Editorial Desk :
For weeks, people of Belarus have been demonstrating massively and bravely against the rigged election victory by long-term time President Alexander Lukashenko. Many observers see it as one of the most blatantly rigged votes in modern European history. The protests and demonstrations are now set to regain their voting power. It is worth noticing the fighting spirit and courage shown being demonstrated in defiance of the ruthless dictator. But the number of people on the streets is so huge he does not dare to apply forcing to disrupt the people’s well organised protest. But the protesters know they are in danger of lives and torture after arrest. There are not heroic slogans to provoke but showing heroic determination to oust the President from power secured through the stolen election.
According to international media sources, the Election Commission announced President Lukashenko elected
with a 72 percent landslide victory. But his main rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, rejected the results and called for a recount. Protests broke out in the capital, Minsk, which was met with a violent security crackdown. At least 2,000 people were detained and dozens injured. Then, as the country was slipping into chaos and anarchy, the opposition rival fled to neighbouring Lithuania reassuring the people that she was ready to take over the government and restore peace and order.
One week after the Aug. 9 vote, tens of thousands of protesters – some estimates put the crowd at 200,000 – filled the center of the capital, Minsk, possibly the largest protest in the country’s history, and a sign of the growing pressure on Mr. Lukashenko to step down. But he shows no sign of doing so, even turning to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for help.
It is clear that Mr. Lukashenko was in peril even before the election. Tens of thousands of people participated in rallies to support Ms. Tikhanovskaya before the election, the largest anti-government demonstrations in decades.
International condemnation was swift and wide-ranging. The election was dismissed by much of the world, including the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States was “deeply concerned about the conduct” of the election.
The international should demand the release of all political prisoners and the formation of a transitional government. The Economist’s suggestion is if Mr Lukashenko refuses, the West should impose sanctions not only on him and members of his family but also on everyone involved in rigging the election and abusing protesters. It should warn the heads of the Belarusian law-enforcement agencies and the armed forces of their personal responsibility if they carry out the orders of an illegitimate president.
We agree that the right way to help the people of Belarus, who are demonstrating and striking against repression, not to allow the violence phony elect to stand.
The international community must come to the aid of the people’s voting right and free election. This practice of modern dictators to buy the army and police to remain in power like kings of the past must be internationally stopped if human rights and the UN Charter are to mean anything.
The army does not remain army for defending the borders but act against the people to grow fat through corruption. Under modern dictators the army become politicians with the power of guns bought with people’s money to be used against the people. The people’s army must not be used against the people. They remain professional.
For weeks, people of Belarus have been demonstrating massively and bravely against the rigged election victory by long-term time President Alexander Lukashenko. Many observers see it as one of the most blatantly rigged votes in modern European history. The protests and demonstrations are now set to regain their voting power. It is worth noticing the fighting spirit and courage shown being demonstrated in defiance of the ruthless dictator. But the number of people on the streets is so huge he does not dare to apply forcing to disrupt the people’s well organised protest. But the protesters know they are in danger of lives and torture after arrest. There are not heroic slogans to provoke but showing heroic determination to oust the President from power secured through the stolen election.
According to international media sources, the Election Commission announced President Lukashenko elected
with a 72 percent landslide victory. But his main rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, rejected the results and called for a recount. Protests broke out in the capital, Minsk, which was met with a violent security crackdown. At least 2,000 people were detained and dozens injured. Then, as the country was slipping into chaos and anarchy, the opposition rival fled to neighbouring Lithuania reassuring the people that she was ready to take over the government and restore peace and order.
One week after the Aug. 9 vote, tens of thousands of protesters – some estimates put the crowd at 200,000 – filled the center of the capital, Minsk, possibly the largest protest in the country’s history, and a sign of the growing pressure on Mr. Lukashenko to step down. But he shows no sign of doing so, even turning to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia for help.
It is clear that Mr. Lukashenko was in peril even before the election. Tens of thousands of people participated in rallies to support Ms. Tikhanovskaya before the election, the largest anti-government demonstrations in decades.
International condemnation was swift and wide-ranging. The election was dismissed by much of the world, including the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States was “deeply concerned about the conduct” of the election.
The international should demand the release of all political prisoners and the formation of a transitional government. The Economist’s suggestion is if Mr Lukashenko refuses, the West should impose sanctions not only on him and members of his family but also on everyone involved in rigging the election and abusing protesters. It should warn the heads of the Belarusian law-enforcement agencies and the armed forces of their personal responsibility if they carry out the orders of an illegitimate president.
We agree that the right way to help the people of Belarus, who are demonstrating and striking against repression, not to allow the violence phony elect to stand.
The international community must come to the aid of the people’s voting right and free election. This practice of modern dictators to buy the army and police to remain in power like kings of the past must be internationally stopped if human rights and the UN Charter are to mean anything.
The army does not remain army for defending the borders but act against the people to grow fat through corruption. Under modern dictators the army become politicians with the power of guns bought with people’s money to be used against the people. The people’s army must not be used against the people. They remain professional.
