Posted on 01/12/2008 6:01:11 AM PST by Grzegorz 246
MINSK, Belarus - Police on Thursday broke up a rally of 2,000 entrepreneurs protesting moves by the authoritarian government of Belarus to increase the burden on private business in the former Soviet republic.
The demonstrators opposed new legislation that would force them to reregister their ventures and double the amount of taxes they have to pay. Businessmen who want to avoid the new terms will be restricted to hiring their relatives to keep their ventures within the family.
Police pushed protesters out of the capital's main avenue and detained about a dozen.
President Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, quashing dissent and opposition groups and resisting free-market reforms. He has maintained a Soviet-style, centrally controlled economy that has relied heavily on cheap Russian energy supplies.
"Lukashenko is trying to stifle the emerging class of entrepreneurs because he is afraid of people capable of defending themselves and their freedom," opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich said in a speech at the rally.
Protesters, who gathered at the capital's central square, demanded a meeting with top officials to convey their demands. Officials ignored the request.
"I was forced to lay off four sales clerks simply because they aren't my relatives," said Anatoly Tikotsky, who participated in the protest. "We won't allow Lukashenko to treat us like dogs."
This will happen here under Hillary.
Friends of mine from Belarus only paid about $15 per month for their apartment, including utilities (hot water several hours per day, tap water questionable for drinking). A really good job might pay $50 per month. Most people walk or take the bus rather than own a car. People grow gardens at their dachas so they will have produce during the winter (food stores are pathetic).
Luka has it engineered so that everything is cheap or free, and no one makes any money. At least not enough money to buy western clothes or luxuries, or to emigrate. He has the whole population semi-trapped, but marginally fed. Quite a few people seem to like it that way, but they pine for the days of the USSR. Lots of others want to join the modern world. Of course Luka will crush that idea. The eventual evolution of Belarus is inevitable, whether by time, by election, or by revolt.
Luka and Putin are close KGB buddies.
I don’t think so. Putin would send in troops to help his buddy out.
I don't know what Putin would do if Belarus suddenly rose up and became a westernized Malibu on the Dneipr. If he actually sent in troops and tanks, that would be Pretty Bad in the eyes of the world, and would end the illusion of Putin as democratic reformer. Would he want Belarus that badly? They have a lot of potatoes. They use a lot of gas and don't pay much for it. Flip a coin.
That would be Marx’s manifesto flopping around, and Lenin sleeping in a glass box. My bad.
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