(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned about the recent threat to close seven independent newspapers for their coverage of the opposition Central Electoral Committee’s attempts to organize presidential elections in May of this year. **Updates IFEX alerts of 3 March and 18 February 1999** At a 15 February 1999 press conference, Michael Podgainy, chairman of […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned about the recent threat to close
seven
independent newspapers for their coverage of the opposition Central
Electoral Committee’s attempts to organize presidential elections in May
of
this year.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 3 March and 18 February 1999**
At a 15 February 1999 press conference, Michael Podgainy, chairman of
the
Belarusian Press Committee, announced that the press committee had
issued
official warnings to six independent newspapers, of which he named five:
“Belarusskaya Delovaya Gazeta”, “Svobodnie Novosti”, “Naviny”, “Narodnya
Volya”, and “Pahonya”. The sixth newspaper to receive a warning was
“Nasha
Niva”. The press committee’s actions came in response to the newspapers’
publication of the opposition Central Electoral Committee’s announcement
that, in accordance with the 1994 Constitution, presidential elections
are
scheduled to be held on 16 May. The press committee also issued a
warning to
the independent newspaper “Imya” for a 4 February article titled
“Election:
Dangerous Zone,” by Irina Khalip, the paper’s editor in chief, who
reported
on the opposition Central Electoral Committee’s activities. According to
the
Belarusian press law, a second warning to these newspapers could lead to
their closure.
In his official warning, Podgainy stated that the seven newspapers’
coverage
of the upcoming presidential elections amounts to inciting the overthrow
of
the state. The elections are being organised by former members of the
13th
Supreme Soviet, which President Lukashenko disbanded in 1996, following
a
referendum for the acceptance of a new constitution. This process, on
the
basis of which the 1996 Constitution (which extends Lukashenko’s
presidency
to 2001) was accepted and the 13th Supreme Soviet subsequently
disbanded,
violated Belarus’s rule of law as well as its procedural norms. These
illegal actions prompted an international outrcry. To this day, much of
the
international community continues to view the 1994 Constitution as the
legitimate constitution and the 13th Supreme Soviet as the legitimate
parliamentary body.
On 2 March, in what appears to be a follow-up to the 15 February
warning,
local police searched the Hrodna office of “Pahonya” without
explanation,
confiscating some of the newspaper’s records and other documents.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
“Belarusskaya
Delovaya Gazeta”, “Svobodnie Novosti”, “Naviny”, “Narodnya Volya”,
“Pahonya”, “Nasha Niva”, and “Imya” in retaliation for fulfilling their
professional duties of providing complete information to the public
warning
of the Belarusian Press Committee and ensure the right of journalists to
freely gather and disseminate information without fear of reprisal
Appeals To
His Excellency Alexander Lukashenko
President of Belarus Republic
Minsk 220020
Fax: +375 172 23 58 25
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
