[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E634-E635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DETERIORATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BELARUS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 1997

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, over the last year, we have 
witnessed a steady deterioration in the human rights situation in 
Belarus. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has flouted 
international commitments by infringing on the human rights of the 
citizens of Belarus. He has violated elementary human rights and 
freedoms, such as freedom of speech, assembly and association, and has 
stifled democracy by clamping down on the media, on the democratic 
opposition, and on fledgling nongovernmental organizations. Lukashenka 
has amassed near-dictatorial powers, using an illegitimate 
constitutional referendum held last November to extend his power, 
disbanding the Parliament and creating a new legislature and 
constitutional court subservient to him.
  The international community has widely censured Lukashenka for his 
blatant disregard for international commitments. The Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE] has repeatedly called upon 
the Government of Belarus to respect human rights and democratic 
principles, to enter into dialog with the opposition and to ensure 
freedom of the media. The chairman in office of the OSCE has stated 
that neither the preparations for the November 1996 referendum nor the 
new constitution comply with OSCE norms, principles, and commitments. 
The OSCE hopes to send a mission to Belarus this month if it receives 
assurances that the mission can meet with members of the opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the human rights situation in Belarus has 
taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks. Last week, on April 3, the 
leadership of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe--
Helsinki Commission--wrote to President Lukashenka expressing our 
dismay at recent developments in Belarus and urging President 
Lukashenka to reverse the deterioration of human rights in his country 
and live up to obligations freely undertaken as an OSCE member.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that the letter be included in the Record.
                                        Commission on Security and


                                        Cooperation in Europe,

                                    Washington, DC, April 3, 1997.
     His Excellency Alyaksandr Lukashenka,
     President, Republic of Belarus,
     Miensk, Belarus.
       Dear President Lukashenka: We are writing to express our 
     heightened concern about the further deterioration in the 
     human rights situation in your country and to protest a 
     series of actions by your government in blatant violation of 
     OSCE principles and norms.
       Within the last few weeks, two American citizens, including 
     a U.S. diplomat, have been expelled from Belarus. First 
     Secretary Serge Alexandrov was unjustly and illegally 
     detained and expelled for observing an opposition rally, a 
     routine practice of diplomats. A few days earlier, on March 
     16, Belarusian Soros Foundation Executive Director Peter G. 
     Byrne was prevented from reentering Belarus, detained, held 
     incommunicado for over 12 hours in flagrant violation of 
     diplomatic and consular conventions in effect between the 
     United States and Belarus, and forcibly expelled the next 
     day. Mr. Byrne ostensibly was expelled for illegal activity, 
     but in reality, was expelled for supporting efforts to 
     develop Belarus' fledgling civil society.
       These expulsions come on the heels of other repressive 
     actions, including arrests and beatings of demonstrators who 
     have been protesting your policies over the last few months. 
     Organizers of these rallies, such as former Chairman of 
     Parliament Mechyslau Hryh have received stiff fines or have 
     been arrested and jailed for up to 15 days. We are alarmed by 
     reports of beatings that resulted in injuries and detentions 
     of several hundred protestors and journalist during 
     yesterday's demonstrations in Miensk.
       We are deeply concerned about the Belarusian Government's 
     restrictions on the right to freedom of speech and assembly--
     as manifested by your March 5 decree which also bans the 
     display of Belarusian national symbols at rallies--and the 
     arrest of peaceful protestors, as well as journalists, at a 
     number of these rallies. We are also alarmed by the political 
     intimidation of leading opposition figures, as illustrated by 
     police visits to their homes demanding they admit they 
     violated a presidential edict that restricts demonstrations, 
     and by police searchers of various political party 
     headquarters. In February, two opposition leaders were 
     attacked in Miensk in separate incidents by unidentified 
     assailants under suspicious circumstances. Also, we have 
     received reports of the intimidation of university professors 
     and other examples of crude threats by police against 
     democratic activists.
       We are especially troubled by the plight of Henadz 
     Karpenka, Deputy Chairman of the 1996 parliament and chair of 
     the opposition shadow cabinet, who was on a hunger strike to 
     protest the special police guard placed outside his ward in a 
     hospital where he is currently a patient.
       Another example of apparent intimidation is the March 10 
     decree calling into question important tax exemptions granted 
     to the Belarusian Soros Foundation and other non-governmental 
     organizations and the March 18 announcement that all 
     nongovernmental

[[Page E635]]

     organizations in the country will be investigated. We 
     understand that these investigations by government security 
     officials have commenced.
       Furthermore, freedom of the media in your country continues 
     to be assailed, most recently by the withdrawal of press 
     accreditation from and the expulsion of Russian NTV reporter, 
     Alexander Stupnikov, the March 23 decree banning of several 
     Russian television networks from broadcasting footage from 
     Belarus, and the recent announcement by your government that 
     all foreign journalists must obtain new accreditation.
       Earlier this year, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Danish 
     Foreign Minister Helveg-Petersen, urged your government to 
     take action to respect fully OSCE norms, principles and 
     commitments, to enter into dialogue with the opposition and 
     to ensure freedom of media. Unfortunately, actions since that 
     time have only further called into question your government's 
     commitments under the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent OSCE 
     agreements. We urge you to take to heart the concerns of the 
     OSCE and other international entities, as well as individual 
     countries, including the United States, and to begin to 
     reverse the serious deterioration of human rights that has 
     occurred in your country during the last year.
       Mr. President, last week you spoke to your countrymen about 
     the international isolation that Belarus is now facing. The 
     best way that you can prevent this international isolation, 
     if you so desire, is to live up to obligations you have 
     freely undertaken as an OSCE member.
           Sincerely,
     Christopher H. Smith,
       Co-Chairman.
     Steny H. Hoyer,
       Ranking Member.
     Alfonse D'Amato,
       Chairman.
     Frank Lautenberg,
       Ranking Member.

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