Belarusian authorities have launched a severe crackdown on journalists in the time when thousands of anti-government protests are storming in the streets of Belarus demanding the resignation of the long-time authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Protests broke out across the country after the President Lukashenko returned to power earlier in August. He has served as president for over 26 years. As per the country’s election commission, Lukashenko secured 80% of the vote in poll on Aug 9. A day later, the streets of Belarus were overrun by thousands of demonstrators who accused Lukashenko of committing fraud by rigging votes and demanded a fresh election. The demonstration grew more heated after several opposition leaders including the main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, were forced to leave the country and many others imprisoned. Svetlana revealed that she had fled to Lithuania after facing threats from the country’s leadership.
In recent few weeks, nearly 50 journalists from around the world were rounded up by law enforcement authorities dressed in riot gear and taken into custody. Many of them were made to hand in their documents, cell phones, hard drives, etc. to the government officials. President Lukashenko in July had threatened to deport foreign journalists by accusing them of instigating nationwide dissent. International news agency Associated Press has said that two of its Moscow based reporters covering the demonstrations in Belarus has been deported back to Russia. Al Jazeera reported that two reporters working for the German broadcaster ARD have been asked to leave the country. The Guardian reported that Paul Hansen, a Swedish photojournalist, was given 24 hours to leave the country and told he could not return for the next five years. Faced with the wrath of its own citizens and growing international condemnation, Belarus’ leadership is working overtime to keep the media in check. When question was asked that why authorities had revoked the media accreditation of so many journalists, government spokesperson Anatoly Glaz told AFP that decision was taken based on advice from the country’s counter-terrorism unit. BBC’s reporter from Moscow, Steve Rosenberg, who was detained while reporting in Belarus’ capital Minsk, said that his arrest was a clear attempt to interfere with coverage of events in Belarus. Several prominent media organisations like BBC and AP have urged the authorities to allow reporters to do their jobs. To control the crowds that had gathered across the country, Belarusian authorities deployed a huge number of law enforcement officials. Reports of police brutality also emerged. Several countries including the US have rejected the election results in Belarus. The European Union has announced that it will impose sanctions on top Belarusian officials for alleged vote rigging and violence against protestors. Russian President Vladimir Putin who is an ally of Lukashenko has said that he has formed a reserve police force set to intervene if the situation gets out of control in the country. On 1st Sep, President Lukashenko said that “It is not about power. Alternative forces must not cut the country into pieces. I am concerned about only one thing. I want to protect something we have been building for a quarter of the century with our own hands. We have revived the country from ruins and ashes.” He believes that somereporters have hyped too much about the situation in the country.
Several dozen students on 1st Sep held pickets outside their universities and marched through the city centre on the fourth week of mass protests rocking the country. Belarusian media reported that at least 40 students were arrested as police moved to break up the crowd. President has dismissed the protestors as Western puppets and bristled at the demands for him to step down after 26 years in power or start a dialogue with the opposition. Several strike organisers at top industrial plants have been arrested. On 1st Sep, people gathered near several large plants in support of the striking workers. Amid the official pressure, some opposition activists announced the creation of a new party together. The main opposition Svetlana has warned that government should not hope that the protests will lose steam. The government must understand that things will never be the same and people want changes.
Rajeev Ranjan @ Samacharline