Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1381
2005-11-15 07:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - November 10, 2005
how-toVZCZCXRO7068 RR RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE DE RUEHSK #1381/01 3190703 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 150703Z NOV 05 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3320 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - November 10, 2005
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001381
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - November 10, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled
by Embassy Minsk over the past week.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
2. Den Newspaper Sees Its Final Day
On November 4, the Minsk City Economic Court upheld the
decision to annul Denpress' registration for failure to
operate for six months without informing the tax
authorities of the reason. Since a publication cannot
be produced without a registered publisher, the court
has effectively closed the newspaper Den.
3. Police Seize 72 Copies of Opposition Weekly
On November 8, police seized 72 copies of the opposition
Belarusian Party of Communists' weekly, "Tovarishch."
The papers contained an insert protesting utility rate
increases. The police stated that although the paper is
registered, distribution with an inserted flier is
illegal.
4. Incorrect Filing Leads to Dismissal of Abuse
Complaint
On November 3, a Minsk court rejected youth opposition
activist Nikita Sasim's claim that he was severely
beaten by policemen during a September 16 demonstration
because the claim was filed with the wrong agency.
After Sasim landed in the hospital with a head injury
from OMON riot policeman, Sasim filed a complaint with
the Minsk Central District Police Department, who
refused to launch an investigation. Sasim complained to
the Minsk Central District Court, who said that Sasim
should have filed the complaint with OMON directly.
5. More Travel Restrictions
On November 3 and 4, Belarusian border guards prevented
Union of Belarusian Poles (UBP) activist Anzhelika
Orekhova from traveling to Poland. The border guards
stated they doubted the authenticity of the foreign
travel stamp in her passport. Orekhova maintained that
the stamp was valid since it had not reached its
expiration date.
6. National Labor Union Forced To Re-register on Local
Level
On November 4, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced
the national Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (FTUM) did
not have enough members to meet the requirement for
operation on the national level. After conducting an
inspection, the MoJ claimed the FTUM had only 217
members; FTUM insisted that it had 542. The MoJ
recommended liquidation for the national organization
and re-registration of the trade union as a local
organization.
7. Destructive Sects Have No Official Place in Belarus
On November 9, Committee on Religious and National
Affairs (CRNA) Chairman Stanislav Buko announced
authorities would not register destructive religious
sects banned by law. He affirmed there are no such
sects operating currently in Belarus, but people who
participating in activities possessing characteristics
of such sects are closely monitored.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
8. Belarus to Increase Police Force by 50%
On November 3, the Ministry of the Interior (MoI)
announced plans to increase the size of the district
police force by 50% before September 2006 in order to
curb the increasing crime rate in rural areas. The MoI
will focus its hiring efforts on young law and
vocational school graduates. The proposed deadline for
the hiring increase falls two months after the July
presidential elections.
9. Moonshine is a Biological Weapon, Said MoI
On November 9, the Ministry of the Interior announced
the Belarusian police consider moonshine production to
MINSK 00001381 002 OF 002
be a kind of bioterrorism since the producers often use
poisonous ingredients in production. In response, the
police have opened a hotline enabling people to inform
the police of illegal alcohol production or trade. Last
year, 700 people died from toxins in moonshine.
--------------
Economics
--------------
10. Cost of Heat to Rise
On November 9, the Ministry of Housing announced as of
November 1, utility prices will rise approximately 44
percent from last year's rates. For a two-room
apartment, utility costs will rise from BYR 70,000 [USD
32] to BYR 101,000 [USD 47]. The amount households
currently pay only covers 46 percent of the actual
utility and maintenance costs.
--------------
Bilateral Relations
--------------
11. Newly Returned Polish Ambassador Resigns
On November 7, the Polish Ambassador to Belarus Tadesz
Pawlak handed in his resignation. A spokeswoman from the
Polish Embassy stated the decision to resign was personal,
but noted that criticism of his performance in the Polish
press might have prompted the resignation.
--------------
Quotes of the Week
--------------
12. On November 3, Lukashenko commented on Belarus'
excessive alcohol problem and promised to increase
efforts to counter alcoholism in Belarus:
"Those who drink alcohol every day, don't vote for me.
I don't want to be your friend.... You are ruining the
nation.... A person will not have normal children if he
drinks alcohol at least every other day.... Someone
gets drunk, accidentally conceives a child and you
Lukashenko has to raise that child. We have 35,000 such
children in the country."
13. On November 4, Lukashenko spoke with certainty about
the inevitability of his re-election in the 2006
presidential elections:
"The point is not that you may not [re]elect me; you
won't avoid electing me."
KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - November 10, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled
by Embassy Minsk over the past week.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
2. Den Newspaper Sees Its Final Day
On November 4, the Minsk City Economic Court upheld the
decision to annul Denpress' registration for failure to
operate for six months without informing the tax
authorities of the reason. Since a publication cannot
be produced without a registered publisher, the court
has effectively closed the newspaper Den.
3. Police Seize 72 Copies of Opposition Weekly
On November 8, police seized 72 copies of the opposition
Belarusian Party of Communists' weekly, "Tovarishch."
The papers contained an insert protesting utility rate
increases. The police stated that although the paper is
registered, distribution with an inserted flier is
illegal.
4. Incorrect Filing Leads to Dismissal of Abuse
Complaint
On November 3, a Minsk court rejected youth opposition
activist Nikita Sasim's claim that he was severely
beaten by policemen during a September 16 demonstration
because the claim was filed with the wrong agency.
After Sasim landed in the hospital with a head injury
from OMON riot policeman, Sasim filed a complaint with
the Minsk Central District Police Department, who
refused to launch an investigation. Sasim complained to
the Minsk Central District Court, who said that Sasim
should have filed the complaint with OMON directly.
5. More Travel Restrictions
On November 3 and 4, Belarusian border guards prevented
Union of Belarusian Poles (UBP) activist Anzhelika
Orekhova from traveling to Poland. The border guards
stated they doubted the authenticity of the foreign
travel stamp in her passport. Orekhova maintained that
the stamp was valid since it had not reached its
expiration date.
6. National Labor Union Forced To Re-register on Local
Level
On November 4, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced
the national Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (FTUM) did
not have enough members to meet the requirement for
operation on the national level. After conducting an
inspection, the MoJ claimed the FTUM had only 217
members; FTUM insisted that it had 542. The MoJ
recommended liquidation for the national organization
and re-registration of the trade union as a local
organization.
7. Destructive Sects Have No Official Place in Belarus
On November 9, Committee on Religious and National
Affairs (CRNA) Chairman Stanislav Buko announced
authorities would not register destructive religious
sects banned by law. He affirmed there are no such
sects operating currently in Belarus, but people who
participating in activities possessing characteristics
of such sects are closely monitored.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
8. Belarus to Increase Police Force by 50%
On November 3, the Ministry of the Interior (MoI)
announced plans to increase the size of the district
police force by 50% before September 2006 in order to
curb the increasing crime rate in rural areas. The MoI
will focus its hiring efforts on young law and
vocational school graduates. The proposed deadline for
the hiring increase falls two months after the July
presidential elections.
9. Moonshine is a Biological Weapon, Said MoI
On November 9, the Ministry of the Interior announced
the Belarusian police consider moonshine production to
MINSK 00001381 002 OF 002
be a kind of bioterrorism since the producers often use
poisonous ingredients in production. In response, the
police have opened a hotline enabling people to inform
the police of illegal alcohol production or trade. Last
year, 700 people died from toxins in moonshine.
--------------
Economics
--------------
10. Cost of Heat to Rise
On November 9, the Ministry of Housing announced as of
November 1, utility prices will rise approximately 44
percent from last year's rates. For a two-room
apartment, utility costs will rise from BYR 70,000 [USD
32] to BYR 101,000 [USD 47]. The amount households
currently pay only covers 46 percent of the actual
utility and maintenance costs.
--------------
Bilateral Relations
--------------
11. Newly Returned Polish Ambassador Resigns
On November 7, the Polish Ambassador to Belarus Tadesz
Pawlak handed in his resignation. A spokeswoman from the
Polish Embassy stated the decision to resign was personal,
but noted that criticism of his performance in the Polish
press might have prompted the resignation.
--------------
Quotes of the Week
--------------
12. On November 3, Lukashenko commented on Belarus'
excessive alcohol problem and promised to increase
efforts to counter alcoholism in Belarus:
"Those who drink alcohol every day, don't vote for me.
I don't want to be your friend.... You are ruining the
nation.... A person will not have normal children if he
drinks alcohol at least every other day.... Someone
gets drunk, accidentally conceives a child and you
Lukashenko has to raise that child. We have 35,000 such
children in the country."
13. On November 4, Lukashenko spoke with certainty about
the inevitability of his re-election in the 2006
presidential elections:
"The point is not that you may not [re]elect me; you
won't avoid electing me."
KROL