Protests (again) in Minsk, Belarus

For those who ain't bored with the protests to death yet.

 

<p>On April 26th, Chernobyl accident anniversary, a group of

protesters attempted to deliver a petition to the president's palace.

 

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Eugene - not again!

I've seen a lot more violent protests in so called democratic countries. In fact today is the 35th anniversary of the 1970 shooting of students' demonstration at Kent State Uni by the US National Guard:

 

http://dept.kent.edu/sociology/lewis/LEWIHEN.htm

 

"...On May 4, l970 members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine Kent State students... The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close..."

 

Your Lukashenko is a nice guy compared to what you'll eventaully get from the US. Sorry you don't understand this.

Vladimir, I beg to differ. I do live here and is capable to form the opinions on my own - not from the press of Putin Russia which tends to change its direction more often than wind in Kansas.

 

You assume that I should be gratious to Lukashenko for the mere fact that he didn't kill me. Sorry, but your point didn't come across.

Eugene - Some very strong photos here.

 

Rather than place all 18 shots in one post, consider putting one or two in the post and then furnishing a link to the folder containing the balance of the photos. Perhaps easier, and certainly faster.

 

Just a friendly suggestion.

I'm sure they're excellent but I didn't get to see them because it was taking too long to download them. Life is short!

Eugene wrote:

<<...that I should be gratious to Lukashenko for the mere fact that he didn't kill me...">>

 

Why not? Obviously (thank God) you're well, you've got enough freedom, money and time to wonder around shooting lovely BWs of [very peaceful BTW] protests and post them around the world via your Internet access. What was the problem again?

 

What do you think your new [Democratic] masters will do to make it better? Send you to Kent State Uni? Or send you to Guantanamo, perhaps, for free? (there are lovely landscapes to photograph, but sorry, no protests allowed).

 

So there. The mere fact that people protest and you photograph them speak volumes IN FAVOUR of your current Govt. In Western countries similar protests are often dealt with swiftly and [very] painfully [to the protesters]. So yes, you should be grateful.

"In Western countries similar protests are often dealt with swiftly and [very] painfully [to

the protesters]. "

 

If you've got the photos, post them.

Here it is, as requested - examples of Democracy in process:

 

Also at: www.astraeasweb.net/politics/kent.html

 

<<...A photograph of Mary Vecchio, a fourteen year old runaway, screaming over the body of Jeffery Miller appeared on the front pages of newspapers and magazines throughout the country, and the photographer, John Filo, was to win a Pulitzer Prize for the picture. The photo has taken on a life and importance of its own. This analysis looks at the photo, the photographer, and the impact of the photo.

 

The Mary Vecchio picture shows her on one knee screaming over Jeffrey Miller's body. Mary told one of us that she was calling for help because she felt she could do nothing (Personal Interview, 4/4/94). Miller is lying on the tarmac of the Prentice Hall parking lot. One student is standing near the Miller body closer than Vecchio. Four students are seen in the immediate background.

 

John Filo, a Kent State photography major in 1970, continues to works as a professional newspaper photographer and editor. He was near the Prentice Hall parking lot when the Guard fired. He saw bullets hitting the ground, but he did not take cover because he thought the bullets were blanks. Of course, blanks cannot hit the ground...>><div></div>

For more photos of Democracy at work, search Google Images for "police violence". Millions of examples, including:

 

International outcry over police violence in Italy:

 

www.agrnews.org/issues/133

 

Photos from G�theburg - Police Violence:

 

www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/gtbgpics4.htm

Michael, thanks for the advice. Your point is taken.

 

Bob, protests here not always peaceful, and people get jail time (sometimes weeks, sometimes years) for political views. Yes, I could wander around and shoot BW with my $35 kit, but it doesn't imply that it would be possible next time. Most of the protesters depicted there are still behind the bars, and a good number of reporters as well. One 14 year old protester had his arm broken in custody and was transferred to the prison hospital.

 

I don't really understand why I should be sorry for the US government who commited a crime in Kent 35 years ago. I live in Belarus, and it's 2005 out here. You can also bring out Hitler and Stalin for comparision, but the fact that they were 'ultimate' dictators isn't making regime here any more humane. If you still think that our president is a nice chap, give him some time (he has plenty of it given the lifetime presidency opportunity). See the US <a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5371.htm">Dept. of State summary</a> on Belarus for the current progress.

 

Ten years ago I could not imagine that we'd have a lifetime president, a supreme court with all members appointed by him, a toy parliament without a single dissent voice and a total ban of trade unions. Do you know that institute of permanent employment was disbanded here? Everyone now is on 1-2 year contract that can be terminated at a whim: makes it convenient to control population when everyone is afraid to lose a job. Would you open your mouth if it warrants your dismissal and makes certain that everyone else in your town would be too scared to hire you?

 

So I say give him some time: he fared from a liberal democracy to a moderate dictatorship in 10 years, and is already making moves to close the borders. Meanwhile you can come over here and join us, humble grateful people in our adornment of the president. I am sure you'd enjoy your stay.

Sorry Eugene, you sound a bit naive. Almost reminds my views 10 years ago. I was as anti-communist as they come. Unfortunately (mostly for me I guess) I now see things differently.

 

"...institute of permanent employment was disbanded here? Everyone now is on 1-2 year contract that can be terminated at a whim: makes it convenient to control population..."

 

 

How naive. This is the US model of employment, one of the main characteristics of a free society. The world should salute your leader for it. If you work for a US company and you "open your mouth" and start ACTIVELY criticising, say, US involvement in Iraq (unless you're Mike Moore with money and connections) you will eventually lose everything as people will consider you unstable, negative, anarchist, dangerous - maybe even a recent muslim convert terrorist. Expect FBI agents on your case, your phones tapped and career ruined. Again - if you are a regular chap, particularly in a provincial city. Sure, you'll probably lose everything in a more elegant and pleasant way than if you were in Minsk, but the end result is the same - park bench, police custody, even jail.

 

How idealistic one can get? Have you ever spoken with a Yank? They're different creatures. very polite, extremely careful and difficult to read.

 

Not sure about others but I'd love to come to your country and have some nice time. If I had time and spare cash to burn. I'm sure, there'd great entertainment and things to do in Minsk, despite the "totalitarian" rule. In your pics I saw LCD billboards, Maccas and what appeared to be night clubs etc. However, as a law abiding citizen (as opposed to some of anarchists depicted by you) I'll be very much against any protesters. Lomat' ne stroit'

 

PS: It's funny how you picked the date for your last protest shots. The very day your beloved US Govt celebrated a ruthless massacre of the innocent. I guess the irony was completely lost on you.

 

PPS: There's more freedom in Putin's Russia than in some other recognised democracies. More variety of opinions in the newspapers, Internet (kommersant.ru, ng.ru, izvestia.ru etc). TV - no, it's about equal to the US, just watch Fox for a while. Maybe you should immigrate to Russia. If you don't like it there you ain't going to like it in the US. Or in a puppet Iraq-style democracy installed by the US when the likes of you eventually knock bambka out.

<p>Right Vladimir, that's what I always get when asking foreign admirers of Lukashenko to live here for a while. "I'd like to, but rather not."

 

<p>I *don't* care how it is done in the USA, although there *is* such thing as permanent employment, in government and education at least. You don't have it here anymore.

 

<p>Yes, you still have free press in Russia, although even the part of it that is independent of the government position has imposed a form of self-censorship. When NTV was harsh on the government last time? Is that when state-run Gazprom was taking over them? Can you still watch TV6 there? The press here is in even more sorry state, Internet forums included. Please read forum rules at <a href="http://tut.by/rules_forum/">tut.by</a> for instance. These articles are actually enforced, and we have some persons spending their second year in jail for writing a pamphlet on president.

 

<p>And please leave your patronizing tone: I'm 28 and have a family. I lived and worked here and abroad (not in the USA) and do know what life a free person in a free state is eligible to. My father is now in his 50s, spent 3 years on road convoys in Afghan campaign and has quit the military with the fall of USSR in 1991 as he refused to take new oath of service. How do you think, is he pro-American? Still he was opposed to Lukashenko from the start. My mother, a school teacher, along with her colleagues was told by the principal to cast vote a week in advance before the referendum: why would you need to force government employees to advance voting (not monitored by observers) if the count was fair? For me and my wife all was much simpler, as we didn't make it to the voters lists at all (and a good portion of population below 30 too).

Eugene - despite my obvious name I'm not currently in Russia. Rather in one of the "free" and "democratic" English speaking countries.

 

I think I misunderstood your notion of "permanent employment". Yes, there are permanent positions but they are being replaced by temporary and contract. Even if you are "permanent" there's ALWAYS a termination clause in your employment contact. If they no longer need you they give you 2 or 4 week notice. That's it, they don't have to explain apart from "your position has been made redundant". It happened to me 5 years ago, I drank bourbon for a week before I recovered from shock. Not a nice feeling.

 

Free press is a funny notion. I don't see free press in the West. Rupert Murdoch owns a big chunk and one been voted the most infuential man in the world. Presidents have lunch with him, he is so powerful. He employs "independent" editors who excercise SELF SENSORSHIP. There's more bulldust here than I ever saw in the Soviet Union.

 

One more thing. Democracy is a propaganda battle for the minds of the moronic population between a couple of corrupt and greedy political parties.

 

Good luck in your endeavours. Peace

Eugene:

 

Strong images, congratulations.

 

What camera are you using?

 

Francisco A

Vladimir, democracy might be not perfect, but as long as politicians struggle, an average Joe has some wiggle room. It's when the dust has settled one is screwed.

 

Francisco, thanks. I used Kiev-4A (Soivet followup of Contax II line) with Jupiter-12 2.8/35 for all the shots here. The film was Tri-X 400, exposed and developed at nominal speed in scratch-mixed Microphen substitute.

Eugene, it takes great courage to take these shots. It doesn't matter whether you're shooting at an anti-Lukashenko protest in Minsk or at a anti-globalist rally in Genova, batons and bullets hit hard if you are in the wrong spot. And you go to those wrong spots to take your shots. Some of your shots can only be taken by a quiet camera like the Kiev.

hello,

mostly are bad. crop,composition etc.

just few are good

 

http://boblycat.org/~varjag/snaps/20050426/10800002_640x480.jpg

http://boblycat.org/~varjag/snaps/20050426/10800022_640x480_crop.jpg

for example

Lukashenko is dictator.

I hope that he gona go very soon.

have luck

 

Thomas

Slovakia