Posted on 03/27/2008 3:40:38 PM PDT by Grzegorz 246
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday strongly condemned Belarus authorities for the latest crackdown on journalists and protesters, calling the government brutal and authoritarian.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack slammed tough action in Belarus against the media, in which he said about 30 independent journalists in 12 cities were detained "without legitimate cause."
"The regime of Alexander Lukashenko has again shown itself as a brutal, authoritarian dictatorship that blatantly ignores human rights and fundamental freedoms," said McCormack.
Security police raided Belarussian broadcasters' offices in the former Soviet republic on Thursday, just two days after police broke up a rally by opponents of Lukashenko and arrested protesters.
McCormack urged the Belarus authorities to immediately release all of those arrested and said the government must ensure detainees who were injured received proper medical care and that those responsible were held to account.
"We also call on Belarus to stop its harassment of the remaining media still striving to report on the realities in Belarus and to respect freedom of assembly, speech and independent media in Belarus," he said.
Relations are very strained between the United States and Belarus, and earlier this month the U.S. ambassador left the former Soviet republic. Belarus authorities, objecting to what they saw as new sanctions against Belarus, had urged her to go.
The U.S. embassy has since stopped issuing visas and complied with a request to cut diplomatic staff in Minsk.
Is this the usual case of US State Dept standing up for commie rat bastards trying to reinfiltrate through exploiting western “sensibilities”?
Or is Belarus really going through troubles?
When the State Dept is running its worthless suck, it’s only ever a guess as to what is really going on.
I sure don’t remember the criticisms of China with regard to Tibet to have been this pointed.
It is kinda difficult to educate oneself on a subject before running ones own suck, isn't it.
...Ye Shall know them by the company they keep.
see post #6
Considering my only sources are an msm that I would be a brain dead fool to trust, or sources who’s agenda I have no means to qualify, yes.
And as to the Dpt of State, who’re they standing up to appease or make excuses for these days? North Korea? No, that was last decade.... Palestine? Yeah, that’s the current enemy to protect.
That’s useful info. Thanks.
Well then you're eternally condemned to remain ignorant, aren't you.
If you prefer to spend your time fantasizing about President Bush and Secretary Rice bemoaning their inability to get their employees to carry out their directives or support their policies, well, have fun with it. I have a feeling the whole "stabbed in the back" paradigm is going to get a lot of play after President Bush leaves office.
Pres Bush was on the phone to the Chinese Premier yesterday and gave him a piece of his mind. A frank and honest opinion on the BS in Tibet.
lukashenko is a commie rat who will get justice some day.
I’ve got lots of family and personal motivation for my particular disgust with the State Dept.
From my grandfather who was in China from the early ‘30s through the start of WW2. His stories of the idiots of the day and their fawning love fest for Mao and his band of murderous thugs...
To the Oct ‘85 bombing of the Beirut barracks and the State Dept appointed ambassador that demanded the Marines not looks “so aggressive” and worked so hard to get them forced to disarm their defenses...
And just about everything I’ve seen since. No love for that nest of ivy league one worlders and their constant sniveling need for a kind smile of acceptance from the europers they love to appease and emulate.
But, on the other hand, I do agree with you on pointing toward the most visible person as the target for all blame for all ills. We don’t have emperors. There’s only so much a boss can do when presented with an abomination of life long bureaucrats who live to follow their own agenda, regardless of who’s temporarily placed as their figure head.
I don’t think that Lukashenko gives a crap but his time will come eventually...
But it's important to remember that the vast majority of THE PEOPLE in Belarus don't consider us enemies, they envy our standard of living and freedom, and they are friendly to us. I've been there, it's true. They were wonderful people who cook marvelous dinners and barbecues and like fishing and hunting and singing around the campfire, and they like America. As usual, it is the government tyrants that are the problem. A lot of them don't like Lukashenko but they don't want to talk about it either. The walls have ears in Belarus. Their version of the KGB still has offices there. People can be imprisoned indefinitely for expressing dissent there.
So, the answer to my original question would seem to be that there really is a problem there.
Are you still in that area? Is there more you can share, perspective/background info, wise?
He can remove as many individuals as he sees fit - they all serve at the President's pleasure. However, I can see your concern, as when the Belarussians kicked Ambassador Stewart out (appointed by President Bush, 2006), it left the Embassy in the hands of one of those lifelong bureaucrats you're so concerned about, and wouldn't you know it, his liberal bona fides are impeccable.
We can only guess as to how he'll work to stymie the President's policies in Belarus.
There is a problem there, but it's not an insurmountable problem, and there is no need for US meddling in their affairs, IMHO. Belarus is the purest remnant of the old USSR, with smoking diesel trucks, bad highways, pitiful food stores and questionable drinking water. If you're lucky or privileged there, you have a decent but small apartment which has hot water several hours a day and electricity almost always. People walk to work and school unless they are rich or government types. The schools are excellent and the pupils are bright. Some of the schools teach English. Some of the high schools have flying lessons. The universities are all free. There are lots of PHDs driving taxi cabs in Belarus.
Medical care is free as well. However, there is little medicine available. Simple things we take for granted like Tylenol or cold medicines are not available. Antibiotics are like gold. If you're in the hospital there, you get little more than a cot and a wet washcloth. Your family brings you food.
Most people have dachas in the country. They build them from scrap lumber and timbers and work on them constantly. In the back of their dachas are elaborate gardens. They garden because there will be no fresh produce available at the pitiful food stores. If you want to have food in the winter, you had better look after your garden. The food stores are like a grim Soviet comedy. The other stores are just as pitiful. There was one "decent" store in Minsk, and I went there to buy gifts to bring home. In the middle of the store is a snack bar where you can get a hot dog and a giant glass of vodka. Bud' zdorove. I'm not driving anyway.
They really know how to party on their weekends. They make shashlik, which is barbecue here in Georgia, along with numerous sides and zakuski, or appetizers. The women there are into cooking, and the men cook the barbecue. With lots of beer, of course. And vodka.
The ultimate Belarus experience is to gorge on barbecue and beer and then the men retire to the banya first, followed by the women. The banya is a long, unhurried ritual. First you get undressed, take your towels into the wood-heated inferno, then throw water onto the hot rocks. As you sear at 200 degrees, Belarussians whip you mercilessly with wet willow branches. It is for your health. Trust us.
Just as you are about to pass out from heat and whipping, the men exit the banya and retire to the anteroom, still in their towels. There you eat watermelon and drink lots more vodka and tell jokes. If there is ever a moment to discuss politics, this is it. As long as you're sure of your companions. Then, back into the banya. Lather, rinse, repeat. Repeat until you are so drunk and steamed that you know it is time to quit. But that's not the end, not yet.
Now comes the crazed, naked run across the lawn, to jump into a frigid lake. As the women look on and cheer their approval, or disapproval. Man, after steaming and drinking, that cold water is like electricity. But you really do feel clean and satisfied afterwards. It's an experience worthy of a world-class day spa.
After the women take their turn in the banya, and all the dishes are done, it's time to go home. Picture a busload of drunken men and women, singing folk songs as the bus jolts along through the dark woods. Then the bus stops, and the driver says something about men to the right, women to the left. What? To pee, you silly American. And so we all file off into the dark forest to pee, still singing in some cases. I'll never forget it. I honestly enjoyed it. They don't live too badly. Also, they love to fish and hunt. They are just like us.
More and more of them want to join the 21st century and be free of the Soviet dogma, and that day will come. Lukashenko will die or be deposed. Then all those PHDs can get real jobs and open Taco Bells and watch American Idol.
I'm not in a hurry to drag them down to our level, honestly. Let them sing.
Belarus ping.
Thanks for the ping. We are hoping our girl gets her visa for this summer!
Belarus should go ahead and re-unite with Russia and just get it over with. They’ve been heading that way for awhile anyway.
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