of the Russian, Belarussion, and Moldovan opposition (Yabloko, PFP, and AMN).
Apparently, they are all living in countries where civil liberties are not respected (2008 Freedom House reports on Russia and on Belarus) or not fully respected (FH 2008 on Moldova) and where democratic opposition is, well, not liked too much.
The Russian and Belarussian parties are not represented in the respective parliaments and both face suppressive policies from the state: Several leaders of Yabloko have been arrested in recent times, and PFP has tried to be officially registered for several years now but has been rejected three times on "formal grounds"...
AMN is at least represented in the Moldovan parliament, where it is the largest opposition group. Nevertheless, especially limited access to national media and a lack of an impartial press limits their possibility to get their message(s) spread as it is the case in more democratic countries. Early next year (around March or April), there will be elections in Moldova, and it has to be seen how far the democratic opposition will have a word to say.
In this blog I am intensively following the 2009 European Parliament elections, and I am complaining about a number of shortcomings and problems the EU is facing these days. But talking to those men and women coming from countries where they would be more than glad to have the problems we are having in the European Union was a reminder on what is more and what is less important in Europe today:
It is of utmost importance not to forget those women and men who are fighting for democracy in countries where pluralist democracy is more a dream than a reality, and to treasure the freedom and liberty we are enjoying in our democracies (as much shortcomings they may have)!
Apparently, they are all living in countries where civil liberties are not respected (2008 Freedom House reports on Russia and on Belarus) or not fully respected (FH 2008 on Moldova) and where democratic opposition is, well, not liked too much.
The Russian and Belarussian parties are not represented in the respective parliaments and both face suppressive policies from the state: Several leaders of Yabloko have been arrested in recent times, and PFP has tried to be officially registered for several years now but has been rejected three times on "formal grounds"...
AMN is at least represented in the Moldovan parliament, where it is the largest opposition group. Nevertheless, especially limited access to national media and a lack of an impartial press limits their possibility to get their message(s) spread as it is the case in more democratic countries. Early next year (around March or April), there will be elections in Moldova, and it has to be seen how far the democratic opposition will have a word to say.
In this blog I am intensively following the 2009 European Parliament elections, and I am complaining about a number of shortcomings and problems the EU is facing these days. But talking to those men and women coming from countries where they would be more than glad to have the problems we are having in the European Union was a reminder on what is more and what is less important in Europe today:
It is of utmost importance not to forget those women and men who are fighting for democracy in countries where pluralist democracy is more a dream than a reality, and to treasure the freedom and liberty we are enjoying in our democracies (as much shortcomings they may have)!
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Welcome, dictator Lukashenko!
It seems to be enough to release a few prisioners for the European Union to welcome again the last dictator on the continent.
The travel ban on Belarussian dictator Lukashenko is only lifted until April 2009 when it will expire if the Council does not find a consensus on keeping doors open. However, it is a lift of restrictions, temporary or not.
What kind of decision is this?
Do they want to invite him to come to the European Union, see its pleasures, its beauties, its nice little corners, and then he returns to Belarus and changes his mind and his country - just because he is afraid of losing his freedoms after a few month? Make him "addicted" to wealth, wisdom, and wine?
Or do we say: Hey, for every political prisoner you free we offer you one more month of freedom? For slightly democratic elections (and not those with 100% Lukashenko) we would even offer one or two years.
What kind of message is this? Especially after the last elections?!
To be honest, I do not really get it. But maybe our leaders are just bored with themselves because they had to see each other to frequently these days because of the global crisis. They want a fresh new face, someone who is used to take decisions on his own and does not have to wait for lengthy democratic process. Maybe our leaders want to learn, to be even quicker in future crises.
So let's say together: Welcome, Mr. Lukashenko, to our beautiful European Union! Have fun! Enjoy life - and tell about it to your oppressed people!
The travel ban on Belarussian dictator Lukashenko is only lifted until April 2009 when it will expire if the Council does not find a consensus on keeping doors open. However, it is a lift of restrictions, temporary or not.
What kind of decision is this?
Do they want to invite him to come to the European Union, see its pleasures, its beauties, its nice little corners, and then he returns to Belarus and changes his mind and his country - just because he is afraid of losing his freedoms after a few month? Make him "addicted" to wealth, wisdom, and wine?
Or do we say: Hey, for every political prisoner you free we offer you one more month of freedom? For slightly democratic elections (and not those with 100% Lukashenko) we would even offer one or two years.
What kind of message is this? Especially after the last elections?!
To be honest, I do not really get it. But maybe our leaders are just bored with themselves because they had to see each other to frequently these days because of the global crisis. They want a fresh new face, someone who is used to take decisions on his own and does not have to wait for lengthy democratic process. Maybe our leaders want to learn, to be even quicker in future crises.
So let's say together: Welcome, Mr. Lukashenko, to our beautiful European Union! Have fun! Enjoy life - and tell about it to your oppressed people!
Monday, 29 September 2008
After the Belarus elections: 100% Lukashenko (updated)
Not surprisingly, neither for me nor for others, the elections in Belarus did not bring about any surprising results - the future parliament will be 100% Lukashenko.
European news sources report that non of the opposition parties' candidates made it into the parliament. And the opposition complains that this have not been "elections".
Taking this into acount, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, the head of the Belarussian Central Electoral Commission, made this cynical statement:
Update:
The preliminary statement by the OSCE/ODIHR observers leaves no doubt about the lack of democracy displayed in yesterday's vote:
If you want to read the full OSCE statement, you can do it here.
Read also:
- Douglas' article
- Dániel's article
European news sources report that non of the opposition parties' candidates made it into the parliament. And the opposition complains that this have not been "elections".
Taking this into acount, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, the head of the Belarussian Central Electoral Commission, made this cynical statement:
"All elections in Belarus were held democratically, but the only thing is that election processes are viewed in a different way"
Update:
The preliminary statement by the OSCE/ODIHR observers leaves no doubt about the lack of democracy displayed in yesterday's vote:
"Despite some minor improvements, the 28 September parliamentary elections in Belarus ultimately fell short of OSCE commitments for democratic elections"So, even if if Mrs. Yarmoshyna perceives that democracy means something else in Belarus, this something else falls short of international standards and the commitments made by Belarus itself. Not surprising, but now officially put on paper by the election observers.
If you want to read the full OSCE statement, you can do it here.
Read also:
- Douglas' article
- Dániel's article
Friday, 26 September 2008
Belarus: "Elections" on Sunday
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read now the follow-up on the elections in Belarus after the vote.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is almost no need to say that the parliamentary elections in Belarus this Sunday, 28 September, will not be free and fair.
But there is still quite something to tell about these elections:
In an excellent and comprehensive article on Transitions Online, Rodger Potocki from the US-American National Endowment for Democracy (NED) points out that although there will be quite some cosmetic ameliorations in the electoral process, the overall situation and the direction of the country have not changed. He concludes:
And almost nobody will notice... Shhh!
Read now the follow-up on the elections in Belarus after the vote.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is almost no need to say that the parliamentary elections in Belarus this Sunday, 28 September, will not be free and fair.
But there is still quite something to tell about these elections:
In an excellent and comprehensive article on Transitions Online, Rodger Potocki from the US-American National Endowment for Democracy (NED) points out that although there will be quite some cosmetic ameliorations in the electoral process, the overall situation and the direction of the country have not changed. He concludes:
During Soviet times, Belarus was known as “the Quiet Republic.” The regime is doing all it can to make this a “quiet election,” palatable to the West. But “the sounds of silence” emanating from Minsk ensure that this will not be a free and fair election. It is not business as usual in Belarus this fall, but the same old scam is still in the works.There is not much to doubt about these final words of his article titled "Shhh! Elections in Progress". The outcome of the elections will not be surprising, and Belarus will remain on the track of being the last dictatorship on the European continent.
And almost nobody will notice... Shhh!
Monday, 8 September 2008
The Thaw II
Global warming leads to melting glaciers. The heat of the Georgian conflict has provided a window of opportunity for a political thaw - not as big as The Thaw in the late 1980s, but still remarkable.
The first positive development is the meeting of the Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül at the sidelines of the World Cup qualification match between both countries. It was the first official meeting between politicians of the countries for decades.
This is a marvellous move by both politicians, and I commend them for their remarks (quoted in a German newspaper) that as politicians they have the responsibility not to pass problems to the next generation but to try to solve them now (which might bring us back to global warming).
The football game between Armenia and Turkey was won by Turkey. Nevertheless, further meetings at high level are planned. The French EU Council President Sarkozy welcomed the step by both countries.
The second positive development we can observe is a thaw in EU-Belarussian relations. The EU Commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has mentioned the possibility of a high-level meeting between the EU Troika (Presidency, Commission, Solana) and Belarussian officials. This move is the result of the release of three political prisioners by the authorities. This happened while Russia and Georgia were fighting in the Caucasus.
These are still small steps, but its good to see that tensions between European countries are not only raising but that even in times of conflict it is possible to make some progress in the strive for a more peaceful contintent.
I am not having illusions, but I still prefer little moves in the right direction to those massive stupidities Russia and Georgia have made in the last month.
The first positive development is the meeting of the Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül at the sidelines of the World Cup qualification match between both countries. It was the first official meeting between politicians of the countries for decades.
This is a marvellous move by both politicians, and I commend them for their remarks (quoted in a German newspaper) that as politicians they have the responsibility not to pass problems to the next generation but to try to solve them now (which might bring us back to global warming).
The football game between Armenia and Turkey was won by Turkey. Nevertheless, further meetings at high level are planned. The French EU Council President Sarkozy welcomed the step by both countries.
The second positive development we can observe is a thaw in EU-Belarussian relations. The EU Commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has mentioned the possibility of a high-level meeting between the EU Troika (Presidency, Commission, Solana) and Belarussian officials. This move is the result of the release of three political prisioners by the authorities. This happened while Russia and Georgia were fighting in the Caucasus.
These are still small steps, but its good to see that tensions between European countries are not only raising but that even in times of conflict it is possible to make some progress in the strive for a more peaceful contintent.
I am not having illusions, but I still prefer little moves in the right direction to those massive stupidities Russia and Georgia have made in the last month.
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Bomb blasts in Belarus
I know I am quite late but it took me three days to read that an explosion in Minsk/Belarus on Thursday (during the national independence day celebrations) hurt 50 people.
Belarus, the last complete dictatorship on the European continent, has not made itself heard through good news in the last decade and this explosion is a tragic confirmation of this rule.
In fact, as Die Presse remarks in an article, this is not only tragic for those injured by the blast but also for the desperate Belarussian opposition. Even though there are no blames for a political motivation of the attack, it will most probably be used to take a much tougher stand on regime critiques - especially to ensure that the upcoming presidential elections in September will not be "disturbed"...
Lukashenko, the dictatorial president, who already is the strong man of the country can now even better show how strong he really is.
Belarus, the last complete dictatorship on the European continent, has not made itself heard through good news in the last decade and this explosion is a tragic confirmation of this rule.
In fact, as Die Presse remarks in an article, this is not only tragic for those injured by the blast but also for the desperate Belarussian opposition. Even though there are no blames for a political motivation of the attack, it will most probably be used to take a much tougher stand on regime critiques - especially to ensure that the upcoming presidential elections in September will not be "disturbed"...
Lukashenko, the dictatorial president, who already is the strong man of the country can now even better show how strong he really is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
